The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1868-08-28
THE PLATFORM
Democratic National Convention.

iue Oemocrhtic party, III NaGouai Son-
vention assembled, reposing its trust in
the intelligence, patriotism and discrimi-
mating justice OF the poople-standing
upon the Constitution as the foundation
and limitation Of the 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 war, or the voluntary action o' the
Southern States, in Constitutional Lon-
ventions assembled, and never to h re-
newed or re-agitated, do, with the return
OF peace, demand:
1st Immediate restoration of all the,
States to their rights in the Union, under
the Constitution, and of civil government
to the American people. ...t
I'd. Amnesty for all past political
offences, and the regulation of the elective
franchise in the States by their citizens. 4
Sd. Payment !. OF the public debt of the
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-
piled to such payment; and, where the
oblig ations Of the Government do not
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 in 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, 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 of
the Frecdmen's Bureau, and all political
lnstrHmentalities designed to secure
negro supremacy; simplifcation of the
system and discontinuance of inquisitori-
al modes of assessing and collecting inter
nal revenue, so that the burden of taxa
ton may be equalized and lesscned, 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 a
tariff for revenue upon foreign imports,
and such equal taxation, under tho 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-
ton, 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
usurpatlons of Congress and the despot-
ism of the sword may cease.
8th. 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-
tutlonal 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 jurisdic-
ton.
In demanding these measures and re-
forms, we arraign the radical party for its
disregard OF right, and the unparalleled
oppression and tyranny which have mark
ed its career. After tho 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,
80 lar as Is In its power, dissolved it, and |
subjected ten States, in times OF profound |
peace, to military despotism and negro
supremacy.
1t has nullifed there the right OF trial
by jury; it has abolished the GaJe0s 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-chambor 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-
ure-; it has entered the post and telegraph |
offices, and even the private rooms Of in
dlviduals, and seized their private papers |
and letters, without any specific charge or
notice or affidavit, as required by the or
ganic law; it has converted the American
capitol into bastilo; it has established a |
system of spies and official espionage to |
which no constitutional monarchy Of En- |
rope would now dare to resort; it has abo- |
lished the right of appeal on important |
questions to the supreme |
judiaial tribunals. and threatens to cur- |
tail or destroy its original Jurisdiction, |
which Is irrevocably vested by the Consti- |
tuition, while the learned Chief 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. It's corruption and |
extravaganza have exceeded ANYTHING |
known IN history, and by it's frauds and |
monopolies it has noarly doubled the bur-
den or the debt created by the war. 1t has
stripped the President of hie constitution
al power OF appointment even of his own
Cabinet. Under it's repeated assaults, the
pillars OF the Government are rocking on