The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1868-08-12
'1IIE pLAllTFoRIlsr
OF THE

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Democratic National Convention.
The Democratic party, in National Con-
yention assembled, reposing its trust in
the intelligence, patriotism and discrimi-
mating justice, of the people-standing
upon the. Constitution as the foundation
and Limitation of the powers of the Co
vernment, and the guarantee of tho liber-
ties Of the citizen, and recognizing the
questions of slavery and secession as
having been settled, for all time to come.
by the war, 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, demands:
1st. Immediate restoration of all the
States to their rights III the Union, un der
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 an use IN the States by their citizens:
Sd. Payment OF the public debt of the
United, States as rapidly AZ practicable;
all 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-
pied to such payment; and, where the
oblig OF the Government 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
be paid i'll the lawful money of the United
States.
4th. Equal taxation of every species OF
property, according to its real value, in
Guiding Government bonds and other pub
lie securities.
5th. One currency for the Government
and the people, tho 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 army and navy; the abolition of
the Freedmeu's Bureau, and all political
instrumentalities designed to secure
negro supremacy; simphiication of the
system and discontinuancc of inquisitori-
oil modes of assessing and collecting inter
nal revenue, so that the burden of taxa
ton may bo equalized and lessened, the
credit of the Government and tho curren-
cy made good; the repeal of all enact
mcnts for enrolling the State militia into
national forces III time of peace; and n
tariff for 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 mon 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 tho end that the
usurpations 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 all
example and encouragement to people
struggling for national integrity, consti-
tutional liberty and individual rights; and
the maintenance of the rights of natural
lied citizens against the absolute doctrine
OF lmmutable allegiance and the claims Of
foreign powers to punish them for alleged
crime committed beyond their jurisdic-
ton.
In demanding these measures and re-
forms, we arraign the radical party for it's
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
tuC uldlulcuduC0 Vi tNC government ana
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 in its power, dissolved it. and
subjected ten States, in times Of profound
peace. to military despotism and negro
supremacy.
1t has nullified there the right of trial
by jury; it has abolished the hdbeaS cor
pus, that most sacred writ of liberty; it
has overthrown the freedom of speech and
the press; it has substituted arbitrary
seizures and arrests, and military trials
and secret star-chamber inquisitions for
the constitutional tribunals; it has disre-
garded, in time of peace, the right of the
people to be free from searches and seiz-
urea; 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 by the or
ganic law; it has converted the American
capitol into bastile; it has established
system of spies and official espionage to
which no constitutional monarchy of Eu-
rope would now dare to resort; il he's sbo-
lished the right Of appeal on important
constitutional questions to the supreme
judiaial tribunals. and threatens to cur
tail or destroy it's original jurisdiction,
which is irrevocably vested by the Consti-
tuition, while the learned Chief Justice