The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1868-10-09
THE PLATFORM
OF THE
Democratic National Convention.

The Democratic party, in National Con-
vention assembled, reposing it's 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
vernment, and the guarantee of the liber-
ties 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 Con-
ventions assembled, and never to be re-
newed or re-agitated, do, with the return
of peace, demand:
1st. Immediate restoration of all the
States to their rights in the Union, under
the Constitution, and of civil government
to the American people.
I'd. Amnesty for all past political
offences, and the regulation of the elective
franchise in the States by their citizens.
3D.. Payment of the public debt of the
United States as rapidly az practicable;
all moneys drawn from the people by tax
alton, except SO much as is requisite for
the necessities of the Government, econo-
mlcally administered, being honestly ap-
piled to such payment; and, where the
oblig ations 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 every species OF
property, according to its real value, in
Guiding Government bonds and other pub
lie securities.
5th. One currency for the Government
and the people, the labOrer and the Office
holder, the pensioner and the soldier, the
produce. and the bond-holder.
9Th EcOnOmv in fba a1 OF fipr oS
the Government; the reduction OF the
standing army and navy; the abolition of
the Freedmen's Bureau, and all political
instrumentalities designed to secure
negro supremacy; simplifcation of the
| system and discontinuance of inquisitori-
al modes of assessing and collecting inter-
nal revenue, 30 that the burden Of taxa
tion may be equalized and lessened, the
| credit of the Government and the curren-
| cy made good; the repeal of all enact
ments for enrolling the State militia into
national forces in time of peace; and a
| tariff for revenue upon foreign imports,
and such equal taxation, under the inter-
nal 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 indus
trial interests of the country.
| 7th. Reform OF abuses in the administra-
tloH, INC expulsion OF corrupt men from
office, the abrogation of useless Offices,
the restoration of rightful autRority to
and the Independence of the executive
and judiciary departments of the Govern
| ment, the subordination of the military to
the civil power, to the end that the
usurpations of Congress and the despot-
ism OF the sword may cease.
9Th. Equal rights and protection for
naturalized and native-boin 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 imniutable allegiance and the claims Of
foreign powers to punish them for alleged
crime committed beyond their jurisdic-
ton. - .r-.,.
In demanding these measures and re-
| forms, We arfAign the radical party for it's
| disregard OF right, and the unparalleled
oppression and tyranny which have mark
! ed its career After the most solemn and
unanimous pledge OF both HOuses OF Con-.
gress to prosecute the war exclusively tor
the maintenance of the Goyernhdent ana
the preservation of the Union, under the
Constitution, 1t has repeatedly violated
that most sacred pledge. under which
alone was rallied that. noble volunteer