The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1868-09-17
THE pLATFoRMI !.
OF THE
Democratic National Convention.

Democratic National Convention.
Tue Democratic party, In National Con.
yenhon assembled, reposing It's trust in
the intelligence, patriotism and discrimi.
mating Justice of the people-standing
upon the Constitution as the foundation
and Limitation of the powers of the Go
yernment, and the guarantee of the Iibor-
ties OF the citizen. and recognizing the
questions OF slavery and secession as
py the war, or the voluntary action of the
Southern States, in Constitutional Con.
ventions assembled, and never to be re-
newed or re-agitated, do, with the return
OF peace, demand:
1st. Immediate restoration Of all the
States to their rights in the Union, un Ter
the Constitution, and of civil government
to the American people.
"a. Amnesty for all past political
offences, and the regulation of the elective
franchise in the States by their citizens.
3D.. Payment OF the public debt of the
all moneys drawn FROM the people by tax,
alton, except 80 much as is REQUISITE for
the necessities of the Government, econo-
m!caly administered, being honestly ap-
Piled to such payment; and, where tile
oblig atoms of the Government do not
law under which they were issued does
not provide that they shall be paid in
coin, they ought, in right and in Justice,
be paid IN the lawful money of the limited
States.
4th. Equal taxation of every species of
property, according to it's real value, in
Guiding Government bonds and other pub.
Lie securities.
9th. One currency for the Government
ana the people, the laborer and the Office
holder, the pensioner and the soldier, the
producer and the bond-holder.
!, 9th: Economy in the administration of
the government; the reduction of tho
standing army and navy; the abolition of
the treedmen's Bureau, and all political
lnstrumentahtles designed to secure
negro supremacy; simplifcation of the
system and discontinuance Of inquisitori-
al modes OF assessing and collecting inter-
nal revenue, 80 that the burden Of taxa
ton may be equalized and lessened, the
credit OF the Government and tho curren-
cy made good; the repeal Of all enact
ments for enrolling the State militia into
natonal forces in time of peace; and q
tariff for revenue upon foreign imports,
and such equal taXation, under the inter-
nal revenue laws, as will afford incidental
Protectlon to domestic manufactures, and
as Will, without lmpairing the revenue
impose the least burden upon and best
promote and encourage the great indus
trial interests of the country.
9TH. Reform of abuses in the administra.
tlon, the expulsion OF corrupt men from
ofhce, the abrogation of useless offices.
the restoration of rightful authority to-
and the independence of the executive
and judiciary departments Of the Govern
ment, the subordination of the military to
the civil power, to the end that the
usurpations of Congress and the despot.
ism of the sword may cease.
oth. Equal rights and protection for
naturallZed and native-boIn citizens, at
home and abroad; the assertion of Ameri-
can nationality which shall command the
respect of foreign p' wers, and furnish an
example and encouragement to people
struggling for national integrity, consti-
tutlonal liberty and individual rights: and
the maintenance of the rights of natural
lzed citizens against the absolute doctrine
OF lmnutable allegiance and the claims of
forelgn powers to punish them for alleged
crime committed beyond their iurisdic-
ton.
In demanding these measures anu re-
forms, we arraign the radical party for its
disregard of right, and the unparalleled |
oppression and tyranny which have mark
ed it's career. After the most solemn and |
unanimous pledge of both Houses of Con- |
gross to prosecute the war exclusively for
the maintenance of the Government and
the preservation of the Union, under the |
Constitution, it has repeatedly violated
tnat most sacred pledge, under which |
alone was rallied that noble volunteer
army, which carried our flag to victory.
Instead of restoring tho Union, it has, |
30 FAR as ls in it's power, dissolved it, and
subjected ten States, in times of profound
peace, to military despotism and negro
supremacy.
1t has nullifed there the right of trial
by jury; it has abolished the habeds cor
PuS, that most sacred writ of liberty; it |
has overthrown the freedom of speech and
the press; it has substituted arbitrary
seizures and arrests, and military trials
ana secret star-chamber inquisitions for
the constitutional tribunals; it has disre- |
garded, in time of peace, the right of the
people to be free from searches and seiz- |
ures; it has entered the post and telegraph
oihces, and evcn the private rooms of in
dlvlduals, and seized their private papers
and letters, without any specific charge or
notice Of affidavit, as required by the or
game law; 1t has converted the American
capitol into bastile; it has established a
system of spies and official espionage TO
which no constitutional monarchy OF Eu-
rope would now dare to resort; it has abo.
lished the right Of appeal on important
coIstitutional questions to the supreme
)udiolal tribunals, and threatens to cur
tan or destroy it's original jurisdiction,
which is irrevocsbly vested by the Consti-
tuition, while the learned Chief Justice
has been subjected to the most atrocious
calumnies, merely because he would not
prostitute his high Office to the support OF
the false and partiZan charges preferred
Against the President. It's corruption and |
eXtraYaRance have eYceadad anytb;no