The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1868-09-24
Democratic Platform.

The Democratic party in National Convention
assembled, reposing its trust in the intelligence,
patriotism, discrimination and justice of the
people; standing upon the Constitution as the
foundation and Limitation of the powers of the
Government and the guaranteeing the liberties
of the citizen, and recognizing the questions Of
slavery and secession as having been settled for
J ali time to come by the war, or the voluntary
action of the Southern States in Constitutional
Conventions assembled, and never to be renewed
or reagitated do with the return of peace, de-
mand '5
First The immediate restoration of all the
States to their rights in the Union under the
Constitution, and of civil government to the
American people. fi@
Second Amnesty for all past political often
ces and the regulation of the elective franchise
in the States by their citizens
Third. The payment of the public debt of the
United States as soon as practicable; and that
all moneys drawn from the people by taxation;
exceptso much as is requisite for the necessities
of the Government economically administered,
be honestly applied to such payment; and where
the obligations of the Government do not ex-
pressiy state upon their face, or the law under
which they were issued does not provide that
they shall be paid in coin, they onght, in right
and in Justice to be paid in the lawful money
Of the United States. [Thunders of applause.l
Fourth. Equal taxation of every species of
property according to its real value, including
Government bonds and public securities. Re
newed cheering.1
Fifth. One currency for the Government and
the people, the laborer and the ofice-holder, the
pensioner and the soldier, the producer and the
bondholder [Great cheering, and cries of
Read it again.''1 The Fifth Resolution was
again read and again cheered.
Sixth. Economy in the administration of the
Government, the reduction of the standing ar
my and navy, the abolition of the Freedmen's
bureau [Great cheeringl and all political instru-
mentalities designed to secure negro supreme
cy, simplifcation of the system and discontin-
uance of the inquisitorial modes of assessing
and collecting the Internal Revenue, SO that the
burden of taxation may be equalized and
lessened, the credit of the Government, and the
currency made good; the repeal of all enact
ments for enrolling the State Militia into Ma
tional forces in time OF peace, and tariff for
revenue upon foreign imports, and such equal
taxation under the Internal Revenue laws as
will afford incidental protection to domestic
manufactures, and as will, without impairing
the revenues, impose the least burden upon, and
best promote and encourage the great Industrial
interests of the country. p, 7i nast
.s+S
tration, the expulsion of corrupt men from Of
fice the abrogation of useless offices, the resto-
ration of rightful authority to, and the indie
.pendence of the Executive and Judicial De-
partments of the Government, the subordina-
ton of the military to the civil power; to this
end, that the usurpations of Congress and the
despotism of the sword may cease. - s,,,i
Eighth. Equal rights and protection for nat
uraiized and native born citizens at home and
abroad, the assertion of American nationality,
which shall command the respect of foreign
powers and furnish an example and encourage
ment to people struggling for national integri-
ty, constitutional liberty and individual rights,
and the maintenance of the rights of natural
ized citizens against the obsolete doctrine of i'm
mutable allegiance, and the claims of foreign
powers to punish them for alleged crimes COM
nitted beyond their Jurisdiction. Applause ]
In demanding these measures and reforms
I'VE arraign the radical party for its disregard
of right and the unparalleled oppression and
tyranny which have marked its career. After a
most solemn and unanimous pledge of both
Houses Of Congress to prosecute the war exclu-
siYely for the maintenance of the Government
and the preservation of the Union under the
Constitution, it has repeatedly violated the
most sacred pledges under which alone rallied
that noble volunteer army which carried our
nag to victory; instead of restoring the Union
It has far in its power dissolved it and SUBJ
jected ten States in time of profound peace to
military despotism and negro supremacy. 1t
has nullified the right of trial by jury. 1t has
abolished the habeas corpus, that most sacred
writ of liberty. 1t has 'overthrown the freedom
OF speech. 1t has substituted arbitrary seizures
and arrests, and military trials, and secret Star
Chamber inqaisitions for the constitutional tri-
'bunals. 1t has disregarded in times of peace
the right of the people to be free from searches
and seizures. It has entered the telegraph Off
oee, and even the private rooms of individuals,
and seized their private papers and letters with
out any specification or notice of affidavit, as
required by the organic laws. 1t has converted
the American Capital into bastile. It has es-
tablished a system of spies and official espion-
age to which no constitutional monarchy of Eu-
rope would dare now to resort. 1t has abolished
the right of appeals in important Constitutional
questions to the supreme Judicial tribunals,
and threatens to curtail or destroy its original
jurisdiction. which is irrevocabIy tested by the
Constitution, while the learned Chief Justice
has been subjected to the most atrocious calrlm-
nies merely because he would not prostitute his
high Office to the support of the false and parti-
san charges preferred against the President
It's corruption and eatr&vagance have ex-
ceeded anything known in history, and by its
frauds and monopolies it has nearly doubled the
burden of the debts created during the war. 1t
has stripped the President of his Constitutional
power of appointment, even of his own Cabi-
net Under its repeated assaults the pillars of
the Government are rocking their base, and
should 1t succeed in November next, and inaugu
rate its President, we will meet as a subject and
conquered 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 the United States threw off all sub
lection to the British Crown, the privilege and
brust of suffrage have belonged to the several
States, and have been granted, regulated and
controlled exclusively by the political power of
aeh State respectively, and that any attempt
by Congress- on any pretext whatever, to de-
prive any State of this right, or interfere with
It's exercise is fragrant usurpation of power
which can find no warrant in the Constitution,
5d il sanctioned by the people, will subvers
our form of Government, and can only end in a
single, centralized and consolidated Govern
ment, in which the separate existence of the
States will be entirely absorbed and an unlimi-
ted dtespotism be established instead of a. Fed
ersl Union of equal States, and that we regard |
the reconstruction acts SO called, of Congress as
usurpations and unconstitutional and reyolu- |
tionary and void. S1 10 .7-rt., zfif5fi ~ ., |
That our soldiers and sailors who carried the,
nag Of our country to victory against most |
gallant and determined foe, must ever be grate- I
fully remembered, and all the guarantees given \
in their favor must be faithfully carried into !
execution. as S..
That the public lands should be distributed as |
widely ameng the people, and be disposed Of
either under the presumption of homestead |
lands and sold in reasonable quantities, and 70
RQae bat aesAaI ossupants, at the miaimtas
.zaHC- ssIc1 go s,1sfgs 81