The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1868-10-22
The National Democratic
Platform.

The Democratic party in National CUnven.
ton assembled repesiHg its trust in the intelli,
gence 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 lib
critics of the citizen, and recognizing the ques-
tons of slavery and secession as having been
settled for all time to come, by war and the vol
untary action of the Southern States in cOnsti-
tutional convention assembled, and never to be
renewed or reagtated. 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 for the
American people.
Second Amnesty for all past political often.
ces and the regulation of the elective franchise
in States by their citizens.
Third. Payment of the public debt of the Uni
ted States as rapidly as practicable; all money
drawn from the people by taxation, except SO
much as is requisite for the necessities of the
government economically administered, being
honestly applied to such payment, and where
the obligations of the Government do not OK
pressly 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 justice, be paid in the lawful money of the
United States.
Fourth. Equal taxation 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 office holder,
the pensioner and the soldier, the producer and
bOndhOder.
Sixth. Economy in the administration of the
government the reduction of the standing army
and navy; the abolition of the Freedmen
bureau great cbeers and all political instru
mentalities designed to secure negro supremacy;
simplifCation of the system, and discOntinuance
of inqusitOrial modes of assessing and collecting
Internal Revenue so that the burden of taxation
L., t1,n nl
the government and the currency made good
the repeal of all enactments for enrolling the
State militia into the national forces in time OF
peace, and tariff for revenue upon foreign i'm
ports; and such equal taxation under the Inter.
nal Revenue laws, as will afford incidental pro
lection to domestic manufactures, and as will,
without impairing the revenue impose the least
burden upon and best promote and encourage
the great industrial interests of the country.
Seventh. Reform of abuses in the administra
ton; the expulsion of corrupt men from office;
the abrogation of useless Offices the restoration
of rightful authority to and the independence
of the Executive and Judicial departments OF
the government. The subOrdinatiOn of the mil.
itary to the civil power to the end that the usur
patiOns of Congress and the despOtism of the
sword may cease.
Eighth. Equal rights and protection for nat.
uralized and native born citizens at home and
abroad. The assertion of American nationality
which shall command the respect of foreign
powers and furnish an example and encourage.
ment to people struggling for national integri.
ty, constitutional liberty and individual rights,
and the maintenance of the rights of naturalz.
ed citizens against the absolute doctrine of i'm.
mutable allegiance, and the claims of foreign
powers TO punish them for a crime committed
beyond their jurisdiction.
In demanding these measures and reforms we
arraign the Radical party for its disregard for
right, and the unparalleled oppression and tyr.
amy which has marked its career after the
most solemn and unanimous pledges of both
houses of Congress TO prosecute the war exclu.
svely for the maintenance of the Government
and the protection of the Union under the
Constitution. 1t has repeatedly violated that
most sacred pledge, under which was rallied
that noble volunteer army which carried our
flag TO victory. Instead of restoring the Union
it has so far as it is in its power dissolved it.
and subjected ten States in time of profound
peace to military despotism and negro supre-
macy 1t has nullitied there the right of trial
by Jury. 1t has abolished the habeas corpus,
that most sacred writ OF liberty. 1t has over.
thrown the freedom of speech and of the press.
1t has substituted arbitrary seizures and ar.
rest, and military trials and the secret star
chambers of inquisitons for constitutional tri.
bunals 1t has disregarded in time Of peace the
right of the people TO be free from search and
seizures. 1t has entered the post and telegraph
Offices and even the private rooms of individ.
uals and seized their private papers and letters
without any specification, or notice, or affida-
Wit, as required by the organic law. 1t has
converted the American capitol into Bastile.
1t has established system of spies and official
espionage to which no constitutional monarchy
in Europe weuld now dare to resort.
1t has abolished the right of appeal on i'm.
portant constitutional questions to the su-
preme judicial tribunal, and threatens toicur-
tail destroy its original jurisdiction, whichis
irrevocably vested by the Constitution, while
the learned Chief Justice has been subje cted to
great and atrOcious caluInnies merely because
he would not prostitute his high Office to the
support of the false and partisan charges pre-
fsrred against the President. Its corruption
and extravaganza have exceeded anything
known in history, and by its frauds and monop-
oles it has nearly doubled the burden Of debt
created during tie war. 1t has stripped the
President of his constitutional power OF ap.
pOintment even of his own cabinet. Under its
repeated assaults the pillars Of the Government
are rocking on their bases, and should II sue
coed in November next and inaugurate its
President, we viii meet, as subjects and coz;
quered people, amid the ruins of liberty and
the scattered fragments ofthe Constitution
And we do declare and resolve, That ever
since the people of the United States threw on
all subsection 10 the British crown, the prlyl-
lege and trust of suffrage have belonged to the
several States, and have been granted, regulated
and controlled exclusively by the political pow
er OF each State respectively; and any attempt
by Congress on any preteIt whatever 10 DC
prive any State of this right or interfere with
this exercise is fragrant usurpation oil power
which can find no warrant in the Constitution,
and if sanctioned by the people will subyert our
form Of government and can only emo In SIN
gle centralized consolidated government, IN
which the separate existence ofthe States VII
be entirely absorbed, and an unqualified des,
potism be established in fplaSe Of Federai
union Of coequal States; and that we regard the
reconstruction acts so called, of Congress such
usurpation, and unconstitutional, revolutionary
and void; and that our soldiers and sailors who
carried the flag of our country 20 victory
against most gallant and determined foe must
% ever gratefully remembered, and all guaran:
Ties gwen In the law must be faithfully carried