The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1868-07-25
PLATFORM

pc OF THE
I'd I'd Democracy Of the United State
ADOPTED BY
lg A UNANIMOUS VOTE OF DELEGATES
IN NATIONAL CONVENTION ASSEMBLED.
10 The Democratic party, in Nation
~ Convention assembled, repJsing it tru
,s in the intelligence, patriotism and di
- eliminating justice of the people, stant
% ing upon the Constitution as the found
- tion and limitation of the powers of tl
u n Government, and the guarantee of th
" liberties of the citizen, and recognizin
: the questions of slavery and secessio
a as having = been settled tor all time
come by the war or the voluntary actio
,, of the Southern States in Constitutions
J Conventions assembled, and never t,
renewed or reagitated, do, with the re
: turn of peace,
\ DEMAND,
g FIRsT-Immediate restoration of al
the States to their rights in the Unior
Under the Constitution and of civil gov
/ ernment to the American people.
SECoND-Amnesty for all past politi
: cal ofenses, and the regulation of the
l elective franchise in the States by their
own citizens.
i THIRD-Payment Of the public debt
of the United States as rapidly as prac-
ticable-all money drawn from the peo-
pie by taxation, except SO much as is
requisite for the necessities of the Gov
ernment economically administered, be-
ing applied to such payment; and where
the obligations of the Government do
not expressly state upon their face, Or
where 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
of the United States. [Thunders of ap-
plause.l
| FoURTH-Equal taxation of every
species of property according to its real
value, including Government bonds and
other public securities. IRenewed cheer
ing, and cries of read it again
FIFTH-One currency for the Govern
ment and the people, the laborer and
the ofice-holder, the pensioner and the
soldier, the producer andsthe bond
holder. Great cheering, and cries of
"Read it again.
The fifth resolution was again read
and again cheered.
SIxTH-Economy in the admiuistra-
ton of the Government the reduction
of the. standing army and navy; the
abolitisA of the Freedmen's Bureau,
[great cheers, and all political instru-
mentalities designed to secure negro SUI
premacy; simplifcation of the system
and discontinuance of inquisitorialmodes
of assessing and collecting internal reve-
nue., 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 enactments for
enrolling the State militia into National
forces in time of peace. and tariff for
revenue upon foreign imports, and such
equal taxation under the Internal Reve-
nue. laws as will afford incidental protec-
ton to domestic manufactures, and as
well, without impairing the revenue, inn
pose the least burden upon and promote
and encourage the great industrial in
terests of the country. @.
SEvENTH-Reform of abuses in the
the expulsion of corrupt
men from Office, the abrogation Of useless
othces, the restoration of ,ightful author
ty to and the independence of the Ex-
scutive and Judicial Departments of the
Government. The subordination of the
military to the civil power, to the end
hat the usurpations of Congress and the
iespotism of the sword may cease.
EIGHTH-Equal rights and protection
or naturalized and native born citizens
It home and abroad the. assertion Of
American nationality, which shall com -,
nand the respect of foreign powers and {
urnish an example and encouragement i
0 people struggling for national integri- |
y, constitutional liberty and individual 5
lights, and the maintenance Of the rights I
naturalized citizens against the abso b
ate doctrine of immutable allegiance and o
ne claims of foreign powers to punish
hemfor alleged crime committed beyond
1eir jurisdiction. [Applause.l
HE BILL OF INDICTMENT AGAINST THE '
RADICAL PARTY. T
In demanding these measures and re- c
rms, we arraign the Radical party for a
$ disregard of right and the unparal- {
led oppression and tyranny which have I
arked its career after the most solemn tt
ID unanimous pledge of both Houses s.
Congress to prosecute the war exclu- 2
vely for the maintenance of the Gov G
nment, and the preservation of the to
MON and the Constitution. iz
It has repeatedly Eialadz1 111aslllluua,saos.. q,
cred plelGs, winch was ran
sStsHBb6 volunteer army which carried h,
i flag to victory. Instead Of restoring di
g Union, it has, SO far as in its.power, cl
ssolved it, and subjected ten States, in ca
Nc Of profound peace, to military des- II.
tism and negro supremacy. fe
It has nulliied the right Of trial BY d
~. or
1t has abolished the writ Of Aa5eas id
pas. that most sacred writ of liberty. m
It has oveHhroWn the freedom of ci
asch and pless. Of
1t has substituted arbitrary seizures If,
] arrests, and military trials, and til
ret star chamber inquisitions for Con- gi
tutional tribunals. Ia
It has disregarded in time Of peace th
J right Of the people to be free from co
riches and seizures.
Y has entered the post and telegraph
offices, and even the private rooms Of an
lividuals, and seized their private I'd
'ers aud letters without any specif- th,