The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1868-10-16
The National Democratic
Platform.

The Democratic party, III NaIlOual CuHNcH-
ton assembled repesing its trust in the intclli.
gence, 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 llO'
critics of the citizen, and recognizing the ques-
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 cOnsti.
tutional 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 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 eN-
pressly state upon their face, or the law under
which they were issued does not provide that
they shall be paid IN coin, they ought, il 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.
the people the laborer and the office holder,
the pensOner 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 Freedmen 4
bureau great cbeersl, and all political instru.
mentalities designed TO secure negro supremacy;
simplitcatiOn OF the system and discontinuance
of inquisitOrial modes of assessing and collecting
Internal Revenue; so that the burden of taxation
may be equalized and lessened 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 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 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
tioR: the expulsion of corrupt men from office;
the abrOgation of useless Offices the restoration
of rightful authority tn 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
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
usent TO people struggling for national integri.
ty constitutional liberty and individual rights,
and the maintenance of the rights of naturaliZ-
ed citizens against the absolute doctrine Of i'm.
mutabe allegiance, and the claims OF foreign
powers TO punish them 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
an, -rrhf oh haa GaH r.
most solemn and unanimous pledges OF both
houses Of Congress TO prosecute the war e1clu'
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
it has so far as il is in it power, dissolved II,
and subjected ten States in time OF profound
peace TO military despetism and negro supre.
macy. 1t has nullifed thSre the rgnt oil trlAl
by Jury. 1t has abolished the habeas corpus,
that most sacred writ OF liberty. II 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 Tn
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 lndiyld-
uals and seized their private papers and letters
without any specialization, or nonce, OF AndA-
Wit, as required by the organic law. II has
converted the American capitol INTO bastlie
1t has established system Of spies and official
to which no constitutional monarchy
in Europe would now dare TO resort
1t has aboli shed the right of appeal on i'm
portant constitutional questions 10 the SD
preme judicial tribunal, and threatens lor,ur-
tail or destroy its original Jurisdiction whiehis
irrevocably vested by the Constitution while
the learned Chief Justice has been suRjs cted to
great and atrocious calulnnies, merely because
ne would not prostitute his high othce 70 the