Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1868-06-19
The Platform of the Democratic PARTY
In tho Coming ELECTION,

York World TO be incorporated in the
platform Of principles to bo adopted
"y tho Now York Convention, arc re.
cciving severe criticism at the hands
Of the ablest Of the Conservative jour
,ab. Tho HorA holdlyavows tho nc.
ccsslty Of yielding something of prin-
c;pIe to achieve tho success of tho par,
~, and for the purpose Of securing tho
negro voto of.the South, of recognizing
the present negro constitutions. 1t
proposes that the Convention shall rec.
"snixo negro suffragein tho South upon
the ground that 1t is already estab-
lished by law, and has been exercised
in tho formation Of the present consti.
tutions. 1t has been admitted that
the laws under which this right has
been exercised, are illegal and uncon.
etitutionai, but it is now gravely pro-
posed TO mako tho Democratic party
;an accessory to this great crime
against tho Constitution and the rights
of the South, by recognizing and en-
dorsihg it. as an established fact.
What is this but baee abandonment
Of WhatoVcr is distinctive in the prir.
riples 'f tho party, and going over
h' dy and soul to the enemy. To SO.
cure the negro vote the party is TO
recognize an Africanizcd South; to be
Radical in all else than the name.
IF thorc is any difference, says the
A"hUigcncer, between tho platform of
The Kadical party aud that of the
. Harld, it is certainly not enough to
"gi.ato the country for in presidcn-
1ial canvass, If Radical ideas, doc
trincs, and acts arc 10 DO carried out
in tho Government, thon it is simply
1air that tho work should be commit
ted to Republican hands. The position
Of the Worid is tnat the issue Of negro
suffrage in the South is 10 be deter.
mined, not by tho Constitution or the
wishes of tho white population, but by
Tho negroizol governments them.
selves, controlled by negroes, and
thackicc by test oaths binding tho vo.
Ter TO swear to accept negro suffrage,
Outside. Of tho machinery set up by
the bayonet and siIod by fraud, says
,ie Horlsl, the whites must not look,
and therefore the oaso is compared to
the extension Of the ballot TO white
voters in England who are tax.pay crs.
Wo imagine the Southern people
would much prefer honcst and outspo.
ken ll'dicslism TO such jecring mock
cry as this but VIC proceed. The con-
clusion OF Tho World, therefore, is that
negro suffrage is fixed fact, and that
the South has only two alternative
ono TO persuade tho negroes to svo:e
against their own right to vote,' and
tue othor' 10 persuade them to uso
that right for tho advantage of tho
community
Tho views Ct The ForH wo cannot
believe will meet with any encour-
agement at the approaching Conven-
tion. Thcy could only hnye emana.
ted from a 'urnal which has been re.
reatedIy charged, with treachery and
deceit, and which only recently had
the importinonce to road Mr. Vallan.
'iighnm out of the party. AS set
oil, read the.follewing resolutions of
the Democratic State Convention
hold in Connecticut last week, which
have tho ring of tho true metal:
Resolved, That the present crisis in our
n~'iooaI aff-irs demands from every lover
OF constitutional liberty increasing effor.
f"r the overthrow Of the party that has
'rampIed under foot the principles, the
''"axns and the policy Of tho founders Of
our Government, and has consolidated, al
as it can, its legislative, executive and
judicial branches iuto great and despotic
empire, under the sway Of an irresponsible
caucus.
Resolved, That while we adhere 10 tho
belief that our Union was designed 10 bs
perpetual, and therefore incapable of disso-
'u'ion@by the determination of any State
to seceds, we nevertheless MAINTAIN will
renewed zeal the doctrine Of the Cous,itu-
ton that the States arc sovereign 10 all ,be
powers not delegated to the General Gov
erhment.
Resolved TINT We regard tue Rcconstruc
tion Acts OF Congress, The military des-
potism and the Freedmau's Bureau n,
wanton violations Of the rights, dignity
and equality Of the States, and if uurebu
ked by The people viii result in the entire
destruction Of personal liberty in til,
North as we'll as In the South, aud leav.
the country In worse condition than If th,
Asrs'y Of secession had prevailed.
Resolved, That the party which, has rs
pudiated the Constitution and the soleror
oatls Of its members to MAINTAIN it-wbi,l
has reradia'ed its pledge TO the world &c
restore the States to the Union wilhou
the loss, Of tteiv original character, canno
he trusted in any Of it's present or futur
promises, and ieast OF all, IN iis pledge I;