The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1868-08-05
The National Democratic
Platform.

toStStt"s
The Democratic party, in National CUnven
tiOn a. lembied, repssiHg its trust III the inteli
gence, patriotism and discriminating justice Of
the people, standing upon tho Constitution a.
the foundation and limitation of the powers Of
the Government, and the guarantee OF the LID
critics of the citizen, and recognizing the ques
tions of slavery and secession as having been
settled for all time to come, by war and the vol
untary action of the Southern States, In consti
tutional convention assembled, and never to be
renewed or reagitated do, with the return oil
peace, demand,
First. The immediate rcstorG ton Of gil 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 ~ 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 o. the Governncn. do not eX
psessly state upon their face or the law under
which they were issued dses not provide that
they shall he paid in coin, they ought, in right
and justice, be paid in the lawful money Of the
United States.
Fourth. EQUAL taxation of every species Of
property according TO its roal value including
government bonds and other public securities.
Fifth. One currency for the government and
the people, the laborcr and the Office holder,
the pensioncr and the soldier the producer and
bOnd.hold
Sixth. Economy in tho administration of the
government, the reduction of the standing army
and navy; the abolition OF the Freedmen
bureau Igrcat Checrsl, and all political instru.
mentaltieS designed Ia secure negro supremacy
simpliiication of the system and dscOntinuance
of nquisitorial modes of assessing and collecting
Internal Revenue: so that the burden OF taxation
may he cqualized 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 in time Of
peace and tariff for revenue upon foreign i'm
ports; and such equal taxation under the Inter.
nal Revenue laws rs will Afford incidental pro
lection 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.
Seventh. Reform of abuses in the administra
tiOR; the expulsion of corrupt men from office;
the abrogation of useless offices; the restoration
of rightful authority 10 and the Independence
of the Executive and Judicial departments OF
the government. The subordnation OF the mil
itary to the civil power TO the end that the usur
pations of Congress and the despotism of the
sw ord may cease.
uralized and native born citizens at home 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 fore. IL
powers to punish them for crime committed
beyond their Jurisdiction.
In demanding these measures and reforms We
arraign the Radical party for its disregard for
amy which has marked its career, after the
most solemn and unanimous pledges of both
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
il has, 20 far "a il Is in its power, dissolved it,
and subjected ten States in time Of profound
peace to military despetism and negro supre.
macy. 1t has nullifed thsre 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.
re {, and military trials and the secret star
chambers of inquistions for constitutional tri.
bunals. 1t has disregarded in time Of peace the
right Of the people TO be free from search and
seizures 1t has entered the pest and telegraph
offices, and even the private rooms of individ.
uals and seized their private papers aud letters
without any specification, or notice, OF affida.
VT, as required by the organic law. 1t has
converted the American capitol Into Bastile
IL has established q system of spies and official
espionage to which no constitutional monarchy
in Europe would now dare to resort.
II has aboli shed the right of appeal on i'm.
portant constitutional questions to the SUI.
preme judicial tribunal, and threatens toarur.
tail or destroy its original jurisdiction which ia
irrevocably vested by the Constitution while
the learned Chief Justice has been subie cited 10
great and atrocious caluianies, merely because
he would not prostitute his high Office to the
support OF the false and partisan charges pre-.
ferredagainst the President Its corruption
and extravaganza have exceeded anything
known in history, and by Its frauds and monop
olies IL has nearly doubled the burden of debt
created during the war. It has stripped the
President Of his constitutional power OF ap
pointment, even'of his own cabinet. Under It's
repeated assaults the pillars Of the Government
are rocking on their bases, and should 1t sue.
President, we win meet as subjects and con.
qnered people amid the ruinsof liberty and
the scattered fragments ofthe Constitution.
And we do declare and resolve, That ever
since the people Of the United States threw off
all subsection to the British crown, the priv.
lege and trust of suffrage have belonged to the
several States and have been granted, regulated
and controlled exclusively by the political DOW.
er Of each state respectively; and any attempt
by Congress ON any preteH whatever 10 de.
Prive any State Of this right OF interfere with
this exercise is aagrant usurpatien Of power.
which can find no warrant In the Consultation
and II sanctioned by the people win sabyert our
form al government, and can only end In 4 ain
gle centralized consolidated government in
which the separate evidence Of the States will
De entirely absorbed, and an unqualified des
potism Be sstahlished In plase or q Feder.l
anionof eoeqnh States; and Siat We regard the
reconstruction acts, 30 called, Of Congress such
and void; and that onr soldiers and sailors who
carried the flag Of our country TO yiet,rv
against most gallant and determined foe mnst
be ever gratefally remenabered, and an eusran.
lies given in the Jaw must be faithfully carried