The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1868-08-01
THE PLATFoRnr
on TIIn

4 ~ j..
/ g W. OF THE -! ~ 2:i iifti ~
Demo ocratic National Convention,
The Democratic party, in National Con-
vention asseinbled,. feposing its trust in
the intelligence, patriotism and discrimi.
mating Justice of the people-standing
upon the Constitution as the foundation
and limitation of the powers Of the Go
yernment, and the guarantee of the liber-
| questions Of slavery and Secession as
having been settled, for all time to como,
by the war, or the voluntary action of the
Southern States, in Constitutional Con-
ventions assembled, and never to be re-
! hewed or re-aSitatcd, do, With the return
of peace, demand:
1st. Immediate restoration of all the
States to their rights in the Union, un der
the Constitution, and of civil government
to the American people.
I'd. Amnesty for nil past political
offences, and the regulation of the elective
Sd. Payment of the public debt of the
United States as rapidly as practicable;
oil moneys drawn from tho people by tax
alton, except so much as is requisite for
tho necessities OF the Government, econo-
micany administered, being honestly APP
oblig gations of the Government do not
expressly state upon their face, or the
law under which they were issued does
not provide that they shall be paid in
coin, they ought, in right and in Justice,
be paid in the lawful money of the United
States.
4th. Equal taxation of overy species of
property, according to its real value, i'll
Guiding Government bonds and other pub-
lie securities.
9Th. One currency for the Government
and the people, the laborer and the Office
hn1 n 4 L Il
producer and the bond-holder.
9th. Economy in the administration of
the Government; the reduction of the
standing army and navy; the abolition of
the Freedmen's Bureau, and all political
instrumentallties designed to secure
negro supremacy; simpliiication of the
system and discontinuance of inquisitori-
al modes OF assessing and collecting inter
nal revenue, so that the burden of taxa
tion may be equalized aud lcssered, the
credit OF the Government and the curren-
cy made good; the repeal of all enact
mcnts for enrolling the State militia into
national forces III time of peace; and a
tariff for revenue upon foreign imports,
and such equal taxation, under the inter
nal revenue laws, ~ will afford incidental
protection to domestic manufactures, and
as Will, without jmpairing the revenue,
impose the least burden upon and best
promote and encourage the great indus
trial interests of the country.
7th. Reform of abuses in the administra-
tlon, the expulsion Of corrupt men from
office, the abrogation of useless Offices,
the restoration of riglitful authority to
and the independence of tho executive
and judiciary departments Of the Govern
ment, the subordination of the military to
tho civil power, to the end that the
usurpations of Congress end tho despot-
ism of the sword may cease.
Sth. Equal rights and protection for
naturallzed and native-boln citizens, at
home and abroad; the assertion Of Ameri-
can nationality which shall command the
respect OF foreign powers, and furnish an
example and encouragement to people
struggling for national integrity, consti-
tutional liberty and individual rights; and
the maintenance of the rights of natural
lied citizens against the absolute doctrine
of immutable allegiance and the claims of
foreign powers to punish them for alleged
crime committed beyond their jurisdic-
ton.
In demanding these measures and re-
forms, we arraign the radical party for it's
disregard Of right, and the unparalleled
oppression and tyranny which have mark
ed it's career. After the most solemn and
unanimous pledge of both Houses of Con-
gress to prosecute the war exclusively for
the maintenance of the Government and
the preservation of the Union, under the
Constitution, it has repeatedly violated
alone was rallied that noble volunteer
army, which carried our flag to victory.
Instead of restoring the Union, it has.
30 far as is in its power, dissolved it. and
subjected ten States, in times of profound
peace, to military despotism and negro
supremacy.
1t has nullified there the right of trial
by jury; it has abolished tho ha6edS cor
pus, that most sacred writ Of liberty; it
has overthrown the freedom of speech and
the press; it has substituted arbitrary
seizures and arrests, and military trials
and secret star-chamber inquisitions for
the constitutional tribunals; 1t has tiisre-
Garded, in time of peace, the right OF the
people to be free from searches and seiz-
ures; it has entered the post and telegraph
offices, and oven the private rooms of in
dividualS, and seized their private papers
and letters, without any specific charge or
notice of affidavit, as required by tile or
ganic law; it has converted the American
capitol into bastile; it has established
system of spies and official espionage to
which no constitutional monarchy OF Eu-
rope ould now dare to resort; it has abo-
lished tho right Of appeal Oh important
constitutional questions to tho supreme
judicial tribunals, and threatens to cur
tail or destroy its original jurisdiction,
which is irrevocably vested by the Consti-
tuition, while the learned Chief Justice
has been subjected To tbc most n otrocious