Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1868-07-17
Democratic Platform.
The following is the Platform adopted

The following is the Platform adopted
by the Democratic National Convention:
The Democratic party, in National Conyention
patriotism and discriminating Justice OF the peo-
pie stand upou the Constitution as the founda-
meat. and The guarantee Of the liberties Of tho
citizen; and recognizing the question 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 as
sembled, and never to be renewed or reagitated,
DO vii with The the return Of peace, demand -
TO their rights in the Union under the Constitution
OF civil government Of the American people.
Second Amnesty Tor all past political offences,
States by their citizens
=. Third The payment of tho public debt of the
United states ns rapidly as practicable, all money
drawn from the people by taxation, except so much
as II requisite for the necessities OF the Govern
ment, economically administered, being honestly
applied 20 such payment, and when the obliga-
tiOns Of the Government do not expressly state
upon their face or the law under which they were
issued docs not provide that they shall be paid in
States.
PROPERTY, according to value, including Govern
ment bonds and other public securities.
,fyh. One currency FOR the Government and
the people, the laborer and the office holder, the
bond-holder
Slrth. ECONOMY in the administration Of the
Governmenti the reduction of the standing army
ana navy; the abolition of the Freedmcn's Bu-
reau, and all political instrumentallties designed
70 serve negro supremacy the simpli6catiOn OF
the system and the discontnuance of the in.
qusitorial modes of assessing and collecting in.
ternal revenue that the burden of taxation be
| equalized and lessened, and the credit of the
| country made good the repeal OF ali enactments
| for the enrolment Of State militia into National
forces in time OF peace, and tariff for revenue up.
on foreign imports, and such equal taxation under
the Internal revenue laws, as will afford incidental
protection to domestic manufactures as well,
los
burden upon, and best promote and encourage
| the great Industrial interests of the country.
SUeilh The reform of abuses in the Admins.
tration; the expulsion of corrupt men from oiIce
| the abrogation of useless Offices the restoration
of the rightful authority and the independence OF
| the Executive and Judicial Departments of the
/ Government; the subordnatiOn of the military
to the civil power, to the end that the usurpaton
| of Congress and the despotism of the sword may
| cease.
Eighth. Equal rights and protection for natural
lied and native-born citizens, at home and abroad
the assertion of American nationality, which will
command the respect of foreign powers, and
furnish an example and encouragement to people
| struggling for national integrity, constitutions
liberty and individual rights, and tho mainte
| nance of the rights of naturazed citizens agains
| the absolute doctrine of immutable allegiance
and the claims of foreign Powers to punish then
for alleged crimes committed beyond their juris
diction.
In demanding these measures and reforms, We
arraign the Radical party for its disregard o
| right, and the unparalleled oppression and tyr
amy which have marked its career, after the mos
solemn and unanimous pledge of both Houses o
Congress to prosecute the war exclusively for tn,
| maintenance of the Government, and the prescr
vation of the Union under the Constitution. i
has repeatedly violated that most sacred pledge
under which was rallied that noble voluntee
army which carried our flag to victory. Instead
of restoring the Union, il has, far as it is in 1T
power dissolved it, and subjugated ten States, il
time of profound peace, to military despotism ant
negro supremacy. 1t has nullifed there the righ
oftral by jury it has abolished the ha6eds c0rpu
that most sacred writ of liberty; IL has over
he frpp pf hn
has substituted arbitrary seizures and arrests, ant
military trials and secret star chamber inquisi
tions for Constitutional tribunals; it has dsre
garded in time of peace the right OF the people t.
be free from search and seizures; 1t has entere
the post and telegraph offices, and even the pri
vate rooms of individuals, and seized thci
private letters and papers without any specification
or notice of affidavit, as required by the Organi
law; it has converted the American Capitol into
Bastile it has established system of spies an
official espionage, to which no constitutions
monarchy of Europe would now dare to resort;
has abolished the right of appeal on importan
constitutional questions to the supreme judicir
tribunals and TN eatens to control or destroy il
original Jurisdiction, which is irrevocably ycste
| by the Constitution, while the learned Chief Jui
tice has been subjected to great and atrociou
calumnies merely because he would not tprosttnt
his high office to the support of the false and pa
tisan charges preferred against the Presiden
! Its corruption and extravaganza have exceede
anything known in history, and by Its frauds an
monopolles 1t mas nearly doubled the burden
the debt created during the war. II has strippe
the President of his ConstitutiOnalpowcr OF al
, | pointment, even OF his own Cabinet under il
repeated assaults the pillars of the Governmer
are rocking on their base, and, should it succee
in November next and inaugurate its President
we will meet as subject and conquered people
amid the ruins of liberty and the scattered fras
mcnts of the Constitution.
And we do declare and resolve, that ever sine
tho people of the United States threw of all sui
lection to the British crown, the privilege an
trust Of suffrage have belonged to the sever,
States, and have been granted, regulated, and col
troled exclusively by the political power of cac
| State resDeCtiVgly. and attpmDt Congress
on any preteXt whatever, to deprive any State
this right, or to interfere with this exercise, is
: hagrant usurpation of power which can hnd
. warrant in the Constitution, and, If sanctione
by the people, Will subvert our form OF govern
ment, and can only end in single, centralize,
|. consolidated Government, in which the separa
existence of the States will be entirely absorbe,
6 and unqualified despot'sm be established
| place of federal Union of coequal States; an
= that we regard the reconstruction acts of Co
gress such usurpations, and as demonstrations
! revolutionary, and void; that our soldiers an
! sailors, who carried the flag of our country
Z victory against most gallant and determined TO
must ever be gratefully remembered, and that q
the guarantees given in their favor must be fait
fully carried into execution; that the public liant
should be distributed as widely among the peopl
, and should be disposed of either under the pr
l cmption of homestead lands, or sold in reasonab
ouantities and to none but actual occupants at
minimum price established by the Government
, that when grants of the public lands may
deemed necessary for the encouragement OF II
!. portant public improvements, the proceeds of Il
r sale of such lands, and not the lands themselyc
should be so applied; that the President OF u
United States, Andrew johnson, exercising Il
/ power of his Office in resisting the aggressions
Congress on the constitutional rights of the tat
and the people, is entitled to the gratitude OF Il
whole American people, and on behalf OF u
G Democratic party, we tender him our thanks f
his patriotic efforts in that regard.
Upon this platform the Democratic party appe
! to every patriot, including all the Conservati
i element, and all who desire to support the Cons
q tuition and restore the Union, and forgetting
! past differences OF opinion, to unite with us
the present great struggle for the liberties of n
people; and that to all such, to whatever par
= they may have heretofore belonged, we all exteI
the right hand of fellowship, and hail all such, c
4 operating with us, as friends and brothers