The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1868-10-23
The National Democratic
Platform.

u no ~ dlIOIIdl NOItESSt NSaO
Platform.
The Democratic party, in National CUnVen'
ton assembled, reposiHg its trust IN the lnteLll-
gence patriotism and discriminating Justice oil
the people standing upon the Constitution as
the foundation and limitation of the powers o!
the Government, and the guarantee OF the I'D
critics of the citizen, and recognizing the CUES
tons of slavery and secession as having been
settled for all time to come, by war and the vol
untary action of the Southern States, IN consul
tutional convention assembled, and never TO De
renewed or reagitated, do, with the return oil
peace, demand, >, ,
First. The immediate restoration of all the
States TO their rights in the Union, under the
Constitution, and of civil government Tor 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 u III
ted States as rapidly rs practicable; all moHey
drawn from the people by taxation, except SO
much as il requisite for the necessities OF the
government economically administered, being
honestly applied to such payment, and where
the obligations of the Government do not ex'
nressly state upon their face, or the law under
which they were issued does not provide that
they shalt be paid in coin, they ought, IN right
and justice, be paid in the lawful msney OF the
United States.
Fourth Equal taxation of every species OF
prOnerty according to its real value, including
Government bonds and other public securities
Fifth One CUR ency for the government and
the people the laborer and the office holder.
the pensiOner anu inc sOIuler, the PiouuOoi anu
bond holder.
sixth. Economy in the administration Of the
government the reduction OF the standing army
and navy; the abolition of the Freedmen {
bureau Isreat cbeersl, and all political lnstru
mentalities designed TO secure negro supremacy
AZ and a
of inausitorial modes of assessing and collecting
Internal Revenue; so that the burden OF taxation
NAV be equalized and lessened, the credit OF
the government and the currency made good
the repeal of all enactments TOR enrolling tht
State militia into the national forces III time oil
peace, and 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 as Will
without impairinG 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
ton the expulsion of corrupt men from ONCE
the abrogation of useless offices; the restoration
of rightful authority to and the independence
of the Executive and Judicial departments OF
the government. The subOTdinatiOn of the mil
itary to the civil power to the end that the usur
pations of Congress and the despotism 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 the respect of foreign
powers and furnish an example and encourage
ment to people struggling for national integrl
ty constitutional liberty and individual rights,
and the maintenance of the rights OF naturallz
ed citizens against the absolute doctrine OF i'm
mutable allegiance, and tho claims of foreign
powers to punish them for crime oomihit'eu
| 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 oul
flag to victory. Instead of restoring the Union
il has so far as it is in its power, dissolved IT,
and subjected ten States in time of profound
peace to military despetism 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
right of the people to be free from search and
seizures. II 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 atida
Wit as required by the organic law. 1t has
converted the American capitol into a 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 i'm
pOrtant constitutional questions to the SUI
preme judicial tribunal, and threatens torcur
4 I'll .fvt,t
irrevOcably vested by the Constitution, while
the learned Chief Justice has been suhje 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. It's corruption
and extravaganza have exceeded anything
known in history, and by its frauds and mOnOp,
olies it has nearly doubled the burden of debt
created during tie war. IL 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 il sue.
coed in November next and inauguTate its
President we will meet, a. subjects and a COB.
quered people, amid the ruins of liberty and
the scattered fragments ofthc Constitution.
And we do declare and resolve, That ever
since the people of the United States threw of
all subsection to the British crown, the priv.
lege and trust of suffrage have belonged to the
several States, and have been granted, regulated
and controlled exclusively by the political pow
or OF each State respectively; and any attempt
by Congress on any pretext whatever TO de.
pTive any State of this right or interfere with
this exercise is a fragrant usurpatiOn of power,
which can find no warrant in the Constitution,
and If sanctioned by the people will subvert our
fOrD OF government, and can only end in a sir.
gle centralized consolidated government in
which the separate existence Of the States will
be entirely absorbed, and an unqualified des-
pOtism be established in iplaoe Of Federal
union of cOequal States; and that We regard the
reconstruction acts, so called, of Congress such
usurpatiOn, and unconstitutional revolutionary
and void; and that our soldiers and sailors who
carried the flag Of our country to victory
against most gallant and determined foe must
be ever gratefully remembered, and all guaran.
ties given in the law must be faithfully carried
into execution.
That the public land should be distributed
widely among the people, and should be dspos.
ell OF under the presumption of homestead laws,
and sold IN reasonable quantities and 70 none
but actual occupants at the minimum price es-
tabished by the government. When grants Of
the public lands may be allowed. necessary for
the encouragement Of important public i'm
pToyements, the proceeds Of the sale Of such
lands, and not the lands themselves, should be
so applied.
That the President Of the United States, An.
drew johnson, in exercising the power Of his
high office in resisting the aggressiOns OF Con.
gress on the Constitutional rights OF the States
and the people, is entitled to the gratitude OF
the whole American people, and on behalf Of
the Democratic party we tender him our thanks
Tor his patriotic efforts in that regard.
Upon this platform the Democratic party ap
peals to every patriot, including all the COBser-
yative element and all who desire 70 support the
constitution and restore the Union, forgetting
past differences Of opinion, TO unite with Us in
the present great struggle for the liberties Of
the people aAd that 20 all such, TO whatever
party they may have heretofore belonged, we
extend the right hand Of fellowship. and hail all
such cooperating with US as friends and broth
ers.