American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1864-10-19

must be kept inviolate; and that for this
purpose we recommend economy and rig.
id responsibility in the public expendi-
lures, and vigorous and just system of
taxation that it is the duty of every 10y
al State to sustain the credit and promote
the use of the National Currency.
Resoioed, That we approve the position
taken by the Government that the people
of the United States never regarded with
indifference the attempt of any European
power to overthrow by force, or to sup
plant by fraud the institutions of any re-
publican government on the western con-
tinent, and that they view with extreme
jealousy, as menacing to the peace and in
dependence Of this our country, the ef-
forts Of any such power to obtain new
footholds for monarchial governments,
sustained by foreign military force, in
near proximity to the United States.
Chicago.
The Democratic National Convention
which gathered at Chicago on the 29th of
August, and presented the names of Gen.
GEORGE b. MCCLELLAN for Prcsi-
dent, and GEORGE II. PENDLETON
for Vice President, agreed on and adopt
ed the following
PLATFORM.
Resoleed, That in the future as in the
past, we will adhere with unswcrving fdel-
ity to the Union under the Constitution,
as the only solid foundation of our strength,
security, and happiness as a people, and
as framework of government equally
conductive to the welfare and prosperity
of all the States, both Northern and
Southern.
Resolcc7, That this Convention does
explicitly declare, as the sense of the
American People, that, after four years of
failure to restore the Union by the cxper-
iment of war, during which, under the
pretense of a military necessity of a war
power higher than the Constitution itself
has been disregardod in every part, and
public liberty and privatcright alike trod-
den down, and the material prosperity Of
the country essentially impaired, justice,
humanity, liberty, and the public welfare,
demand that immediate efforts be made
for cessation of hostilities, with a view
to an ultimate Convention of all the States,
or other poacoablc means to the end that
at the earliest practicable moment peace
may be restored on the basis of the Fed
eral Union of the States.
Reso1ccd That the direct interference
Of the military authority Of the United
States in the recent elections held in Ken
lucky, Maryland, Missouri and Delaware,
was a shameful violation of the Constitu-
tan, and the repetition of such acts in
the approaching election win be held as
revolutionary, and resisted with all the
means and power under our control,
Resolced, That the aim and object of
the Democratic party is to preserve the
Federal Union and therights of the States
unimpaircd; and they hereby declare that
they consider the Administrative usurpa-
ton of extraordinary and dangerous pow
ers not granted by the Constitution, the
subversion of the civil by the military
law in States not in insurrection, the ar
bitrary military arrest, Imprisonment, tri-
al and sentence of American citizens in
States where civil law exists in full force,
the suppression of freedom Of speech and
Of the press, the denial of the right Of
asylum, the open and avowed disregard
of State rights, the employment of unu-
sual test-oaths, and the interference with
and denial Of the right of the people to
bear arms as calculated to prevent res
toration of the Union and the perpetual
ten of government deriving its just
powers from the consent of the govern
ed
Reso7ce,l, That the shameful disregard
Of the Administered tion to its duty in re-
spect to our fellow citizens who now and
long have been prisoners of war in a suf-
fering condition, deserves the severest
reprobation, on the score alike of public
interest and common humanity.
Resoioed, That the sympathy of the
Democratic party is heartily and earnest
ly extended to the soldiery Of our army,
who are and have been in the field under
the flag of our country; and, in the event
of our attaining power, they will receive
all the care and protection, regard and
kindness, that the brave soldiers of the
Republic have SO nobly earned.
Points of Difference.
The rival Platforms just given, differ
as will be seen, mainly on these points
/. The Union Platform affirms that the