The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1868-07-22
The Platform Of the Democratic
National Convention,
ADOPTED JULY 1868.

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i he Democratic party, in national con-
vention assembled, reposing its trust in the
Intelligence, patriotism and discriminating
Justice of the people, standing upon the
Constitution as the foundation and Emita-
ton of the powers of the government, and
the guarantee of the liberty 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 voIunta-
airy action of the Southern States in con-
stitutional conventions, assembled. and
never to be renewed or reapitated, do. with
the return of peace, demand;
First-Immediate restoration of all the
States to their rights in the Union under
the Constitution, and Of civil government
to the American people.
Second-Amnesty for all the past po!it-
ical offenses, and the regulation of the cleo
tive franchise in the States by their citi-
zens.
Third-Payment of the public debt of
| the United States as rapidly as practicable,
al money drawn from the people by taxa
ton, except so much as is requisite for the
necessities Of the government, economical
" administered, being applied to such pay
ment; and where the obligations 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 in justice be paid in the lawful money
OF the United States. Crhuuders of ap-
plause.)
Fourth--Equal taxation Of every species
OF property according to it real value, in
Guiding government bonds and other public
securities. (Renewed cheering. and cries
of" Read it again.'J
Fifth--One currency for the government
and the people, the laborer and the Office
holder, the pensioner and the soldier, the
producer and the bondholder. (Great
cheering, and cries of /" Read 1t again.')
The fifth resolution was again read, and
again cheered.
Sixth--Economy in the administration
of the government the reduction of the
standing army and navy; the abolition of
the freedmen's bureau, great cheers,) and
all political i.strumentalities designed to
secure negro supremacy; simphfcation of
the system and discontinuance of inquisi-
torial modes of assessing and collecting in
ternal revenue, so that the burden Of taxa
ton may be equalized and lessened, the
credit OF the government and the currency
made good; the repeal of all enactments
for enrolling the State militia into national
forces in time of peace; and tariff for rev.
enue upon foreign imports, and such equal
taxation under the internal revenue laws as
Twill afford incidental protection to domes-
tic manufactures, and as will, without i'm
pairing the revenue, impose the least bur-
Gen upon and best promote and encourage
the great industrial interests of the coun-
try.
Seventh-Reform Of abuses in the adj
ministration, the expulsion of corrupt men
from office, the abrogation of useless off
ees, 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 70 fha hat 4,
tions of Congress and the despotisnl of the
sword may cease.
Eighth-Equal rights and protection for
naturalized and natiye-born citizens at
home and abroad; the assertion of Ameri-
can nationality, which shall command the
respect of foreign powers and furnish an
example and encouragement to people
struggling for national integrity, constitu-
tional liberty and individual rights; and
the maintenance of the rights of natural
of immutable allegiance and the claims of
foreign powers to punish them for alleged
crimes committed beyond their jurisdic-
ton. {Applause.)
In demanding these measures and re
forms, we arraign the Radical party for lis
disregard of right and the unparalleled OPP
preston and tyranny which have marked
its career after the most solemn and unan-
inious pledge of both Houses of Congress
to prosecute the war exclusively for the
maintenance of the government and the
preservation of the Union and the Cons.i-
tuition. 1t has repeatedly violated that
most sacred pledge, under which was raj
lied that noble volunteer army which car
ried our flag to victory; instead of restor-
ing the Union. it has, so far as is in lis
power, dissolved it, and subjected ten
States, in times of profound peace to mil
itary despotism and negro supremacy
1t has nulliGed the right of trial by jury
it has abolished the habeas corpus, that !
most sacred writ of liberty it has over
thrown the freeoom of speech and press
ii has substituted arhitrarv ea;y,,as .nj