The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1868-10-05
The National Democratic
Platform.

The Democratic party, in National CUnven.
ton assembled, repesing its trust III the lntell,
pence, patriotism and discriminating justice OF
the people, standing upon the Constitution as
the foundation and limitation of the powers OF
the Government, and the guarantee of the lib
critics of the citizen, and recognizing the ques-
tiOns of slavery and secession as having been
settled for all tina to come, by war and the vol
untary action of the Southern states, III consu'
tutional convention assembled, and never To be
renewed or rcagitated. 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 so
much as is requisite for the necessities of the
government economically administered, being
honestly applied to such payment, and where
the obligations of the Government do not OK
pressly state upon their face, or tho law under
which they were issued does not provide that
they shall be paid in coin they ought, III night
and 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.
the people, the laborer and the Office holder,
the pensiOncr and 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 FTeedmen'S
bureau great cbeers and all political instru-
mentaities designed to secure gegro supremacy;
simplitcatiOn of the system, and discontlnuance
of nquisitOrial modes of assessing and collecting
Internal Revenue; so that the burden OF taxation
L., al. 81 aud nt
the government and the currency made good
the repeal of all enaCtments for enrolling the
State militia into the national forces III time OF
peace, and a tariff for revenue upon foreign I'M
ports; and such equal taxation under the Inter
nal Revenue laws, as will afford incidental pro
lection to domestic manufactures, and IA WILL
without impaiTnG 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 administra-
tiOH; the expulsion of corrupt men from Office
the abrogation of useless offices; the restoration
of rghtful authority to and the independence
of the Executive and Judicial departments OF
the government The subOrdinatiOn of the mil
itary TO the civil power to the end that the usur
DatiOns of Congress and the dCSpOtiSm of the
sword may cease.
Eighth Equal rights and protection fornat-
uralzed and native born citizens at homo 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 integr.
ty, constitutional liberty and individual rights
and the maintenance of the rights of naturaliz-
ed citizens against the absolute doctrine of i'm
mutable allegiance, and the claims of foreign
powers to punish them for a 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
flag to victory. Instead of restoring the Union
IL has so far rs il is in its power, dissolved it,
and subjected ten States in time of profound
peace to military despotsm and negro supre
macy. 1t has nullihed thsre 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 ana ar
rest and military trials and the secret star
chambers of inquistiOns for constitutional tri
bunals 1t has disregarded in time OF peace the
right of the people 10 be free from search and
seizures. 1t has entered the post and telegraph
offices, and even the private rooms of individ.
uals and seized their private papers and letters
without any specification, or notice, or aihda-
Wit, as required by the organic law. 1t has
converted the American capitol into Bastile:
1t has established a system of spies and official
espionage TO which no constitutional monarchy
in Europe would now dare TO resort.
1t has abolished the right of appeal on inn
portant constitutional questions to the SUI
preme judicial tribunal, and threatens torcur'
tail or destroy its original jurisdiction whlchls
irrevocably vested by the Constitution, while
the learned Chief Justice has been subje cted to
great and atrocious caluInnies, merely because
he would not prostitute his high office to the
support of the false and partisan charges pre-
ferred against the President. Its corruption
and extravaganza have exceeded anything
known in history, and by its frauds and monop,
olies il has nearly doubled the burden of debt
created during the war. 1t has stripped the
President of bis constitutional power oil ap.
pointment, even of his own cabinet. ndsr It's
repeated assaults the pillars OF the government
are rocking on their bases and should II sue
coed in November next and inaugurate Its
President, we will meet as subjects ana acOs;
quered people, amid the ruins of liberty and
the scattered fragments ofthe Constitution
And we do declare and resolve, That ever
since the people of the United States threw on
all subsection TO the British crown, the priyl'
lege and trust of suffrage have belonged to the
several States and have been granted regulated
and controlled exclusively by the poliical pow
eT OF each State respectively; and any attempt
by Congress on any preteXt whatever 10 de-
prlye any State oil TINS rlEhl OF ln'eLAoiO Win
this exercise is fragrant usurpatlon OF power,
which can find no warrant in the Constitution,
and if sanctioned by the people will subvert our
form of government and can only end IN sin
gle centralized consolidated government, IN
which the separate existence the states VIII
be entirely absorbed, and an un9ualHed des;
potism be established in !place OF Federal
union of coequal States; and that We regard the
reconstruction acts, so called. of Congress such
usurpation, and unconstitutional, precautionary
and void; and that our soldiers and sailors who
carried the flag of our country 10 Victory
against most gallant and determined Toe must
DC ever gratefully remembered, and all guaran.
ties given in the law must be faithfully carried
into execution
That the public land should be distributed
~liaeiy among the people, and should be dispos-
gu OF under the presumption of homestead laws,
ana SOLD IN reasonable quantities, and TO none
guy aetuai occupants, at the minimum price es-
.aonshed oy the government. When grants OF