The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1867-06-27
The .Democratiov State Convention.
PLATFORM

Court, profoundly grateful to the Supreme
Ruler of the universe for the return OF
peace to our beloved country, but deeply
anxious on account of trials and delays
winch impede the complete restoration
and reunion of all the States, and apprc
ciating the dangers which still threaten
the safety of our political institutions and
tie future peace, liberty, and prosperity
of the people, resolve:
First. That We steadfastly adhere to
the principles of civil government estab-
lished by the founders of the Union, and
in the present conflict of Legislative usur-
patton, with constitutional law we esteem
a wise, upright, and fearless judiciary the
greatest bulwark of public liberty and in
dividual rights.
Second. That the union of the States
is perpetual, and the Federal Government
supreme within its Constitutional limits.
Third That representation in the Con-
gress of the United States and in the
Electoral College is a right fundamental
aud indestructible in its nature, and abid-
ing in every State being a duty as well
as right pertaining to the people of
every State, and essential to our republi
can system Of government, its denial is
the destruction of the Government itself.
Fourth. Each State having under the
Constitution the exclusive right to pre-.
scribe qualifications of its own electors,
we proclaim as usurpation and outrage
the establishment of negro suffrage in any
of the States by the coercive exercise of
the Federal power; and we shall resist to
the last resort the threatened measures Of
the leaders of the Republican party in
Congress with the regulations of the cleo
tive franchise in the State of Pennsyl-
vania.
Fifth. That we are opposed to any
amendment of the Constitution of this
State giving to negroes the right of suf
frage.
Sirth. That the failure of the tariff
bill in the last session of the late Con-
sress, more than three fourths of the mem
bers of which belonged to the Republi-
can party, is an illustration of their in
idenlity to their pledges and neglect Of
their professions in relation to the great
industrial and financial interests of the
country.
Seveath. That the Radical majority in
Congress, and those who sustain them,
have overthrown the Constitution, dis.
mcnbered the Federal Union, and sub
verted republican government by long
series of usurpations, among which are
the following The denial of the rights
of the States Of the Union to representa-
ton in Congress the treatment of ten
States as subjugated provinces, and gov
ernins them by military force in time Of
peace the enactment Of laws denying in
demnity for arrests and false. imprison
ment, made without authority of law
the resistance of authority of civil tri
buuals and their overthrow by substitu-
ton of military commissions for the trial
of underlined offences their efforts to des
troy executive and judicial departments
of the Government, by threatened i'm
parchment to control executive action, and
projected remodeling of the Supreme
Court of the United States to force obe
dience to Congressional mandates the
election from their seats in the Federal
Senate and House of members duly and
legally chosen the purpose of confisca-
ton, in violation of the declaration of the
rights avowed by the Republican leaders
aud other guarantees of Federal and State
Constitutions, tending, as it it does, to
destroy all protection to private property,
advances them far on the high road to
Reputation.
Eighth. That strict conformity, both
by Federal and State Governments, to all
powers, restrictions, and guarantees, as
contained in the Constitution of the Uni
ted States, a rigid and wise economy in
the administration of public affairs, and
the election of capable, honest, and patrio-
tic men to Office, are measures absolutely
necessary to restore public confidence,
avert national bankruptcy, and to insure
the perpetuity of our free institutions.
Ninth. That the late Republican Le-
gislature Of this State has distinguished
itself for the number of its unwiso and
unconstitutional enactments. Some of
these laws have already been judicially
determined to be unconstitutional; others
are unwise, inexpedient, oppressive. and
fantaical, and the members who sustained
them should be condemned by the peo-
pie at the polls.
Tenth. That the power and success of
the Democaatic party greatly depend on
the character and efficiency of its news
paper press, and that, to give due force
to its usefulness, this convention earnest
ly request that in every county all the
members Of the Democratic party should
make vigorous efforts to increase in cir
culation by giving it their individual pat
ronage and support.
E3erenth. That the Democracy of Penn
sylvania, by their representatives now as
sembled, hereby tender acknowledgements
and thanks to the Hon. George W Wood
ward, in his retirement from the position
of Chief Justice of this Commonwealth
for the pure, faithful, and able manner in
which he discharged the duties of that
exalted position