The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1868-07-14
The National Democratic
Platform.

tHC INdktoIidt SSttioCtdttC
Platform.
The Democratic party, in National CUnyen
ton assembled, repssing its trust in the intelli
gence, patriotism and discriminating justice OF
the people, standing upon the Constitution a.
the foundation and limitation of the powers OF
the Government, and the guarantee OF the lib
critics of the citizen, and recognizing the ques
tons of slavery and secession rs having been
settled for all time TO come, by war and the vol
untary action of the Southern States in consti.
tutiUnal convention assembled and never TO be
renewed or reagitated do, with the return OF
peace, demand
First The immediate restoration Of all the
States to their rights in the Union, under the
Constitution, and of civil government for the
American people.
Second. Amnesty for all past political often.
ces, and the regulation of the elective franchise
in States by their citizens.
Third. Payment Of the public debt of the Uni.
ted States as rapidly as practicable; all money
drawn from the people by taxation, except 50
much rs is requisite for the necessities OF the
government economically administered, being
honestly applied to such payment, and where
the obligations Of tho Government do not ex.
prcssly state upon their face, or the law under
which they were issued dses not provide that
they shall he paid in coin, they ought, in right
aud justice, be paid in the lawful money Of the
United States.
Fourth. Equal taxation of, every species OF
property according TO its real value, including
government bonds and other public securities.
Fifth. One currency for the government and
the people, the labOrer and the Office holder,
the pensioner aud the soldier, the producer and
bond holder.
Sixth. Economy in the administration of the
government, the reduction of the standing army
and navy; the abolition of the Freedmen q
bureau lgreat obeersI, and all political instru.
simplifcation of the system, and 1iscOntiuuance
of inquistOrial modes Of assessing nd collecting
Internal Revenue; so that the burden OF taxation
may be equaliZed and lesssned, the credit of
the government and the currency made good
the repeal of all enactments for enrolling the
State militia into the national forces in time OF
peace, and tariff for revenue upon foreign i'm.
ports; and such equal taxation under the Inter.
nal Revenue laws rs will AFFORD incidental pro.
lection to domestic manufactures, aud as will,
without impairiny the revenue, impose the least
burden upon and best promote and encourage
the great industrial interests of the country.
Seventh. Reform of abuses in the admnistra
tor; the expulsion OF corrupt men from office;
the abrOgatOn OF useless offices; the restoration
of rightiul authority 10 and the independence
OF the Executive and Judicial departments OF
the government Tho subOrdinati0n of tue mil.
itary TO the civil power to the end that the usur.
patiOns of Congress and the dCspOtiSin of the
sword may cease.
Eighth. Equal rights and protection for nat
uralized and native born citizens at home and
abroad. The assertion of American nationality
which shall command tho respect OF foreign
powers and furnish an example and encourage.
ment to people struggling for national intesri.
ty, constitutional liberty and individual rights,
and the maintenance of the rights of natuializ.
ed citizens against the absolute doctrine of i'm.
mutable allegiance, and tho claims of foreign
powers To punish th0m for crime committed
beyond their jurisdiction.
In demanding these measures and reforms we
arraign the Radical party for its disregard for
right and the unparalleled oppression and tyr.
amy which has marked its career, after the
most solemn and unanimous pledges of both
houses of Congress to prosecute the war exclu.
sively for the maintenance Of the Government
and the protection Of the Union under the
Constitution. 1t has repeatedly violated that
most sacred pledge, under which was rallied
that noble volunteer army which carried our
Gag to victory. Instead of restoring the Union
it has, so far as it is in its power, dissolved it.,
and subjected ten States in time of profound
peace to military despetsm and negro supre.
macy. 1t has nullifed there the right of trial
by jury. 1t has abolished the habeas corpus,
that most sacred writ Of liberty. 1t has over.
thrown the freedom of speech and Of the press
1t has substituted arbitrary seizures and ar.
rest, and military trials and the secret star
chambers of inquisitions for constitutional tri.
bunals. 1t has disregarded in time Of peace the
seizures. 1t has entered the post and telegraph
Offices, and even the private rooms of individ.
uals aud seized their private papers and letters
without any specification, or notice, OF affida.
Wit, as required by tho organic law. 1t has
converted the American capitol into Bastile
1t has established system Of spies and official
espionage to which no constitutional monarchy
in Europe would now dare TO resort.
IL has abolished the right of appeal on i'm.
portant constitutional questions to the su.
premo judicial tribunal, and threatens TO cur.
tail OF destroy its original jurisdiction, which is
irrevocably vested by the Constitution, while
the learned Chief Justice has been subie cted to
great and atrOcious caluinnies, merely because
he would not prostitute his high office to the
support of tho false and partisan charges pre-.
fSrred against the President Its corruption
and extravaganza have exceeded anything
known in history, and by it's frauds and monop.
olies IL has nearly doubled the burden Of debt
created during TIE war. 1t has stripped the
President of his constitutional power of ap.
pOintment, even of his own cabinet. Under its
repeated assaults the pillars Of the Government
are rocking on their bases, and should it suc.
President, We will meet, rs subjects and con.
quered people, amid the ruins Of liberty and
the scattered fragments ofthe Constitution.
And we do declare and resolve, That ever
since tue people of the United States threw of
all subsection to the British crown, the priv.
several States and have bsen granted rcgnIatnS
and controlled eyclmsireIv law the noi;,ic,i 49,
or Of each stats resncctirsIy and anr ot,d pUM
bv CONGRESS ON any nratay, wbotaSor ~ Il
~, ~ So of H. 80 - "na'ol W ue
III ~ y. win
uhich ,,n tnJ no -, ~ H.. 49, ", p"M
and IF sanctionr nv the neonIa will snI'rsr, @
iorm of government, and can only end in a sin.
SI;ch the s"nar,t cyistenca OF the Statns - ~
l.. sn,iTcJv rbsnrheG and an ,noroi;sed IN
no,;sm hc sSt,II;SbaJ in n,aHn W. Toa W.
I'm Of co.onoi S,a,ss. and ,bat ,Da rJ IN
ra"onstrnc,dn ncts AZ caIsa os conarsa .,' 'ut
nsnrmat;on and nnsonst;tntiona renoint;o Sn,
vi rn;J and that our soId;ars and .a;iors ~
aCaius, n most Gallant and alarm iua6 foo ,,,,,s,