The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1868-09-23
Democratic Platform.

Constitution as the foundation and limitation
of the powers of the Government, and the
guaranteeing the liberties of the citizen, and
recognizing the questions of slavery and
secession Us having been settled for all time
to come by the war, or the voluntary action
of the Southern States in Constitutional
Conventions assembled, and never to be re-
ncwcd or reaSitated, 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 Ia
the American people.
Second. Amnesty for all past political Of
fences and the regulation of the elective
franchise in the States by their citizens.
Third. The payment Of the public debt
of the United States as soon rs practicable
and that all moneys drawn from the people
by taxation, except 50 much as is requisite
for the necessities of the Government eco
nomically administered, be honestly applied
to such payment: and where the obligations
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, To be paid in the lawful
money OF the United States, Thundcrs Of
applause.
Fourth. Equal taxation Of every species of
property according To its real value, inclu-
ding Government bonds and public sccuri-
lies. Renewed cheering.
Fifth. One currency for the Government
and the people, the lahorCr and the office
holder, the pcnsioncr and the soldier, the
producer and the hondholder. [Great cheer
ing, and cries of ''Read it again." The
Fifth Resolution was again read and again
chcCrcd.
Sixth. Economy in the admin; stratinn of
the Government, the reduction of the stand
ing army and navy, the abolition of the
Ere dmen's bureau [Grcat cheeringl and all
political instrumentalitics designed TO secure
negro supremacy, simplihcation of the sys-
tenn and discontinuance of the inquisitorial
modes Of assessing and collecting the Inter
nal Revenue, so that the burden of taxation
may be equaliZcd aSd lesscned, the credit of
the Government, and the currency made
good the repeal of all enactments for en-
rolling the State Militia into National forces
in time of peace, and atarin for revenue up
on foreign imports, and such equal taxation
under the Internal Revenue laws as will af-
ford incidental protection to domestic maui
factures, and as will, without impairins the
revenues, impose the least burden upon, and
best promote and encourage the great indus
trial interests of the country.
Seventh. Reform of abuses in the admin
istratiOn, the expulsion of corrupt men from
office, the abrogatiOn of useless offices, the
restoration of rightful authority 90, and the
independence of the Executive and Judicial
Departments of the Government, the SubOY-
dination of the military TO the civil power ;
TO this end, that the usurpations of Congress
and the despotism of the sword may cease.
Eighth. Equal rights and protection for
naturalized and native born citizens ut home
and abroad, the assertion of American ma
tionalIty, which shall command the respect
of foreign powers and furnish an eXanlp1C
and encouragement TO people strUggliRs fOI
national integrity, constitutional liberty and
individual rights, and the maintenance OF
the rights of natIlralized citizens against ihC
obsolete doc'.IIIne of immutable allegiance,
and ~. claims of foreign powers to punish
, mem for alleged crimes committed beyond
their Jurisdiction. LApplause.
In demanding these measures and reforms
we arraign the radical party for its disregard
of right and the unparalleled oppression ant
yranny which have marked its career. Al
Ter a most solemn and unanimous pledge o.
both Houses of Congress to prosecute thu
war exclusively for the maintenance or tn,
Government and the preservation OF tn,
Union under the Constitution, it has repeat
edly violated the most sacred pledges unde
which alone rallied that noble vOluntee
army which carried our flag to victory; in
stead of restoring the Union it has So far a
in its power dissolved it and subjected tel
States in time of profound peace to militar.
deSpotism and negro supremacy. 1t has nul
lifted the right of trial by jury. 1t has abOl
ished the habeus corpus, that most sacre,
writ of liberty. 1t has overthrown the free
| dom of speech. 1t has substituted arbitrar
seizures and arrests, and military trials, am
secret Star Chamber inquisitions for the con
| stitutional tribunals. 1t has dIsregarIled i
times of peace, the right of the people 4
be free from searches and seizures 1t la
! entered the telegraph offices, and even tn
| private rooms of individuals, and seized thci
| private papers md letters without any spec
| iicatinn or notive of affidavit, as requires
by the organic laws. 1t has converted III
| American Capitol into bastile. 1t has es
! Itahlishcd a system of spies and official espi
| onane to which no constitutional monarch
| of Europe would dare now TO resort. 1t ha
abolished the right of appeals in importaI
| Constitutional questions to the supreme ju
dicial tribunals, and threatens to curtail q
destroy its original jurisdiction, which is il
revocably tested by the Constitution, Will
the learned Chief Justice has been subjecte
TO the most atrocious calumnies merely be
cause he would not prostitute his high olllC
to the support of the false and partisan chal
ges preferred against the President.
Its corruption and extravaganza have eN
ceeded anything known in history, and
its frauds and mOnopolies it has nearly doul
led the burden of the debts created durin
the war. 1t has stripped the President of h
Constitutional power of appointment, eve
of his own Cabinet. Under its repeated a
saults the pillars of the Government are rocl
ING on their base, and should it succeed
November next, and inauguratc its Pres
dent, we will meet Us q subject and canquc
ed people amid the ruins Of liberty, and IL
scattered fragments of the Constitution.
And we do declare and resolve that CIV,
since the people of the Unified States thrc
off all suhieciion to the British Crown, n
privilege and trust of suffrage have beloNgt
| to the several States, and have been granite
regulated and controlled exclusively by d
! political power of each State rcspectiyel
and that any attempt by CouscsA on al
pretext whatever, TO deprive any State
this right, or interfere with it's exercises
hagrant usurpation of power which can fil
no warrant in the Constitution, and If san
r toned by the people, will subvcrt our for
r of Government and can only end in q 81
gle, centralized and consolidated Cover
ment, In which the scpcrate existence of 4
States will be entirely absorbed, and an IL
: limited dcspOtism DC established instead OF
J Federal Union of equal States, and that '
, regard the reconstruction acts, so called,
Congress as usurpatiOns and unconstitutio
al and revolutionary and void.
That our soldiers and sailors who carri
| the flag of our country to victory against
most gallant and determined foe, must ev
be gratefully remembered, and all the qua
antecs given in their favor must be faithtl
r ly carried into execution.
That the public lands should bc dislrih
= tel as widely among the people, and be d
: posed of either under the prcemptiOn
homestead lands and sold in reasonable qua
titles, and To none but actual occupants,
= the minimum price established by the Go
n ernmcnt. When grants of the public Ian
may be allowed necessary for the encol
, agcmcnt of important public improvement
. the proceeds of the sale of such lands, a
: not the lands themselves, should be apple
Il That the President of the United Stat
( tn .;