The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1868-08-19
Democratic Platform. /.

Inc Democratic party in ~ &attiSti t;S;st in The the
inIoiTigence, patriOtisna, discrimination and
justice of the people; standing upon the
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 as 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-
ncwed or reagitated, 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 10
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 as practicable:
and that all moneys drawn from the people
by taxation, except so 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. 20 90.
In demanding these measures and reforms
we arraign the radical party forts disregard
of right and the unparalleled oppression and
tyranny which have marked its career. AT
ter a most solemn and unanimous pledge of
both Houses of Congress TO prosecute the
war exclusively for the maintenance of the
Government and the preservation of the
fhs.
edly violated the most sacred pledges under
which alone rallied that noble volunteer
army which carried our flag to victoryS in
stead of restoring the Union il has SO far as
in its power dissolved it and subjected ten
States In time of profound peace TO military
despOtism and negro supremacy; has strip
ped 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 TO in
augurate its President, we will meet as
subjugated and conquered people amid the
ruins of liberty and the scattered fragments
of the Constitution.
ReSOired, That in the future as in the
past, we will adhere with answering tidel-
ity to the Union under the Constitution as
the only solid foundation of our strength,
security and happiness as u people, and as
frame work Of government equally cOndu-
Give to the welfare and prosperity of all the
States, both Northern and Southern.
RssOiued, That the Union established by
the Constitution is a Union of States, Fed
eral in its character, composed of States
thereby united, and is incapable of existing
without the States as its continuing integral
parts, and therefore the perpetuity of the
Union in its integrity depends on the pres
ervation of the States in their political in
tegrity, the Government of the United States
being a Federal Republic and not a consoli-
dation of the whole people In one nation.
ReSOLUed, That the perpetuIty of the
Union and the maintenance of the Govern
ment, as both were established by the Con-
stitution and as both under the Constitution
have been eSpounded in the foregoing reso-
Iutions in conformity with the venerable
teachings of jefferson, Madison and Jack
son, have ever been held as cardinal doctrins
of the Democratic party, and they are now
reiterated with increased earnestness, under
| the solemn conviction that constitutional
| liberty can be preserved on this continent
only by bringing back the administration Of
| the Government to those time honored prin-
ciples on which for sixty years there was
such unparalleled happiness and prosperity,
I and in rescuing il from the hands of those
who have ever held the Constitution itself TO
be no better than u covenant with death and
an agreement with hell; whose revolution
airy policy and measures have brought such
general discord, strife and war, with its at
tendent ills upon large portion of the
country, and such wide spread demoraliza-
| ton throughout the whole of 1t.
| ResoLUed, That the Democratic party in
sustaining the Federal administration in the
Plate unhappy. conflict of arms did so in good
faith, with the hope and earnest wish to
maintain the principles above set forth, and
with no view of waging war on the part of
the Northern States in any spirit of oppres-
sion against their brethren of the South, nor
for any purpose of conquest or subjugation,
nor purpose of overthrowing or interfering
with the rights or established institutions of
those States, but to defend and maintain the
supremacy of the Constitution, and TO pre-
serve the Union with all the dignity, equality
and rights of the several States unimpaired.
The subjugation-oft these States or holding
them as conquered territory would be, in
| the judgment Of this Convention, the des-
truction of the Union itself.
| ReSOLUed, That the highest need o1
patriotism is due and should ever be extend
ed to all those who in the recent war perileC
life or fortune for the maintenance of tht
Union and the 'benefcent system of Ameri
can Government thereby established upoI
the fundamental principles set forth in tho
foregoing resolutions but we have neithe
thanks nor sympathy for those who entered
and carried on the contest fol the subju
CATION of States and for the subiugation by
Federal authority of the white race in am
of the States to the domination of the black
the right of suffrage, or who shall exercis
political power, is a matter that rests unde
the Constitution exclusively with the severa
States; there it properly belongs, and Their
it shOuld continue ever to remain