Republicans Confound Founders' Principles....

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Republicans Confound Founders' Principles

From: bernhard1848@att.net

Following the Whig tradition of nominating generals for president, the Whig/Republican party announced Ulysses S. Grant as their 1868 standard bearer.  Their platform (below) refers to a rebellion though the Southern States had solemnly declared their independence; refers to anarchy though all those States had functioning republican governments; mentions equal suffrage at the South though only States can constitutionally-determine voter qualification – but this was reserved to the Northern States in the platform; and generous pensions for mercenaries in blue to ensure the veteran vote.  The platform also declares the Republican party's sympathy for oppressed peoples though it demonstrated none for Americans in the South; and closes with recognition of the great principles of Jefferson's Declaration, though the party did everything in its power to subvert and destroy them 1861-1865.

Bernhard Thuersam, Chairman
North Carolina War Between the States Sesquicentennial Commission
www.ncwbts150.com
"The Official Website of the North Carolina WBTS Sesquicentennial"


Republicans Confound Founders' Principles:

Republican Platform of 1868 [excerpts]:


"The National Republican party of the United States, assembled in national convention in the city of Chicago, on the twenty-first day of May, 1868, make the following declaration of principles:

We congratulate the country on the assured success of the reconstruction policy of Congress, as evinced by adoption, in the majority of States lately in rebellion, of constitutions securing equal civil and political rights to all; and it is the duty of the government to sustain those institutions, and to prevent the people of such States from being remitted to a state of anarchy.

The guarantee by Congress of equal suffrage to all loyal men at the South was demanded by every consideration of public safety, of gratitude, and of justice, and must be maintained; while the question of suffrage in all the loyal States properly belongs to the people of those States.

We profoundly deplore the untimely and tragic death of Abraham Lincoln, and regret the accession to the presidency of Andrew Johnson, who has acted treacherously to the people who elected him and the cause he was pledged to support...and who has been justly impeached for high crimes and misdemeanors, and properly pronounced guilty thereof by the vote of thirty-five senators.

Of all who were faithful in the trials of the late war, there were none entitled to more special honor than the brave soldiers and seamen who endured the hardships of campaign and cruise....the bounties and pensions provided by the laws for these brave defenders of the nation are obligations never to be forgotten; the widows and orphans of the gallant dead are the wards of the people – a sacred legacy bequeathed to the nation's protective care.

This convention declares itself in sympathy with all oppressed peoples struggling for their rights.

We highly commend the spirit of magnanimity and forbearance with which men who have served in the rebellion, but who now frankly and honestly co-operate with us in restoring the peace of the country and reconstruction the Southern State governments upon the basis of impartial justice and equal rights, are received back into the communion of the loyal people..."

We recognize the great principles laid down in the immortal Declaration of Independence as the true foundation of democratic government; and we hail with gladness every effort toward making these principles a living reality on every inch of American soil."

(The Republican Party, A History of its Fifty Years Existence, Francis Curtis, G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1904, pp. 502-504)