The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1868-09-17
Democratic Platform.

faT
The Democratic party in National Convention
scout assembled reposing its trust in intellig gence
r patriotism, discrimination and justice of the
people; standing upon the Constitution as the
foundation and limitation of the powers of the
Ht Government, and the guaranteeing the liberties
OF the citizen, and recognizing the questions of
slavery and secession as having been settled for
f"H all time to come by the war or the voluntary
G action of the Southern States Constitutional
s.f, Conventions assembled, and be renewed
or reagitated do with the return peace de-
-7tf mRnd + r.
70 s5a First The immediate restoration of all the
States to their rights in the Union under the
Constitution, and of civil government to the
fl American people tt
~ M Second Amnesty for all past political offen-
9 "a ees and the regulation of elective franchise
In the States by their citizens
Third The payment of the public debt of the
f'2 united States as soon as practicable; that
all moneys drawn from the people by taxation
except so much is requisite for the necessities
OF the Government economically administered, |
Dit H be honestly applied to such payment; where
rr,} the obligations of the Governments do not ex-
t- pressly state upon their face the law under |
which they were issued does not provide that |
bti they shall be paid in coin, they onght right
aii and in Justice, to be paid in the lawful money
OF the United States. [Thunders of applause
Fourth. Equal taxation of every species of |
g '2i property according to its real value including
ttIn government bonds and public securities IRE
g. newed cheering.1
Fifth One currency for the Government and /
the people, the laborer and the oficeh holder the
pensioner and the soldier the producer and the
bondholder. [Great cheering, and cries Of
Read it again.'l The Fifth Resolution was
-t" = again read and again eheered.
Gg.r Sixth Economy in the administration of the
Government, the reduction of the standing ar
my and navy, the abolition of the Freedmen,s
''s bureau [Great cheerngl and political instru-
3aB mentalities designed to negro supreme
cy, smpfcation of the system and discontin- I.
uance of the inquisitoria1 modes of assessing
and collecting the Internal Revenue so that the
~ bl2ourden Of taxation may be cquazed and
sj r lessened the credit OF the Government and the
currency made good; the repeal of all enact !,
ments for enrolling the State Militia into Ma =
tional forces in time of peace, and a tarif for
oy revenue upon foreign imports, and such equal r
taxation under the Internal Revenue laws as =
''H VIII AFFORD incidental protection to domestic q
TgGE manufactures and will, without impairinp n
the revenues impose the least burden upon and
best promote and encourage the great industrial .
5'-'f' Interests of the country s.4tT :"
edi ua Seventh Reform of abuses in the adminis d
osa traton the expulsion of corrupt from Of t.
nee, the abrogation of useless offices, the resto-
y 30 raton of rightful authority to- and the indie i
rs ba pendence of the Executive and Judicial De- ,
,rd-r partments of the Government, the subordina
tfon Of the military to the civil power; to this .
end, that the usurpations of Congress and the
t5oE g despotism of the sword may cease. iafs u
z .fn Eighth. Equal rights and protection for nat
nrailzeo and native born citizens at home and fl
,5i abroad, the assertion of American nationality -
which shall command the respect of foreign, - -
,s powers and furnish example and encourage
ment to people struggling for national integri- =.
Ii'' y, constitutional liberty and individual rights u
and the maintenance of the rights of natural lie
lied citizens against the obsolete doctrine of inn OF
mutable allegiance the claims of foreign
powers to punish them for alleged crimes COM p
fHf mieted beyond their jurisdiction EApplause.l :
st.if In demanding these measures and reforms Oh
we arralgn the radical party for its disregard it
ti Oh right and the unparalleled oppression and .,
ssil tyranny winch have marked its career After !
-tt7i most solemn and unanimous pledge of both Sd
houses OF Congress to prosecute the war exclu- eQ
SIVeiy Tor the maintenance ~
io-5 ana the preservation of the Union under the . .
as Constitution, it has repeatedly violated the ao
most sacred pledges under which alone rallied M
that noble volunteer army which carried orr ! or.
nag to victory; instead of restoring the Union =
1t mas SO far as in its power dissolved SUBJ Wy
1ected ten States in time profound peace tn Ia'
military despotism and negro supremacy N I M.
lbs mas nulilfed the right of trial by jury. 1t has ,
aDoilshed the habeas corpus that most sacred MI
writ Of liberty. 1t has overthrown the freedom th'
and srrests "s arbitrary seizures
Chamber nonistons fa, ,a,s, ana secret Star ",
bunals 1t has dsregarded in times of peace, pc
the right of the people to be free from searches -
and seizures. It has entered the telegram ON .-
ees and even the private rooms of individuals
ana seized their private papers and letters with
out any specification notice of affidavit as
required by the organic laws It has converse TIL
the American Capital into bastile 1t has es
tablshed system of spies and official espion- IL,
age to which no constitutional monarchy of En- poi
81 rope would dare now to resort has abolished san
0 Ine 1gnt OF appeals in important Constitutions the
questons to the supreme Judicial tribunals 4
ana threatens to curtail or destroy its orpinal . :
Jurisdiction which is irrevocaby tested by tboi Col
constitution while the learned Chief Justice fers
mics merely because he sne od most atroeious caum Tic
nigh Office to the support of the false and nar+i
san charges preferred against the President the
T, Its corruption and extravaganza have ex ~ .
frauds mOnopolies it has nearly doubled ts ~. Der
h burden of the debts created during the ,var r.
mas stripped the President of his Constitutional
power OF appointment, even of his own Cabi et''
net Under its repeated assaults the pillars Of frag
sne Sovernment are rocking on their base, and The
snoud 1t succeed in November next, and inaupu A
taee ls PRESIDENT, we will meet a subject and -
conquered people amid the ruins of flibert and STAN
'ne scattered fragments of the Constitution. estal
tho people Of the nsd ever since an
lection to the British Crown the privilege and adop
oi sunfage have belonged to the Equs
controlled exclusively bS h and Tick
acn state respectively, and that any attempt Ar
Dy congress, on any pretext whatever to de- mana
it's exercise is aagrant insurance @ with Then
which can find no warrant in the Constitution n .
and If sanctioned by the people viii spbyort
our form of Government, and can only end in -,
single, centralized and consolidated Govern LIT
ment In which the separate existence of the of the
States will be entirely absorbed an unIimi os+
ted despotism be established instead of Fed
eral Union of equal States and that ~, ra~ assert
the reconstruction acts called Congress as assist
tonary and rod aI and reyolu motiv
That soldiers and sailors who carr,ed ~. slight
nag OF our country to victory against most that n
Ssv romembered anS ~, In must ever be CRATE of pu
in their must be faithfully carried ;u,o to the
s1ecution. . . atoa hf. i1 busine
widely aman Sa neon,o Snouu @ DC as come
either under the preemption of homestead u the pc
lands and sold in reasonable quantities. and to for the
"'A' O"' s0'os' occupants at the mini@a which
ia sfia han HeH4 ifjG II HUf 81
10 eguf afF al Gr.. ,f,o. f.,,EF ... . .