The Opelousas courier. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1852-1910, 1868-08-15
The Platform Of the Democratic
E National Convention.
ADOPTED JULY 7th, 1863.

# ADOPTED JULY 7th, 1863.
/ Tie Democratic party. in National Convention
assembled, reposingsits trust in the intelligence,
patriotism and disc eliminating Justice of the peo
/ pie, standing upon the Constitution as the found
j alton and limitation of the powers of the gov
Iernment, and the guarantee of the liberty of the
citizen, and recognizing the question of slavery
and secession as having been settled for all time
ITO come by the war or the voluntary action of
the Southern States in constitutional eonyen-
/ tlons assembled, and never to be renewed or re-
agitated, do, with the return of peace, demand:
/ Ftrst-Immediate restoration OF all the States
to their rights in the Union under the Constitu-
Htien, and of civil government to the American
people f ;# ffat.1 sf#et
Second-Amnesty for all the past political of
fences, and the regulation of the elective fran
ffehise in the States by their citizens. .@
Ihirtl-Payment OF the public debt of the
United States as rapidly as practicable, all
meney drawn from the people by taxation, ex-
cept so much as is requisite for the necessities
of the government, economically administered,
being 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 he paid in coin, they ought in right
and in justice be paid In the lawful money of the
United States. (Thunders of applause.}
Fourth-Equal taxation of every species of
property according to it's real value including
government bonds and other public securities.
(Renewed cheering, and cries OF ''Read it
again @-t. zHsrs fs-y
Fifth-One currency for the government and
the people, the laborer and the office holder, the
pensioner and the soldier, the producer and the
bendholder. tGreat cheering, and cries OF
s.Read it again
The fifth resolution was again read, and again
eheered.
Sixth-Economy in the administration of the
government; the reduction OF the standing
army and navy the abolition OF the FreedInens
Bureau, (great eheersl and all pahtleal instru-
simpii iIieation of the system and diseentInuance
of inquisitorial modes of assessing and collect
ing internal revenue, SO that the huEden OF tax
alton may be equalized and lessened, the credit
of the government and the currency made good ;
the repeal of all enaetments for enrolling the
State militia into national forces in time of penee
and tariff for revenue upon foreign imports,
II and such equal taxation under the internal reye-
nue. laws as will afford incidental protection to
domestic manufactures, and as viii, without
impairing the revenue, impose the least burden
upon and best promote and encourage the great
industrial interests OF the country.
SevenBh-Refornl of abuses in the administra-
tion, the expulsion of corrupt men from office
the abrogation of useless offices, the restoration
OF rightful authority to and the independence
of the executive and judicial departments of the
! / government; the subordination of the military
to the civil power, to the end that the usuIpa-
> tions of Congress and the despotisTH OF the
sword may cease.
Eighth-EauaI rights and protection for natu-
, ralized and native-born citizens at home and
abroad the assertion of American nationality,
"llcl shah coisaaiiai ehe t oa
powers anu ~ - lss gu ns : ~:
constitutional liberty and individual rights !;
and the maintenance of the rights of naturaized
slsiIenS Sss '.la ~ -; f -; .
eaele 49, Wy ~
sfs 70 p.lils sie W
VI In demanding these measures and reforms, We
} arraign the Radical party for its disregard OF
fight, anu thS nlpafaeLea appressloh -
rahny when nave htrheu lts career aL.sf ene 1
Inest seiellti anu uniaiuhoHs p,o7uSo VI , ousii
houses OF congress 10 prosecute the War eAeiu- M. M.
} slFe4y for Ihe maintenance 0I bhe gosefIhntHt
ana the presefSatien OF tne Union anu ahs Coh-
sfiIhtlo 10 has sepeasenis vioisTn MI =. os'
sacred pledge, under when was Taiifea shit no
BILE volunteer army Which carried elF nag 20 VIC
tory; instead OF restoring the onioE, Y mas, SO
tar as is IN It's power, dissolved ana sapJected
ten states, IN Iiles oI pro1oaha psase' ~ =. hlia III
t;fry desp0tism and negro supremacy. l6 mas
nnlHnet the rig OF tflAl ~ jury u aas aoon
! ished the habeas corpus, tiiat most sacred VIII
/ Of Hhefty y has oveEbhroWn the 1feeanm u
speech and press Y as arn.aTafs
seizures and arrests, and nififary tTlals, anu ~
eTet star chamber anaaisiIlons, ior cohsll
/ tribuAals IL hfs dasfegaFdea IA Time oI pe3aet
the right OF the people 20 oe Tree Ifela sesrchss
4 and seizures lt has entered the post ana tei..
graph oifines anu even 1he private Eoonls eI Inal
ylslaals ana seized their pfiVte an iss u.
ters, WIthout any specihea1ioi of hoa.esoI ILL
ayit, ~ required Pr the Organic law " hsss eoii
yeEsea Lne asEieaaa : j.
has estabilshed SYSTEM "a spies anu oHleial g
: pIonage 60 WIflcn no cons ssih.itloni ~ y
Europe would dare TO resoFE; is mas anoiishes
the f1ght Oh appeal On
y =
threatened 20 enr.al of aessrvy iIs
dIefaons Whien = fssle py
stltutinn, WINS 1he iesfIsa LnIsA ~
s 0eell y - J,
merely because ae Rohiu het pToasith.a ms I.