The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1868-07-21
THE PLATFoRsI
- or THE

| The Democratic party, in National Con 8
yention assembled, reposing rs tract in.
the, intelligence, patriotism and discrimi-
mating justice OF the people standing
upon the Constitution as; the foundation.
and Limitation of tho powers of the Go
vernment, and the guarantee OF the liber-
ties OF the citizen, and recognizing the
questions Of slavery and secession as
having been settled, for all time to come,
by the wal, or the voluntary action of the
Southern States, in Constitutional Con-
ventions assembled, and never to be re-
newed or re-agitated, do, with the return
| of peace, demand l-IF
1st. Immediate restoration of all t,Ie
States to their rights in the Union, uni.c
the Constitution, and of civil government
to the American people.
I'd. Amnesty for all past political
offences, and the regulation of the elective
franchise in the States by their citizens.
Sd. Payment of the public debt of the
United States as rapidly as practicable;
an moneys drawn from the people by tax
alton, except so much as is requisite for
the necessities of the Government, econo-
mically administered, being honestly ap-
piled to such payment; and, where the
oblig atoms of the Government do not
expressly state upon their face, or tho
law under which they were issued does
coin, they ought, in right and in Justice.
be paid in the lawful money of the United
States.
4th. Equal taxation of every species of
property, according to its real value, ia
Guiding Government bonds and other pub
lie securities.
5th. One currency for the Government
and the people, the laborer and the Office
holder, the pensioner and the soldier. the
producer and the bond-holder.
9th. Economy in the administration of
the Government; the reduction of the
standing sta army and navy; the abolition of
the Freedmen's Bureau, and all political
mstrumentalities designed to secure
negro supremacy; simpliication of the
system and discontinuance of inuuisitori-
al modes OF assessing and collecting inter-
nal revenue, SO that the burden of taxa
ton may be equalized and lessened, the
credit OF the Government and the curren-
cy made good; the repeal of all enact
ments for enrolling the State militia into
national forces in time of peace; and
tarlt Tor revenue upon foreign imports,
and such equal taxation, under the inter-
nal revenue laws, as will afford incidental
protection to domestic manufactures, and
as will, without impairing the revenue.
impose the least burden upon and best
promote and encourage the great indus
trial interests of the country.
7th. Reform of abuses in the administra-
tlon, the expulsion OF corrupt men from
office, the abrogation of useless Offices.
the restoration of rightful authority to
and the independence of the executive
and Judiciary departments of the Govern
ment, the subordination of the military to
the civil power, to the end that the
nsurpatlons OF Congress and the despot-
ism OF the sword may cease.
Sth. Equal rights and protection for
naturaliZed and native-boin 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, consti-
tntional liberty and individual rights; and
the maintenance of the rights of natural
lied citizens against the absolute doctrine
or lmmutable allegiance and the claims of
foreign powers to punish them for alleged
crime committed beyond their ju. sdic-
ton.
In demanding these measures and re-
forms, we arraign the radical party fci its
disregard of right, and the unparalleled
oppression and tyranny which have mark
ed it's career. After the most solemn and
unanimous pledge of both Houses of Con-
gress to prosecute the war exclusively for
the maintenance of the Government and
the preservation of the Union, under the
Constitution, it has repeatedly violated
that most sacred pledge. under which |
alone was rallied that noble volunteer
army. which carried our flag to victory.
Instead of restoring the Union, it has, |
30 far as is i'll its power, dissolved it, and |
subjected ten States, in times Of profound
peace, to military despotism and negro
supremacy.
1t has nullifed there tho right of trial
by jury; it has abolished the IaJeGs cor
pus, that most sacred writ of liberty; it |
has overthrow the freedom of speech and |
the press; it has substituted arbitrary
seizures and arrests, and military trials |
and secret star-chamber inquisitions for
tho constitutional tribunals; it has disre-
garded, in time of peace, the right of the !
people to be free from searches and seiZ- |
ures; it has entered the post and telegraph
offices, and even the private rooms of in |
dividuals, and seized their private papers
and letters, without any specific charge or
notice of affidavit, as required bv the Or
ganic law; it has converted the American
capltol INTO bastile; it has established a
system OF spies and official espionage to
winch no constitutional monarchy Of Eu-
rope would now dare to resort: it has abo-
llshed the right or appeal on important
coLstitutional questions to the supreme
Judicial tribunals, and threatens to cur
tan or destroy it's original jurisdiction,
which Is irrevocably vested by the Consti,
tuition, while tho learned Chiet Justice
has been subjected to the most atrocious |
calumnles, merely because ho would not |
prostitute his high Office to the support of
the false and partiZan charges preferred
against the President. Its corruption and |
extravaganza have exceeded anything
known in history, and by its frauds and |