Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1868-07-17
Aiseellanu.
The Democratic Platform.

The following is the platform adopted
by the national democratic convention,
which has disappointed many of its own
party, from the fact that so much of it is
devoted to finding fault with what was
done to put down the rebellion:
THE PLATFORM.
The democratic party, in national con-
vention assembled, reposing 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 Gov
ernment and the guaranty of the liber-
ties OF the citizen, and recognizing the
questions of slavery and secession as hay
ing been settled for all time to come by
the war and the voluntary action of the
Southern States in Constitution Conven-
ton assembled, and never to be renewed
or re-agitated, do with the return of
peace demand:
| Immediate restoration Of all the
States in the Union under the Constitu-
tion, and of civil government to the
American people.
Amnesty for all past political of
fences and the regulation of the elective
franchise in the States by their citizens.
3.-Payment of the public debt of the
United States as rapidly as practicable,
all moneys drawn from the people by
taxation except so much as is requisite
for the necessities of the government eco
nomically administered, being applied to
such payment, and where the obligations
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 justice be paid in the lawful
money Of the United States.
4-Equal taxation of every species of
property, according to its real value, in
cluding Government bonds and other
public securities.
| 5.-One currency for the Government
and the people, the laborer and the Office
holder, the pensioner and the soldier, the
producer and the bondholder.
ECONOMY in the administration Of
the government: the reduction of the
standing army and navy; the abolition
of the Freedman's bureau and all po-
lilitical instrumentalities designed to Sc
cure negro supremacy simplifcation oi
the system and discontinuance of fnquis.
itorial modes of assessing and collecting
internal revenue, SO that the burden o.
taxation may be equalized and lessened
the credit of the gosernment and the
currency made good the repeal of al
enactments for enrolling the state militia
into national forces in the time of peace
and tariff for revenue upon foreign i'm
ports, and such equal taxation under th
internal revenue laws as will afford Incl
dental protection to domestic manufac
lures, and as will, without impairing tn
revenue, impose the least burden upol
and best promote and encourage tn
great industrial interests of the country
reform of abuses in the admins
tration; the expulsion of corrupt mel
from Office; the restoration Of rightfl
authority to, and the independence Of
the Executive and judicial department
of the Government; the subordinatiol
of the military to the civil power, to tn
end that the usurpations of Congress ant
thedespotism of the sword may cease.
s.-Equal rights and protection 70
naturalized and native born citizens a
home and abroad the assertion of Amer
lean nationality, which shall comman
the respect of foreign powers, and fun
nish example and encouragement to pee
pie struggling for national integrity
constitutional liberty and individu;
rights; and the maintenance Of til
rights of naturalized citizens against tn
absolute doctrine of immutable alleg
ance, and the claims of foreign power
to punish them for alleged crime con
mitted beyond their jurisdiction.
In demanding these measures and r
forms we arraign the Radical party ft
the disregard of right and the unpara
leled oppression and tyranny which hay
marked its career, after the most solem
and unanimous pledge of both Houses
Congress to prosecute the war exclusiv
ly for maintenance of the Governmel
and the preservation of the Union.
Under the Constitution it has repea
edly violated that most sacred pleds
under which alone was rallied that mob
volunteer army which carried our flag
victory. Instead of restoring the Unio
it has, so far as is in its power, dissolve
it and subjected ten states in time of pr
found peace to military despotism al
negro supremacy. 1t has nullified the