The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1868-10-26
The National Democratic
Platform.

The Democratic party, IN NATIONAL CohNen-
ton assembled reposihg its trust in the intelli.
gence patriotism and discriminating justice OF
the people, standing upon tho Constitution as
the foundation and limitation of the powers OF
the Government and the guarantee OF the I'D
critics of the citizen, and recognizing the cues
tons Of slavery and secession as having been
settled for all time to come, by war and the vol.
untary action of the Southern states III consul
tutional convention assembled, and never to be
renewed or reagitatcd do, with the return OF
peace demand,
First, THE immediate restoration of all the
States to their rights in the Union, under the
Constitution, and of civil government for the
American people.
Second. Amnesty for all past political often
ces. and the regulation of the elective franchise
in States by their citizens.
Third. Payment of the public debt of the Uni.
ted States as rapidly as practicable; all money
drawn from the people by taxation, except so
much as is requisite for the necessities OF the
government economically administered, being
honestly applied to such payment, and where
the obligations of the Government do not OK
pressly state upon their face, or the law under
which they were issued does not provide that
uuey suaii nc paId In coin, they ought il right
and justice, be paid i'll the lawful money of the
United States.
Fourth. Equal taxation Of every species OF
property according to its real value, including
government bonds and other public securities.
Fifth. One cur ency for the government and
| the people, the laborer and the office holder,
! the pensiOner and the soldier, the producer and
bOnd.hOlder.
Sixth Economy in the administration of the
government the reduction of the standing army
and navy; the abolition of the Freedmen f
bureau great cbeersl, and all political instru
mentalities designed to secure negro supremacy;
simpliiicatiOn of the system, and discOntinuanCe
of inqusitorial modes of assessing and collecting
Internal Revenue; 80 that the burden OF taxation
may be equalized and lesssned, the credit OF
the government and the currency made good
the repeal of all enactments for enrolling the
State militia into the national forces i'll time oil
peace, and tariff for revenue upon foreign i'm
ports; and such equal taxation under the Inter
nal Revenue laws, as will afford incidental pro
lection to domestic manufactures, and "a will
without impairinG the revenue impose the least
burden upon and best promote and encourage
the great industrial interests of the country.
Seventh Reform of abuses in the administra
ton; the expulsion of corrupt men from office;
the abrogation 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 mil
itary TO the civil power TO the end that the usur
pations of Congress and the despotism of the
sword may cease.
Eighth. Equal rights and protection for nat.
uralized and native born citizens at homo and
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 integri.
ty, 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 a crime committed
| beyond their jurisdiction.
In demanding these measures and reforms we
arraign the Radical party for its disregard for
right, and the unparalleled oppression and tyr.
amy which has marked its career after the
sn1a NIL nf hot
houses of Congress TO prosecute the war eXclu.
sively for the maintenance of the Government
and the protection of the Union under the
Constitution. 1t has repeatedly violated that
most sacred pledge, under which was rallied
that noble volunteer army which carried our
flag to victory. Instead of restoring the Union
it has so far il is in its power, dissolved it,
and subjected ten States in time of profound
peace to military despOtism and negro supre-
macy. 1t has nulitied there the right of trial
by jury. 1t has abolished the habeas corpus,
that most sacred writ OF liberty. 1t has over
thrown the freedom of speech and of the press.
1t has substituted arbitrary seizures and ar.
rest, and military trials and the secret star
chambers of inquisitiOns for constitutional tri-
bunals 1t has dsreEarded in time of peace the
Ri ht of the people to be free from search and
seizures. 1t has entered the post and telegraph
offices and even the private rooms of individ.
uals and seized their private papers and letters
without any specification, or notice, or aflida-
VII, as required Dy Nue organic law. III mas
converted the American capitol into Bastile.
1t has established a system of spies and official
espionage to which no constitutional monarchy
in Europe would now dare TO resort.
1t has abolished the right of appeal on i'm.
portant constitutional questions TO the SUI.
preme judicial tribunal, and threatens tofcur-
tail or destroy its original jurisdiction, whichis
irrevocably vested by the Constitution, while
the learned Chief Justice has been subje cted 10
great and atrocious caluInnies, merely because
he would not prostitute his high office to the
support of the false and partisan charges pre-
fsrred against the President. It's corruption
and eItravagance have exceeded anything
known in history, and by its frauds and monop-
olies il has nearly doubled the burden of debt
created during tie war. 1t has stripped the
President Of his constitutional power OF ap.
pointment, even of his own cabinet. Under its
repeated assaults the pillars of the Government
are rocking on their bases and should IL sue
coed in November next and inaugurate Its
President we will meet as subjects and con.
quered people, amid the ruins of liberty and
the scattered fragments ofthe Constitution.
And we do declare and resolve, That ever
since the people of the United States threw of
all subsection to the British crown, the privi-
lege and trust OF suffrage have belonged 10 the
several States and have been granted, regulated
and controlled exclusively by the political pow
er OF each State respectively and any attempt
by Congress on any pretext whatever 10 de
prive any State Of this right or interfere with
this exercise is fragrant usurpation of power,
which can ind no warrant in the Constitution,
and if sanctioned by the people viii subvert our
form of government and can only end IN slf-
gle centralized consolidated government, IN
which the separate existence of the States VIII
be entirely absorbed, and an unqualified des-
potism be established in .plaee of Federal
union of coequal States; and that we regard the
reconstruction acts so called of Congress such
usurpatiOn and unconstitutional, revolutionary
and void; and that our soldiers and sailors who
carried the flag of our country to victory
against most gallant and determined foe must
be ever gratefully remembered, and all guaran.
ties given in the law must be faithfully carried
into execution.
That the public land should be distributed
widely among the people, and should be dispos-
60 81 under the presumption of homestead LAWS,
ana sold in reasonable quantities, and 10 none
out aGtua! occupants, at the minimum price es-
.SoIshed by the government When grants OF
~! me pnohc lands may be allowed, necessary for
- 60 IL -.