American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1868-09-05
PLAT FORM
OF THE
NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY


o NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC PARTy
The Democratic Party, in Naliono
Convention assembled, reposing its trus
IN the intelligence, patriotism and dis
eliminating justice of the people, stand
ing upon the Constitution as the found
ton and limitation Of the powers Of III,
government, and the guarantee Of III,
liberties Of the citizen, and RECOGNIZING
the questions Of slavery and secession a!
having been settled for all time to come
by The war or the voluntary action of the
southern States in constitutional coLyen.
lions assembled, and never to be renewed
or reagltated, do, with the return Of
peace, demand:
| FIRsr-Immediate restoration of al
the States to their rights in the Union
under the Constitution, and of civil gov,
eminent to the American people.
SECOND-Amnesty for all past political
ottenses, and the regulation of the elect
i've franchise in the States by their eli
2ens.
THTRD-Payment of the public debt
of the United States as rapidly as prac.
ticable, all money drawn from the people
by taxation, except so much as is requs-
lie for the necessities of the government,
| economically administered, being applied
to such payment; and where the ohIea.
tons of the government do not expressly
state upon their face. or where the law
under which they issued does not pro
vide, that they shall be paid in coin,
they ought, in right and in justice, to be
paid in the lawful money OF the United
States.
FouRrH-Equal taxation of every spe
cies of property according to its real
value, including government bonds and
other public securities.
FGFTH-One currency for the govern
ment and the people, the laborer and !
Office holder, the pensioner and the sol
der, the producer and the bond holder.
SIxrH-Economy in the administration
OF the government; the reduction Of the
army and navy; the abolition
Of the reedmen's Bureau and all poili-
cal instrumentalii,s designed to secure
negro supremacy simpiication of the
system and disconlinuance of linguistic.
nal modes of assessing and collecting
Internal revenue, SO that the burthen of
aXation may be equalzed and lessened
he credit of the government and the
currency made good the repeal of all :
snactments for enrolling State militia into
rational forces, in lime Of peace a tariff
or revenue upon foreign imports, and
ucb equal taxation under the internal
evenue laws as will afford incidental
protection to domestic manufactures, and
$ will, without impairing the revenue,
impose the least burthen upon. and best
remote and encourage, the great indus. {
nal interests Of the country.
Reform Of abuse in the ad
lnistraliOn the expulsion of corrupt
zen from office the abrogation of use
ass offices; the restoration OF righlfu
utbority to, and the independence Of,
10 Executive and Judicial Departments {
the government; the subordinaion of
le military to the civil power, to the 0
nd that the usurpations of Congress and
le desPolism Of the sword may cease. 0
EIGHTH-Equal rights and protection
IT naturalized and native born citizens,
home and abroad the assertion OF G
merican nationality, which shall com
and the respect of foreign powers, and b
rnlsh an example aad encouragement
people struggling for national integri
, constitutional liberty and individual L
5hts, and the maintenance Of the rights
naturaIized CT izens against the abso. so
te doctrine of immutable allegiance and
e claims Of foreign powers to punish
EN- for alleged crimes committed be, Ci
nd their jurisdiction.
In demanding these measures and re -
rms, we arragn the Radical party for 49,,
disregard Of right and the unparalell- al
oppression and tyranny which have
.rked its career, after the most solemn d
d unanimous pledge of both houses Of Iva
'ngress to prosecute the war exclusive,
for the maintenance Of the govern
mt and The preservation of the Union 80,
the Constitution. 1t has repeatedly |'T
lated that most sacred pledge. under C.-
iCh was rallied that noble volunteer
ny which carried our flag to victory 49,
tead Of restoring the Union, it has, so '0'
as in its power, dissolved it, and sub =.
ted ten States, in times Of profound pa,
ice, to military despotism and negro
,remacy. 1t has nullifed the right Of
II by jury; it has abolished the hdJcdS
pHs, that most sacred writ of liberty d,
las overlhrown the freedom of speech =
press it has substituted arbitrary
lures and arrests, and military trials, oa-
secret slar-chamber inquisitions, for
tribunals; it has disregard
in time of peace, the right Of the peo-
to be free from searches and seizures;
las entered the post and telegraph
,es, and even the private rooms Of in y
duas, and seized their private papers
letters. without any specification or E "
ICE Of affidavit as required by the or
ic law; it has converted the Ameri- p "
Capitol into basiie it has estab- c c
ID system Of spies and official espi- GEO
ge to which no constitutional monarchy p /,
Europe would dare to resort it has jon
lished the right Of appeal on import ~
constitutional questions to the su tn
ne Judicial tribunal, and threatens TO ever,
all or destroy its original jurisdiction. bis v
CHI is irrevocably vested by the Con. '' f. !
lIion-while the learned Chief Justice eu 7