Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1868-09-03
N.,,on.1 Republiean Platform.


1865, make the following declaration oil prln-
cipies: -, -, -, nc
sured success OF the reconstruction poilcy OF Con-
gress as eyinced by the adoption IN a majority
OF the States lately IN rebellion. OF W Oh,
and regard it as the duty OF the Government 70
sustain these constitutions and TO prevent the
people of such States from being relnltleu 10
state of anarchy or military rule. -,
Second-The guarantee by Congress OF equal
suffrage to all loyal men in the SOUTH was de-
manded by every consideration of public safety,
of gratitude, and of justice, and must pe inan-
tained while, the question OF Suffrage IN an the
loyal States properly belongs TO the people OF
T6trd~We denounce all forms of repudiation
as a national crime and national honor requir-
es the payment of the Indebtedness in the ut,
most good faith 10 all creditors, at home and
abroad, not only according 10 the letter put tne
spirit of the laws under WHICH 1t was contrac-
Fo,rth-It is due to the labor of the nation that
taxation should be equalized and reduceu as
rapidly as the national faith win permit.
FlTh-The national debt contracted as IL mas
been for the preservation OF ths Union loF ,i an
period for redemption, and IL As the duty OF Cen-
gress reduce the rate ofinterest thereon, when
SzthNThat the best policy to diminish our
burden of debt is to so improve our credit that
capitalists will seek TO lend US money at Iowef
rates of interest than we now pay. ana must
continue to pay SO long as reputation, partial
or total, open or covert, is threatened or sus-
pected.
Seueylfh-The Government of the United States
should be administered with the strictest econo-
my. The corruptions which have been so
Johnson call loudly for radical REFORM
Efgh1-We profoundly deplore the untimeIy
gret the accession of Andrew johnson 10 the
Presidency who has acted treacherously to the
people who elected him. and the cause he was
pledged to support; has usurped high legislative
and Judicial functions; has refused to execute
the laws; has used his high office to induce
other officers to violate the laws; has en-
ployed his Executive power to render 1nse-
cure the property, peace, liberty and life OF the
denounced the National Legislature as uncon-
stitutional; has persistently and habitual-
ly resisted by every means in his power
every proper attempt at the reconstruc-
tion of the States lately in rebellion; has per-
verted the public patronage into an engine
peached for high crimes and misdemeanors and
properly pronounced guilty thereof by the OF
Winlh-The doctrine of fGreat Britain and other
European powers, that because nan is once
subject he is always so, must be resisted at every
hazard by the United States as relic of the feu-
dial times not authorized by the law of nations
and at war with our natioual honor and indie
pendence Naturalized citizens are entitled to be
protected in all their rights of citizenship as
though they were native born. No citizen OF
the United States, native or naturallzed, must
be liable to arrest and imprisonment by any for
eign power for acts done or words spoken in this
country, and ii SO arrested and imprisoned, IL is
the duty of the government to interfere in his
behalf
Tsnlh-Of all who were faithful in the trials OF
the late war, there were none entitled TO more
especial honor than the brave soldiers and sea-
men who endured the hardships of the camp
and the cruise, and imperilled their lives in the
service of the country. The bounties and PEN
siors provided by law for these brave defenders
of the union are obligations never to be forgot
ton The widows and orphans of the gallant
dead are thejwards of the people-a sacred legacy
bequeathed to the nations protecting care.
EleUendt-Foreign emigration which in the
past has added so much to the wealth, and in
creased the resources of this nation-the asy
lum of all nations-should be fostered and en-
couraged by liberal and just policy.
Ttrelrfh-This Convention declares its SYM
pathy with all oppressed people which are
struggling for their rights.
Resolved That we recognize the great princi-
piles laid down in the Declaration of Indepen-
dence as the true platform of democratic gov
ernment and we hail with gladness every effort
toward making these principles living reality
on every inch of American soil.
Resored That we 6 highly commend 9th the sRirt
men who have served in the Rebellion but who
now frankly and honesty cooperate with us in
structing the Southern State governments upon
the basis of Impartial Justice and Equal Rights,
loyaI people: and we favor the removal of the
disqualificatfons and restrictions imposed upon
the late Rebels in the same measure as their
spirit of loyalty will direct and as may be con-
sisteut with the safety Of the aoyal people.
Democratic Platform.
The Democratic party in National Convention
assembled, reposing its trust in the intelligence
patriotism and discriminating Justice of the
people, standing upon the Constitution the
foundation and limitation of the powers of the |
Government, and the guarantee of the liberties |
of the citizen, and recognizing the questions of
slavery and secession as having been settled for
all time to come by the war or the voluntary |
action of the Southern States in Constitutional |
Conventions assembled and never to be renew
ed or reagitated, do, with the return of peace, |
demand.
Ffra-Immediate restoration of all the States |
to their rights in the Union under the Consti- |
tuition and of civil government to the Ameri- |
can people.
Second-Amnesty for all past political offenses |
and the regulation of the elective franchise in |
the States by their own citizens;
Third-Payment of the public debt of the |
United States as rapidly as practicable-all mon
ey drawn from the people by taxation, except |
SO much is requisite for the necessities of the
Government economically administered, being |
applied to such payment; and where the obli- |
cations of the Government do not expressly |
state upon their face, or where the law under |
which they were issued does not provide that |
they shall be paid in coin, they ought in right |
and justice to be paid in the lawful money of
F6uth-Equal taxation of every species of |
property according to its real value, including |
E;dhNOne currency for the tioyernment and
the people, the laborer and the ofhcehelder, the
pensioner and the soldier, the producer and the
bondhOlder.
&xth-Economy in the administration of the !
Government; the reduction of the standing |
army and navy; the abolition of the Freed |
mems Bureau, and all political instrumental |
ties designed to secure negro supremacy; sim
plihcation of the system and discontinuance OF
inQuisitorial modes of assessing and collecting |
internal revenue, so that the burden of taxation
may be equalized and lessened; the credit of the |
repeal of all enactments for enrolling the State |
militia into the National forces in time of peace |
and such equal taxation under the Internal Rev |
enue laws as viii afford incidental protection to
domestic manufactures, and as will, without |
impairing the revenue, impose the least burden /
upon and best promote and encourage the great |
industrial interests of the country.
Sepenh-Reform of abuses in the administra- |
tiOn the pXDulSiOQ of corrupt men from office |
the abrogatfon of useless offices, the restoration
OF rightful authority to and the independence |
of the Executive and judicial Departments of /
the Government. The subordination of the !
military to the civil power to the end that the |
usurpation Of Congress and the despotism of
the sword may cease.
Eiqhah-Eqnal rights and protection for natur-
abroad; the assertion Of American nationality, |
which shall command the respect of foreign |
powers and furnish an example and encourage |
ment to people struggling for national integrity,
constitutional liberty and individual rights, |
and the maintenance Of the rights of naturaliz-
ed citizens against the absolute doctrine of i'm
mutable allegiance and the claims of foreign |
powers to punish them for alleged crime COM
mitted beyond their Jurisdiction.
In demanding these measures and reforms, we |
right and the unparalleled oppression and ty-
most solemn and unanimous pledge of both |
Houses Of Congress to prosecute the war e9clu-
sively for the maintenance OF the Government,
and the preservation of the Union under the
It has repeatedly violated that most sacred
pledge under which was alone rallied that no.
Bile volunt teer army which carried our flag to |
victory. Instead of restoring the Union, it has.
so far as in its power dissolved 1t, and subjected
ten States, in a time of profound peace to mill
tary despotism and negro supremacy.
1t has nullified the right of trial by jury.
1t has abolished the habeas corpus that most |
sacred writ OF liberty.
1t has overthrown the freedom Of speech and |
the press.
1t has substituted arbitrary seizures and ar |
rests and military trials and secret STAR cham |
ber inquisition, tor Constitutional tribunals.
1t has disregarded in time of peace the right |
Of the people to be free from searches and seiz-
ureS.
1t has entered the post and telegraph Offices |
and even the private rooms of individuals and |
seized their private papers and letters without |
any specific charge or notice Of affidavit,
quired by the organic law.
1t has converted the American Capital into a |
bastile.