The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1864-09-08

|. ii. PENDLEToN for Vice President, like
y wise agreed on and adopted the follow.
ii ing
PLATFORM.
Resolred, That in the future, as in the
past, we will adhere with unswerving f.
deity to the Union under the Constltu-
e tion as the only solid foundation of our
strength, security, and happines as peo.
pie, and as framework Of government e.
qually conducive to the welfare and pros
perity of all the States, both Northern
and Southern
Resolccd, That this Convention does
explicitly declare, as the sense o. the A.
mcrican people, that, after four years of
failure to restore the Union by the exper-
ment Of war, during which, under the
pretense of a military necessity or war
power higher than the Constitution, the
Constitution itself has been disregarded
in every part, and public liberty and pri-
vate right alike trodden down, and the
material prosperity Of the country essen
TALLY impaired, justice, humanity, liber-
ty, and the public welfare, demand that
immediate efforts be made for a cessation
of hostilites, with view to an ultimate
Convention of all the States, or other
peaceable means to the end that at the
earliest practicable moment peace may be
restored on the basis Of the Federal Union
of the States.
Rcsotced, That the direct interference
of the military authority Of the United
States in the recent elections held In
Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri and Della
ware, was a shameful violation of the
Constitution, and the repetition of such
acts in the approaching election will be
held as revolutionary, and resisted with
all the means and power under our con-
troll.
Rcso7ced, That the aim and object Of
the Democratic party is to preserve the
Federal Union and the rights of the States
unimpaired; and they hereby declare that
they consider the Administrative usurpa-
tion of extraordinary and dangerous pow
ers not granted by the Constitution, the
subversion of the civil by military arrest,
Imprisonment, trial and sentence Of A
merican citizens in States where civil law
exists in f1ll force the suppression of
freedom of speech and of the press, thG
denial Of the right Of asylum, the open
aud avowed disregard Of State rights, the
employment Of unusual test-oaths, and
1.-THE interference with and denial of the
/ right Of the people to bear arms, as calcu-
/ lated to prevent a restoration Of the Union
and the perpetration of government de-
irving its just powers from the consent OF
/ the governed.
Reso7ccd, That the shameful disregard
of the Administration to It's duty in res
pect 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.
Resolccd, That the sympathy of the
4 Democratic party is heartily and earnest
" extended to the soldiery of our army,
who are and have been in the field un-
/ der the flag of our country; and, in the
event of our attaining power, they viii
receive all the care and protection, regard
and kindness, that the brave soldiers of
the Republic have so nobly earned.
This Platform, it viii be seen. in no
manner condemns, even by implication,
the gigantic Rebellion which has 50 long
crimsoned our fields with the most pre-
cous blood Of our couDtrymen. 1t con-
ceals the facts chat the war, inaugurated
by the Rebels alone, and that they had
wrenched from the nation nearly half its
fortresses, armories, arsenals, sub treasu-
ries. mints, custom houses, &c, &C., and
made prisoners of the bulk of its little ar
my, before single shot was fired on the
side of the Union. The Rebel chieftains
who falsely, viIlainously asserted, directly
after the taking Of Fort Sumpter, that
Lincoln and tie Abo{itionists had de-
clared acar on the South, and dragged
Virginia, North Carolina and Arkansas
into the abyss Of secession, under the
) plea of necessary self-defenSe, are practi-
cally countenanced and upheld by this
, vile Platform, which speaks as though
the war had been wantonly inaugurated
on the part of the National authorities,
and might have been avoided had they
chosen. There is not one word in this
Platform which even intimates that the
Rebels have done any wrong, OF that the
Government in resisting their efforts has
done any thing right.
The Democratic Platform demands
wholly and unqualifedly that the war
shall, on the part of the Union, be stop
ped. Suppose this were done tomorrow
President Lincoln sends an envoy to JEFF.
Davis, saying, HLct us have cessation.of
hostilities. "Certainly," responds JEFF.
, "Withdraw your forces from the Confed-
eracy, raise your blockade, and | agree
to an armistice" (The Rebels have all
ready indicated that they will have no
other.) Suppose this were conceded
must not every European Government at
, once recognize the Confederaey? On
what ground could any refuse? We
+ should have given up the contest, and re-
tired baiIded and defeated Europe is
fon,;sb;no for Cation and Naval Stores