The Placer herald., 1868-12-12
National Democratic Platform,

patriotism and discriminating justice of the peo-
pie. stand upon the Constitution as the foundation
aud Limitation OF the powers of the Government
and the guarantee oi the liberties of the citizen,
and recognizing the questions OF slavery and Sc
cession as having been settled for all time to
come by the war, or the volunteer action Of the
Southern States in Constitutional Conventions
assembled, aud never to be resuscitated, do, with
, The return OF peace demand -
First The immediate rest )raIo on OF all States
to their rights in the Union under the Cousti!u-
tion Of civil government and the American peo-
pie.
Second Amnesty for all political of1enses, and
the regulation Of the elective franchise in the
States by their citizens.
Ihird-The payment of the public debt Of the
United States as rapidly as practicable. all money
drawn by the people by taxation, except so much
ns is requisite for the necessities OF the Govern
. ment economically administered being honestly
applied to such payment. and when the obliga-
tlons OF the Cove rnmcnt do not expressly state
2 gu their lace 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 # the United States.
Fourth-Equal taxation Of every species of
: properly, according to value, including Govern
ment bonds and other public securities
FVh-One currency for the Government and
the people, the lnhorer and the Office holder the
pensioner aud the soldier, the producer and the
bond holder.
Sirth-Economy in the administration of the
Government. the reduction of the standing army
and navy, the abolition of the Frecdmcn's s Bureau,
and all political instrumeutalites designed to
serve negro supremacy; simplifcatiou OF the sys
tem and discontinuance of inquisi orial modes
OF assessing and collecting internal revenue ; that
the burden OF taxation be equaliZcd and lessened
the credit OF the country made good; all enact
nents for the enrolling OF the State militia into
national forces in time Of peace, and tariff ior
revenue upon foreign imports; and such equal
taxation under the internal revenue laws rs will
afford incidental protection to domestic manufac-
lures as will, without impairing the revenue, i'm
3 pose the least burden upon and best promote and
encourage the great industrial interests OF the
country.
SeuenM - Reform Of the abuses in the admins
iration the expulsion of corrupt men from office;
the alpogatio on of useless offices the restoration
ot rishtiul authority to the Independence of the
Executive and Judicial Departments OF the Gov
ernment; the subordination OF military 10 the
civil power, to the end that the usurpation OF
Congress and dcspotism of the sword may cease.
Eighh-Equai rights and protection for natu-
ralized and native born citizens at home and
abroad; the assertion of American nationality
which will command the respect of foreign pow
ers, furnish an example and encouragement 10
people struggling for national integrity, consi-
tutioual liberty and individual rights, and the
ma inIenance OF the rights Of naturazed citizens
against the absolute doctrine OF immu table allie
glance and the claims OF torei gu powers to punish
them Tor alleged crime committed beyond their
jurisdiction In demanding these measures and
reforms We arraign the Radical party for its dis
regard Vi sht and the unparalleled opposition
and tyranny which have marked lis career. AT
ter the most solemn and unanimous pledge Of
both HOUSES OF Congress TO prosecute the war eX
cluslyely dor the maintenance OF the Government
and the preservation Of the Union under the Con.
stltuton. it has repeatedly violated that most
sacred pledge under which WAS rallied that noble
Voluntppr nj Which can lgl N fla n
lnstead OF restoring the Union it has so lar as 1t
is in its power, dissolved it, and subjected ten
States in time oil profound peace TO military des
potism and negro suffrage. 1t has nulided there
the right OF TRIAL by jury; it has abolished tie
hdbeds corpus, that most sacred writ of liberty;
it has overthrowu the freedom Of speech aud the
press; it has substituted arbitrary seizures aud
arrests, and military trials and secret Star Cham
ber inquisiliols ior constitutional tribunals. 1t
has disroSalded in time OF p, ace the right of the
people to be free from search and seizures 1t has
entered the pest and telegraph Offices, aud even
the private rooms OF individuals aud seized their
private papers and letters wi ithout any speciica.
lion or notice OF affidavit. rs required by the orr
ganic law. 1t has converted the American Cap-
tol into Il bastile. 1t has established system of
spies and official espionage to which 40 constitu
tional monarchy of Europe would now dare to
resort 1t has abolished the right of appeal On
important constitutional questions to the supreme
and judioi tribunal, and threatens to curtal or
destroy It's original jurisdiction, which is irrevo.
cably vested by he Constitution while the learn
ed Chief Justice has been subject to great and
atrOcous calumnies merely because he would not
prostitute his high Office to the support oi the
false and partizan charges preferred against the
President. lis corruption and cXtrava gance have
exceeded any thing known in histo y, and by its
frauds and monopolcS ii has nearly dOublei the
burden oil the debt created during 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
Government aie rocking on their base, and should
1t succeed in l,ovember next, and inau uSurate It's
President, we Will meet as Il subjected and con
quered people amid the ruins OF liberty and the
scattered fragments Of the Constitution. And
We do declare and resolve that ever since the
people OF thc United States threw oH all subjec-
tion TO the British Grown, the privilege and trust
OF suffrage have belonged 10 the several States,
and have been granted, regulated and controlled
exclusively by the political power OF each State
respectively, any attempt 10y Congress- on any
pretexi whatever to deprive any State of this
right, or interfere with this exercise, Is hagrant
usurpaiion OF power which find no warrant
in the Cons nstltGtlon, and il sanctioned by the pco-
pie will suhvert our form OF Governments and
will only end in single centralized. consolidated
Governments in which the separate existence OF
the States will be absorbed, and an unqualified
despotism be established in place OF Federal
Union OF co.,qjlal States, and that we regard the
reconstruction acts Of Congress such uaurpations,
and unconstitutional, revolutionary and VOID.
That our soldiers and sailors, who carried the
flag OF our country 10 victory against most gal
liant and deterMincd foe. must be ever gratefully
remembered, and all the guarantees given IN
their favor must be faithfully carried into execu-
ton
That the public lands should be distributed as
widely among the people and should be disposed
ofeithcr under the preemption OF homestead
. ltws, and s9Al iH reasonable quantities. and tC
none but actual occupants. at the mt imam price
established by the Government. When grants O.
the public lands may be allowed necessary tor tho
encouragement OF important public improve
ments the proceeds OF such lands. and not th'
Sands themselves, should be applied.
That the President OF the United States, An
drew johnson. exercising the power OF his oiiic'
in restricting the asgressions OF Congress on th'
constitutional rights OF the States aud the people