The Placer herald. [volume] (Auburn, Placer County, Calif.) 1855-1991, 1868-08-29
National Democratic Platform.

=
pie and upon the Constitution as the foundation
and limitation of the powers Of the Government,
and the guarantee Of the liberties OF the citizen,
and recognizing the questions OF slavery and Sc
cession as having been settled Tor all time to
come by the war. or the volunteer action OF the
Southern States in Constitutional Conventions
assembled and never to be resuscitated, do, with
the return OF peace demand
FYrst-The immediate rest )raiion of all States
10 their rights in the Union under the Constitu
ton OF civil government and the American peo-
pie.
Second-Amnesty for all political ofirnses, and
the regulation Of the elective franchise in the
States by their citizens.
TNird-Thc payment of the public debt of the
United States as rapidly as practicable, all money
drawn by the people by taxation, except so much
as is requisite for the necessities Of the Govern
ment economically administered being honestly
applied to such payment. and when the obllga-
tons of the Government do not expressly state
on 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 to be paid
in the lawful money Of the United States,
Fourth Equal taxation Of every species OF
properly, according to value, including Govern
mcnt bonds and other public securities.
Fifh-One currency for the Government and
the people, the lahorer and the offce-hoder. the
pensioner and the soldier, the producer and the
bond holder.
Sirth-Economy in the administration of the
Government, the reduction of the standing army
and navy, the abolition of the Frecdmen's Bureau.
and all political instrumentalities designed to
serve negro supremacy simpliiicatiou OF the sys
TEN, and discOntinuance of inquistOrial modes
of assessing and collecting internal revenue that
the burden of taxation be qualified and lessened;
the credit Of the country made good; all enact
ments for the enrolling Of 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 manutac-
lures as will, without imparing the revenue, i'm
pose the least burden upon and best promote and
encourage the great industrial interests OF the
country.
Seventh = Reform Of the abuses in the admins
tration the expulsion OF corrupt men from office;
the abrogation of useless offices the restoration
of rightiul authority to the independence of the
Executive and Judicial Departments of the Gov
eminent; the suhortinaion oil military TO the
civil power. to the end that the usurpation Of
Congress and despotism OF the sword may cease.
Eighth Equal gifts and protection for natu-
rallied and native born citizens at home and
abroad; the assertion of American nationality
which will command the respect of foreign pow
ers, furnish an example and encouragement to
people struggling for national integrity, consti
tutiona liberty and individual rights, and the
maintenance of the rights OF na'uralized citizens
against the absolute doctrine Of mmutable ALE
glance and the claims OF foreign powers to punish
them for alleged crime committed beyond their
jurisdiction In demanding these measures and
reforms arragn the Radical party for its dis
regard OF right and the unparalleled opposition
and tyranny which have marked its career. AT
ter the most solemn and unanimous pledge Of
both Houses Of Congress to prosecute the war eX-
cusively for the maintenance OF the Government
and the preservation of tie Union under the Con
stitution, it has repeatedly violated that most
sacred pledge under which was rallied that noble
nj Ger army which carried orr FLAG to victory
Instnoo of restoring the Union it has so. far as it
ls !, ito nov er. dissolved it, and subjected ten
States in time o., profound peace to military des-
potism and negro Suffrage. j. has nullfed there
the right OF trial by jury; it has 'ooitsht i .ne
habeas corpus, that most sacred writ o. lloely'
it has Overhrown the freedom OF speech a. VII,
press; it has substituted arbitrary seizures an
arrests, and military trials and secret Star Cham
Der nqusitiOns for constitutional tribunals 1t
has disrcgarded in time OF peace the right of the
people to be free from search and seizures 1t has
entered the post and telegraph Offices, and even
the private rooms Of individuals and seized their
private papers and letters without any specilca-
ton or notice OF affidavit, required by the or |
ganc law 1t has converted the American Capt. |
tol into bastile. 1t has established system OF
spies and official espionage to which no constltu-
tiona monarchy of Europe would now dare to
resort 1t has abolished the right Of appeal on
important constitutional questions to the supreme
and judicial tribunal, and threatens to curai OF
destroy its original jurisdiction, which is irrevo-
cably vested by the Constitution, while the learn
cd Chief Justice has been subject to great and
arocious calumnies merely because he would not
prostitute his high office to tn support OF the
false and partizan charges preferred against the
President Its corruption and eXtrava gance have
exceeded any thing known in histo y, and by its
frauds and monopolics ii baS nearly doubled the
burden OF the debt created during the war. 1t
has stripped the President OF his constitutional
power OF appointment. even OF his own Cabinet.
Under its repeated assaults the pillars OF the
Government are rocking on their base, and should
it succeed in November next, and inaugurate its
President, we will meet as a subjected and con
quered people amid the ruins OF liberty and the
scattered fragments of the Constitution And
we do declare and resolve that ever since the
people of the United States threw Off all subjcc
ton to the British Crown, the privilege and trust
of suffrage have belonged TO the several States,
and have been granted regulated and controlled
exclusively by the political power of each State
respectively, any attempt by Congress, on any
pretext whatever. to deprive any State OF this
right or interfere with this exercise, is fragrant
usurpati0n OF power which can find no warrant
in the Constitution and if sanctioned by the pco
pie will subvert our form OF Government, and
will only end in single centralized, consolidated
Government, in which the separate existence OF
the States will be absorbed. and an unqualified
dcspoism be established in place Of Federal
Union of CO equal States, and that we regard the
reconstruction acts OF congress such usurpalionS,
and unconstitutional, revolutionary and void
That our soldiers and sailors who carried the
flag Of our country to victory against most gal
liant and determined foe, must be ever gratefully
remembered, and all the guarantees given in
their favor must be faithfully carried into eXccu-
ton.
That the public lands should be distributed as
widely among the people and should be disposed
of either under the presumption OF homestead
laws and sold in reasonable quantities, and to
none but actual occupants, at the minimum price
established by the Government. When grants OF
the public lands may be allowed necessary for the
encouragement of important public improve
ments the proceeds of such lands. and not the
lands themselves should be applied.
That the President Of the United States, An
drew Johnson exercising the power OF his office
in restricting the aggressions OF Congress on the
constitutional rights Of the States and the people,
is entitled to the gratitude Of the whole American