The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-09-04
THE PLATFORM.

The Democratic party in National Convention as
sembled, reposing It's trust in the intelligence,
patriotism and discriminating justice of the people;
standing upon the constitution as the foundation
and Limitation of the powers Of the government and
the guarantee of the liberties of the Citizen and re-
coQnzing the questions Of slavery and secession as
having been settled for oil time to come by the war;
or the voluntary action of the Southern States in
constitutional convention assembled, and never to
be renewed or reagitated, do, with the return Of
peace, demand:
First. Immediate restoration Of all the States to
their rights in the Union, under the constitution
and of civil government to the American people.
Second Amnesty for all past political offences,
and the regulation Of the elective franchise in the
States by their citizens. -
Third Payment of the public debt OF the United
States as rapidlyas practicable; all moneys drawn
from the people ~ taxation, except so much as Is
requisite for the necessities Of the government,
economically administered, beicg 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, be paid in the lawful money
of the United States.
Fourth Equal ta1aion Of every species Of property
according to its real value. including government
bonds and other public securities
Fifth One currency for the government and the
people, the laborer and the cflceholder. the pen
sioner and the soldier, the producer and the bond
holder.
Sixth Economy In the administration Of the gov
erument; the reduction OF the standing army and
nayy the abolition Of the Freedmen's Bureau
and Ill political ins'rumentaliti's designed to
secure negro supremacy; simpliAcadon of the sys.
tenn, and discontinuance Of inquisitorial modes
of assessing and collecting internal revenue so that
the burden Of taxation may be equalzed and lessen
ed; the credit of tho government and the currency
made good; the repeal Of all enactments for enroll
ing the State militia into national forces in time of
peace, and tar1ifor revenue upon foreign imports,
and such equal taxation under the internal revenue
laws as will afford incidental protection to domestic
manufactures, and as will, without impairing the
revenue impose the least burden upon and best pro-
mote an encourage the great industrial interests Of
the country.
Seventh Reform of abuses N the administration,
the expulsion of corrupt men from office, the abro-
cation Of useless Offices the restoration OF rightul
authority to and the independence of the executive
and judicial departments of the government, the
subordinaion Of the military to the civil power, 10
the end that the usurpatons of Congress and the
despotism of the sword may cease.
Eighth. Equal rights and protection for naturalizea
and nst1ve-born citizens at home and abroad the
assertion Of American nationality which shall com.
nand the respect o. foreign powers and furnish an
example and encouragement to people struggling for
national integrity, constitutional liberty, and indi
7idual rights; and the maintenance Of the rights Of
naturalized citizens against the obsolete doctrine Of
immutable allegiance and the claims of foreign pow
ers to punish them for alleged crime committed be-
yond their Jurisdiction.
In demanding these measures and reforms we ar
ragn IT,, Radical party for its disregard Of right and
the unparalleled oppression and tyranny which have
marked its career.
After the most solemn and unanimous pledge OF
both Houses of Congress to prosecute the war *.
clusyely for the maintenance of the government and
the preservation OF the Union under the coustitu-
ton, 1t has repeatedly violated that most sacred
pledge under which alone was rallied that noble
volunteer army which carried our flag to victory.
Instead Of restoring the UIion it has, so is in
its power, dissolved it, and subjected ten States in
time Of profound peace to military despotism and
negro supremacy; it has nulfed there the right OF
riei by jury; it has abolished the habaas corpus,
that most sacred writ of liberty; it has overthrow
the freedom of speech and the press it has subst-
tuted arbitrary seizures, and arrests, and military
trials, aud secret star chamber inqwsions Tor the
constitutional tribunals; it has disregarded iu time of
peace the right of the people to be free from searches
and seizures; it has entered the post and tele .raph
Offices, and even the private ROOMS of individuals,
and seized their private papers and letters without
any specific charge OF notice OF affidavit, as required
by the organic law; it has converted the Amerl-
can capitol into Bastle; it has established system
of spies and official espionage to which no constu-
tional monarchy Of Europe would now dare to resort