The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1868-09-19
DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM.
Adopted by the National Demoorati
Convention, convened at New Yorl
July 4, 1868.


ton and limitation of the powers Of tho Govern |
mcnt and tho guarantee of the liberties of the cit
izen; and recognizing the questions OF slavery |
and secession as having been settled for oil time
to come by the war or tho voluntary action OF the
Southern States in Constitutional Convention as
semhled, and never TO be renewed or Teagitated,
do with tho return of peace demand:
First-1mmediate restoration of all the States
to their rights in the Union under tho Consttu-
tien, and of civil government to the American
people.
.Seeopd-Amnesty for all past political offenses,
and tho regulation of the elective franchise in the
States by their citizens.
Third-Payment of the public debt ofthe United
States as rapidly practicable all moneys drawn
from the people by taxation, except so much as is
requisite for the necessities of tho Government,
economically administered, being honestly applied
TO Itch payment and where the obligations Of the
Government do not expressly state upon their
face, or the law under which they were issued
docs not provide that they shall be paid in coin,
they ought in right and in justice, TO be paid in
the lawful money of the United States.
Foarta-Equal taxation of every species Of
property according 70 It's real value, including
Government bonds and other public securities.
FVth-One currency for the Government and
the people, the laborer and the Office holder, the
| pensioner and the soldier, thu producer aud tho
! bondhodcr
| Sirth-Economy in the aom Istraton Of the
| Government; the reduction of the standing army
and the navy; the abolition of the Froedgnan's
Bureau, and all political instrumentalitics designed
/ TO secure negro supremacy; simpihcation Of the
system, and discOntinuance Of inquisitorial modes
| of assessing and collecting Internal Revenue, SO
/ that the burden sf taxation may be cqualized and
! lessened; the credit Of the Government and the
currency made good the repeal of all euactments
for enrolling the State militia into national forces
in time of peace , aud a tariff for revenue upon
foreign imports. and such equal taxation under
| the internal Revenue laws as will afford Incl
dental protection u domestic manufactures, and
as will, without impairng the revenue; impose the
| least burden upon and best promote and encour-
age the great industrial interests Of the country
.SeEeHh-Ref0rm Of abuses in the administra-
ton, the expulsion of corrupt men from Of
flee. the abrogotion of useless Offices, the
restoration of rigktful authority 10, aud the
| independence Of the executive and judicial de-
par;ments of the government, the subordination
of the military to the civil power 10 the end that
the usurpations Of Congress and the despotism Of
the sword may cease.
Eighh-Equal rights and protection for nat
uralzed and uative-born citizens at home and
abroad, the assertion % American nationality
which shall command the respect Of foreign pow
ers and furnish example and encouragement
TO people struggling for national integrity, con-
stitutioual liberty and individual rights and the
maintenance of the rights Of naturalized citizens
against the absolute doctrine OF immutable ale
glance. and the claims Of foreign powers to pun
ish them for alleged crime committed beyond their
jurisdiction.
IN demanding fLe-s measures ana REFORMS We
arraign the Radical party for It's disregard Cf right
aud the unparalleled oppression and tyranny which
have marked its career.
After the most solemn and unanimous pledge OF
both Houses Of Congress to prosecute the war ex-
clUsiTely for the maintenance Of the GoyeFnmen NJ
and the preservation of the Union under the Con-
stituton. Il has repeatedly violated that most
cred pledge under which alone rallied that
noble volunteer army which carried oar flag 70
victory. Instead Of restoring the Union il has.
fer 5n ifg and arfF ed
ten States. in time Of profound peace TO military
despotiSm and negro supremacy. II has nullihed
there the right Of trial b. jury; it has abolished
the habeas c0rPgs, that mos; sacred writ Of liberty
it has overthrown the freedom Of speech aud the
press il has substituted arbitrary seizures. and
arrests. and military trials, and secret star cham
her iaquisiti0ns for the constitutional tribunals il
has disre-aricd in time Of peace the right oi the
people 70 be free from searches aud seizures; IL
has entered the post and telegraph Offices and
even the private rooms Of individuals, and seized
their private papers and letters without any spe-
ciGc charge or notice of affidavit, as required by
the organic law il has converted the American
Capitol into baste.: il has established u sys
TEN of spies and official espionage 10 which no
constitutional monarchy Of Europe would now
dare 70 resort; il has abolished the right Gf ap-
peal CT important constitutional questions - the
supreme judicial tribunal and threatens - cuTtail
or destroy its original jurisdiction which s ire
yocabiy vested by the Constitution, while the
| learned Chief Justice has been subjected 10 the
most atroceHs calumnies, merely because he
would no; prostitute his high ofice 10 the support
Of the false and partzan charges preferred against
the Prezidcnt- tt corruption and cxtrava agaucc
have exceeded anything known in history, and by
| It's frauds and m0nopolics it has nearly doubled
| the burden Of the debt created By the war. II
| has stripped the President Of his constitutional
power Of appointment, Of his own Cabinet
Under its repeated assaults the pillars Of the Gov
i erament rocking their base, aud should ii
! succeed IN November next and inaugurate it,
President, We will meet a subjected and con
quered people amid the ruins Of liberty and the
scattered fragmaEtE Of the Constitution.
And VIC do declare aud resolve that ever since
the people of the United States threw of all sub
lection 10 the British Crown the privilege and trust
Of suffrage have belonged to the several states,
| and have been granted. regulated and controlled
| exclusively by the political power Of each State
| respectively, and that any attempt by Congress-
on any pTetcxt whatever, to deprive any State Of
this right, interfere with is exercise, is fla
grant usurpaton Of power which find no war
rant in the Constitution, and if nctioned by the
| people viii subvert our form Of Government, and
| can only end in single centralized and eongol-
idated government in which the separate existence
Of the States will be entirely absorbed and an un
| qualified despOtism be established in place Of
| Federal Union Of cOequal States.
And that we regard the Reconstruction Acts $50
called) Of Congress, such, as usurpations and
unconstitutional, revolutionary and void.
That our soldiers and sailors who carried the
nag Of our country to victory against n most gal
liant and determined foe must ever be gratefully
remembered, and all the guarantees given in their
favor must be faithfully carried into execution.
/ That the public lands should be distributed as
widely as possible among the people, and should
| be disposed Of either under the pre-emption Of
homestead lands, or sold in reasonable quantities.
and to none but actual occupants, at the minimum
| price established by the N5oycrnment. When
grants Of the public lands may be allowed, neces-
! sary for the encouragement of important public
| improvements, the proceeds Of the sale Of such
lands, and not the lands themselves should be 80
applied.
That the President Of the United States Andrew
| johnson, in exercising the power of his high Of
fee in resisting the aggressions of Congress upon
the Constitutional rights of the States and the
People, is entitled to the gratitude of the whole
American people, and in behalf of the Democratic
party we tender him our thanks for his patriotic
! efforts in that regard
Upon this Platform the Democratic party ap-
peal to every patriot, including all the conserya-
tive element and all who desire to support the
Constitution and restore the Union, forgetting all
past differences Of opinion. to unite with us in the
present great struggle for the liberties of the peo
pie, and that to all such, to whatever party they
may have heretofore belonged, we extend the right
hand Of fellowship, and hail all such cooperating
with US as friends and brethren.