The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-09-08
THE PLATFORM'


The Democratic party, in National ConVennon do
asmbled reposing its trust In the 1nteln8ence
natriosm, and discriminating Justice OF the people
standing upon the constitution as the foundano1
and limitation Of the powers of the government ane
the guarantee Of the liberties of the citizen, and TO
cocnizins the questions Of slayery and secession 81
having been settled for oil time to come by tho war
or the voluntary action Of Tie Southern States IL
constitutional convention assembled, and never u
be, -renaved or reagitated, do, with the return O.
peace, demand:
First. Immediate restoration OF all the sta'es "
their rights In, the Union, under the constitution
and ofcivil government to the American people.
Second. Amnesty for all past political offences
md the regulation of the elective franchise IN he
States by their citizens. :. l..S
i.t1Htrd Payment of the public debt OF the united
States ss rapidly as practicable; all moneys drawn
Hpom the people by taxation. except SO much as
requisite for the necessities of. the government
economically administered, being honestly applied
to such payment; and, where the obligations OF th'
government do not expressly state upon tieir face
or the Law under which they wee issued does no
provide that they sha be paid in coin. they ought
.in1sht and In JUSTICE be paid in the lawful money
Of tho United States. e
Fourth. Equal taxation ofeyery species of properly
according to it's real value. including government
bonds and other public securities.
Fysh. One currency for the government and the
people, the laborer and the ofaceholder. the PEN
sioner and The soldier the producer and the bond
:holder..c= .ssi'ra :..i- g-i =.
SizA. Economy In the administrationof the gov
eminent; the reduction of the standing army and
;nsyy;:. the abolition of the Ffeedmens Bureau
and all political -fnsrrumentafties designed to
secure pegro supremacy; simpliAcston Of the sys-
tenn, and disconttnnance Of inqnihtoria modes
of assessing and collecting internal revenue, 30 that
the burden Of taxation may be equalized and lessen
ED; fhecredit Of the government and the currency
made good 1.-The repeal Of an enactnents for enroll
in the Btzts militia into national forces In time OF
Speace. and tM4rSor revenue upon foreign imports
x,d such equal taxation under the internal revenue
lsHsss WIN Afford incidental protection to domestic
Sianufacturcs, and as win, without irnpairing the
revenue, impose the least burden upon and best pro-
mots and encourage the great industrial interests Of
the country. - - = -
Seventh. Reform Of abuses In the administration
the expulsion of corrupt men from ONCE the aoro-
gstion Of useless offices, the restoration OF risheui
authority to and the Independence Of the executive
and judicial Departments Of the gqyernment the
subordinaton Of the military to the civil power, tc
The end thai; the usurpsHons Of Congress and the
despotism Of the sword may cease. : a..-4r7
4 q.Eipam. Equal rights and protection for naturanzed
and nStfye-born citizens af home and abroad, the
assertion Of American nationality which shsn COM
mand the respect of fnressn powers and furnish an
eraimp,e and encouragement topeople struggling for
national integrity, constitutional liberty, and indi-
ydusl rights: and the maintenance Of the rights Of
naturazed citizens against the obsolete doctrine Of
immutable allegiance and the claims of foreign pow
es 10 punish them for alleged trime committed be-
yond their Jurisdiction. );
In demanding these measures and reforms we ar
ssR the Radical party for It's disregard Of right and
tho unparalleled oppression and tyranny which nave
marked It's career.
After the most solemn and unanimous pledge OF
both HGuses sfi Congress to prosecute the war '1'
oluAvely for the maintenance Of the government and
the preservation Of the Union under the consntu-
ton, IL has repeatedly violated that most sacred
pledae under which alone was rallied that noble
volunteer army which carried our flag to victory.
nsead Of restoring the Union 1t has, so far as Isl
It's power dissolved II, and subjected ten States In
time Of profound peace to military despotsm and
nsq1o supremscy; It has nulhfed there the right OF
trial by jury; ;it has abolished the haboas corpus
thst most sacred writ of liberty; 1t has overthrow
The freedom Of speesh and the press; 1t has suost-
sdsed arbitrary seizures, and arrests, md military
trials. aud se,ret star chamber ingudaons ipr the
constitutional It has disresaraed iu time OF
N.EAN rhaa
Ind seizures: is has entered the post and tee rsph
offices, and even the priunte roous Of individuals
and seized ther private papers and letters, without
any specific charge or notice Of sfadsVi as required
by the organic law; 1t has converted the Ameri,
Gsn capitol tntos Basle; it has established ssystef
Of spies and oacisl espionage to which no constu-
tional monarchy Of Europe would now dare to resort
1t has abolished the right Of appeal on important
constitutional questions TO the supreme judicial tri-
tns and threatens to curail OF destroy its origi,
nal jurisdiction, which is iTevocaby vested by the
constitution, while thelesrned Chief Justice has been
subjected to the most atrocious calumnies, merely
because he would not prostitute his high ONCE to the
support Of the false and partisan charges preferred
aasinsf the Presidant; its corruption aud e1trava-
rance have exceeded anything known In history
and by its frauds and monoppies 1t has nearly
burden OF the deot created by the war; 1t
has stripped the President Of his constitutional power
of appointment, even Of his own Cabinet Under
its repeated assaults the pillars OF the govern
mant arc rocking on their base, and should 1t suc-
oeed in November next and inaugurate its President
wa will meet as a subjected and conquered ople
amid the ruins ofhberty andthe scattered fragments
.of the constitution; and we do declare and resolve
that ever ance the people Of the United States threw
of An suojection 70 the British Crown, the privilege
and trust of suffrage have belonged to the several
ststes, and have BEEN granted, regulated and con-
tolled exclusively by the political power Of eac'
State respectively, and that any attempt by Con gress
ON any prctsxt whatever to deprive any State OF this
aht or interfere with its exercise, is fagrant usur-
patton Of power which can find no warrant 10 the
constitution, and If sanctioned by the peo-
ple will subvert our form Of government and can
oplyepd In single centralized and consolidated gov
ruuent In which the separate existence Of the States
win be entirely absorbed and an unqualified despot-
ism be established In place of Federal Union OF CO.
equal states and that we regard the Reconstruction
acts fee-called Of Congress as usurpatons and un-
constitutional revolutionary and void; that our SOL
ers ind sailors, who carried the flag Of our country
to victory against most gallant and determined foe
must ever be gratefully remembered, and all the
guarantees given In their favor must be faithful ny
carried into execution.
That the public lands should be distributed as
,ads,,. oa rossibe among the people, and should be