Natchitoches spectator., 1868-07-21
Platform Of the Democratic Party.


ADOPTED IN CONVENTION AT NEW
YORK, JULY z, 1865.
\ Ihe democratic Party, in National
convention assembled, reposing it's trust
In the intelligence, patriotism and dis
cnmlnating justice of the people, stand
ing upon the constitution as the founda.
ton and limitation of the powers of the
,GoVernment, and the guarantee of the
iioertles of the citizen, and recognizing
the questions of slavery and secession
as having been settled for all time to
come, by the war or the voluntary action
OF the Southern States, In constitutional
convention assembled, and never to be
renewed or reagitated, do, with the re-
turn OF peace, demand
l. The immediate restoration of all
the States to their rights in the Union.
under the Constitution, and of civil gov
ernment to the American people.
q Amnesty for all past political of
fences, and the regulation of the elective
franchise in the States by their citizens,
ana the payment of the public debt of
cable.
3. All money drawn from the people
by taxation; except so muoh as is re.
quisite for the necessities of the govern
men economically administered, to be
honestly applied to ouch payment, and
where the obligations ofthe government
do not expressly state upon their face OF
the law under which they were issued
does not provide that they shall be paid
in coin, they ought in right and Justice
to be paid in the lawful money of the
United States.
4. Equal taxation of every species of
property, according to it's real value, in
Guiding Government bonds and other
Dublic securities
B. One currency for the government
and the people, the laborer and the
office-holder, the penSloner and the SOL
der, the producer and the bondholder.
g. Economy in the administration of
the Government; the reduction of the
standing army and navy; the abolish
ment of the FreedmeD's Bureau and all
political instrumentalities designed to
secure negro supremacy; the simplifca-
tion of the system and discontinuance of
the lnquisitoria1 boards of assessing and
collecting internal revenue, so that the
burden of taxation may be equalized
and lessened, the credit of the Govern
ment 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 revenue
laws as will afford incidental protection
to domestic manufactures, and as will, !
without impairing the revenue, impose
the least burden upon and best promote
and encourage the great industrial inter-
eSts Of the country.
z. The reform of abuses in the ad- |
the expulsion of corrupt
men from office, the abrogation of use
less Offices, the restoration of rightful |
to and the independence of |
the executive and judicial department |
of the Government, the subordinatien |
of the military to the civil power, to the |
end that the usurpations of Congress |
and the despotism of the sword may
cease.
s. Equal rights and protection for
and native born citizens
at home and abroad. The assertion of
American nationality, which shall COM
mand the respect of foreign powers, fur
nish an example and encouragement to
people struggling for national integrity,
liberty and Individual
rights, and the maintenance of the rights
of naruraliZed citizens against the alb
sOlute doctrine of immutable allegiance.
and the claims of foreign powers to
punish them for alleged crime commit
ted beyond their jurisdiction.
In demanding these measures and
reforms we arralSn Jne haulcal party
for its disregard Of right, and the unpar-
alleled oppression and tyranny which
have marked its career.
After the most solemn and unanimous
pledge of both Houses of Congress to
the war exclusively for the
of the Government and
the preservation of the Union under the
it 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, it has,
so far as was in its power, dissolved it,
and subjected ten States in time of
profound peace to military despotism
and negro supremacy.
1t has nullified there the right of trial
by jury.
1t has abolished the writ of habeas
corpus-that most sacred writ of liberty.
1t has overthrown the freedom of
speech and of the press.
It has substituted arbitrary seizures
and arrests and military trials and Sc
cret star chamber inquisitions for con-
stitutional tribunals.
1t has disregarded in time of peace
+bo Yiobt of the reoDle to be free from