, 1864-04-22


fore deciding upon the merits or demerits of
either. Read and "Choose whom ye will
serve:
DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM.
ResolDcd, 1st That we renew our faith
in, and devotion to, the Virginia and Ken
lucky resolutions of 1883, and the an
cient landmarks of the Democracy, which
for more than half century carried our
country safely and prosperously, under all
circumstances, and in all emergencies.
I'd. That we are in favor of the Union
and the Constitution as our patriot fathers
made them, and that we are in favor of al
lowing the reyolted States to return to their
allegiance under that Constitution, with all
the rights which that sacred instrument Sc
cures to them.
Sd. That while we condemn the action of
those States which have placed themselves
in rebellion against the Government, we also
condemn and denounce that usurpation of
tyranical authority which prohibits the re-
turn Of those States to the Union, until they
shall have made their Constitutions conform,
not to the will of their respective people, but
to suit the anti-slavery views of President
Lincoln and his party.
4th, That we are opposed to all viola
tions either of the Constitution, or of the
laws enacted in accordance Herewith; and
opposed to usurpatiOn, tyranny, fraud, ex-
travagance, and in favor Of the maintenance
inviolate, Of every right of every citizen.
9th, That the Constitution is the su-
preme and all controlling law which binds
together the States in Union, and the seve-
rance Of that cord for the abolition of sa-
very is inexpedient, unjustifabe, revolu-
tionary and dangerous, aud demands the un-
qualified condemnation Of all good men.
9th. That we would hail with Joy peace
secured upon the principles of the Critten-
den Compromise or upon any honorable ba-
sis at the earliest practicable moment; and
we condemn all attempts to discourage and
prevent an amicable settlement of our ma
tional difficulties as evincing unworthy par
tlsan hate and malice, aud as clearly unpa-
triotic and disunion.
7th. That we endorse the sentiment of
Senator Douglas that 'this government was
made on a white basis for the benefit of
white men," that we endorse and accept that
Interpretation made by the Supreme Court,
as entirely in accordance with the unbroken
precedent of every Administration down to
the present. 70 the effect that negroes are
not citizens of the United States
8th. That the suspension of the writ of
habeas corpus, the arrest of citizens without
due process Of law, the suppression of free
speech and the freedom Of the press, is in
consistent with the principles of free gov
ernment, and is utterly condemned by the
Democratic party Of this State.
9Th. That we are opposed to all secret
political organizations as being subversive of
our republican form of government.
And it is further
Resolced, BY this Convention, that we
are really in favor of what the late Abolition
State Convention pretended to favor, namely:
the exemption of miners and mining claims
from special taxation, and we will use our
influence to continue such exemption.
REPUBLICAN PLATFORM
Whereos, The Constitution vests in the
President of the United States the Execu-
tive power Of the Government and com
mands him to see that the laws are faithfully
executed, without setting limit to the man
ner in which these enacted powers are to be
executed, it becomes his duty, under his re-
sponsibility to God and the people he repre-
sents, to guard the National honor against
foreign assaults and to maintain law and or
der against domestic insunection And the
corresponding duty which honor, and patri-
Otism will never seek to evade, is equally
imperative on all loyal citizens to stand by
the Government while our National exist
ence is in peril, to "the last dollar and the
last man."
And
Whereas, In Republic there can be no
interest which is not subservient to the pub
lie good: no rights of persons or property
which are not subordinate to the public
safety. Therefore it is
Resoloed, 1st, That as the present slave
holders rebellion was begun in defiance Of
the Constitution, for the destruction of the
National Union-and in view of the afro
cious means employed by rebels and traitors
attempting the commission of this National
murder, we do heartily endorse and approve
the measures put in force by this Admins
tratiOn to crush the rebellion, including es-
pecially the Emancipation Proclamation.
2 That we are decidedly in favor of en-
ployIug the emancipated slaves of the rebels
to fight for the Union.
Sd, That the Amnesty Proclamation for
the benefit of repenting rebels, backed as it
is by the splendid victories of our armies,
has our cordial appreciation as a peace meas
ure, alike honorable and magnanimous.
4th, That we are in favor of the re-elec-
ton of Abraham Lincoln, and do hereby in
struct our delegates to the National Conven-
ton, to be held at Baltimore, to support the
denomination Of Abraham Lincoln to the
Presidency, and we also instruct our Eleo-