Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1868-07-09
THE PLATFORM.

The democratic party, in national conven-
ton assembled, repoSing Its trust IN the intel
ligence, patriotism, discrimination and justice
of the people, standing upon the constitution
as the foundation and limitation of the powers
of the government and the guaranteeing the
liberties of the citizen, and recognizing the
questions Of slavery aud secession as having
been settled for all time 10 come by the war, or
the voluntary action Of the southern States in
constitutional conventions assembled, and ne
yer to be renewed or reagitated 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 to the
American people.
Second Amnesty for all past political Of
fences and the regulation of the elective fran
chise in the States by their citizens
Third The payment of the public debt Of
the United States rs soon as practicable; and
that all moneys drawn from the people by tax
alton. except so much as is requisite for the
necessities Of the government economically adj
ministered, be honestly applied TO such pay
ment: and where the obligations of the gov
eminent DO not expressly state upon their face
or the law under which they were issued does
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
In demanding these measures and reforms
we arraign the radical party for its disregard
Of right and the unparalleled oppression and
tyranny which have marked its career After
most solemn and unanimous pledge of both
houses Of Congress to prosecute the war exclu-
81 e L., ,.,s,A
and Che preservation Of the Union under the
constitution. it has repeatedly violated the
most sacred pledges under which alone rallied
that noble volunteer army which carried our
flag to victory; instead Of restoring the Union.
it has so far as in its power dissolved it and
subjected ten States, in time of profound peace,
10 military despotism and negro supremacy {;
has stripped the President Of his constitutional
power of appointment even of his own Cabinet
Under its repeated assaults the pillars Of the
government are rocking on their base, and
should it succeedin November nextand inaugu
rate its President, we will meet rs q subugated
and conquered people amid the ruins Of liberty
and the scattered fragments of the constitution.
Resolre9. That in the future as in the past
we will adhere. with answering fidelity, to
solid foundation Of our strength, security and
happiness as a people, and as a framework Of
government equally conducive to the welfare
and prosperity Of all the States, both Northern
and Southern.
Rcsolred. That the Union established by the
constitution is a Union of States, federal in
its character, composed ofStateS thereby united
and is incapable Of existing without the States
rs its continuing integral parts, and therefore
the perpetuity of the Union in its integrity de-
ponds on the preservation Of the States in
their political integrity, the government of the
United States being federal republic and not
a constellation Of the whole people into one
nation.
Resolred, That the perpetuity Of the Union
and the maintenance of the government, as both
were established by the constitution, and as
both under the constitution, have been expound-
Ell in the foregoing resolutions, In conformity
with the venerable teachings Of jefferson. Mad
Sou and Jackson have ever been held as car
dinal doctrines of the democratic party, and
they are now reiterated with increased earnest
ness under the solemn conviction that consti
tutional liberty can be preserved on this con-
tinent only by bringing back the administra-
tt'" va tuS @uhtIullleut 10 luoct uult-Ububltu
principles on which for sixty years, there was
such unparalleled happiness and prosperity,
and in rescuing it from the hands Of those who
have ever held the constitution itself TO be no
better than covenant with death andan agree
mentw with hell, whose revolutionary policy and
measures have brought such general discord,
strife and war, with its attendant ills, upon a
large portion Of the country, and such wide
spread Generalization throughout the whole of
it.
Resolred. That the democratic party in sus-
tanning the federal administration in the late
unhappy conflict of arms did so in good faith
With the hope and earnest wish to maintain the
principles above set forth and with no view Of
waging war on the part of the Northern States
in any spirit Of oppression against their breth-
rem Of the South, nor for any purpose Of con-
quest or subjugation, nor purpose of over
throwing or interfering with the rights or es-
tablshed institutions Of those States, but to de-
fend and maintain The supremacy Of The con-