The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1868-09-05
DEMOoRATIC PLATFORM.

ADOPTED Dy the Natlonal democratic
Convention, convened at New York,
July L, 1868.
The Democratic party in National Convention
assembled, reposing its trust in the intelligence
patriotism, and discriminating Justice of the peo-
pie standing upon the Constitution as the founda-
tion and limitation of the powers of the Govern
ment and the guarantee of the liberties Of the cit
izen; and recognizing the questions Of slavery
and secession rs having been settled for all time
to come by the war or the voluntary action of the
Southern States in Constitutional Convention as
sembled. aud never to be renewed or reagitated,
do with the return of peace demand;
Ftrst-lmmediate restoration oC all the States
TO their rights in the Union under the Consttu-
ton, and of civil government to the American
people.
Seeond-Amnesty for all past political ofTenses.
and the regulation of the elective franchise in the
States by their citizens.
Tk6d-Payment OF the public debt Of the United
States rapidly as practicable all moneys drawn
from the people by taxation. except much as is
requisite for the necessities of the Government,
economically administered, being honestly applied
TO .dch 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.
Fourts-Equal taxation of every species Of
property according 10 its real value. including
f8tA-One currency for the Government and
the people, tho laborer and the Office holder the
pensioner and the soldier, the producer and the
bondhoder.
Sirth-Eeonomy in the administration of the
Government the reduction OF the standing army
and the navy; the abolition of the Freedm an ;
Bureau and all political instrumentalties designed
TO secure negro supremacy; simplihcation of the
system, and diSeontiuuauce of iuquisitorial modes
Of assessing ami collecting IntertAl Revenue. 80
lessened the credit of the Government and the
currency made good the repeal of all enactments
for enrolling the State militia into national forces
in time Of peace, aud a tariff fer revenue upon
foreign imports, and such equal taxation under
the Internal Revenue laws as will afford Incl
dental protection - domestic manufactures and
will, without impaiTiug the revenue. impose the
least burden upon and best promote aud cncour-
age the great industrial interests of the country
SereRsh-Re!oTip Of abuses ia the admiuistra-
ton, the expulsion ef corrupt men from Of
fee. the abrogotion Of useless Offices. the
restoration of rightful authority to, and the
independence of. the executive aud Judicial de-
paTtmentS OF the goyeIument. the subordination
of the military the civil power 10 the end tha,
the usurpations of Congress and the desputism OF
the sword may cease.
Eighth-Equal rights and protection for nat
uralized and nstive-born citizens at home and
abroad, the assertion 0s American nationality
which shall command the respect of foreign pow
TO people struggling for national integrity, con
stitutiOual liberty and individual rights and the
maintenance Of the rights Of naturalized citizens
against the absolute doctrine OF mmutable ale
glance, and the claims Of foreign powers to pun
ish them FOR alleged crime committed hey yud their
jurisdiction.
In demanding these measures and reforms We
arraign the Radical party FIR is disregard fright
and the unparalleled oppression and tyranny which
have marked its career.
After the most solemn and unanimous pledge Of
both Houses Of Congress 70 prosecute the war e1-
clusiVely for the maintenance Of the Goyernmen ut
and the preservation Of the Union under the Con
stitution i has repeatedly violated that most sa-
cred pledge under which alone vas rallied that
noble volunteer army which carried our flag 70
victory. Instead Of restoring the Union il has.
far IN is foWer, siissalvsI IL, cad s"tisei~i
ten States N time of profound peace - military
despotiSIn and negro supremacy. II has nullihed
there the right OF trial by jury; IL has abolished
the habeas eorps that most sacred wrii Of liberty
il has oYerthr8wa the freedom Of speech and the
press It has substituted arbitrary seizures. and
arrests aud military trials and secret star cham
Der inquSitions for the constitutional tribunals; il
has disreZarIed IN time Of peace the right Of the
people u be free from searches and seizures; IL
has entered the post and telegraph Offices and
even the private rooms of individuals. and seized
their private papers and letters without any spc-
cific charge notice Of affidavit. as required by
the organic law II has converted the American
q X
TEN of spies and Official espionage to which no
constitutional monarchy Of Europe would now
dare to resort; il has abolished the right of ap-
peal on important constitutional questions 70 the
Supreme Judicial tribunal and threat T. curtail
or destroy its original jurisdiction which is ire
yocably vested By the Constitution, while the
learned Chief Justice has been subjected 20 the
most atr0ciOus ealumnIes, merely because h
would not prostitute his high olce to The support
OF the false snd partlan charges preferred against
the President It's corruption and extravaganza
have exceeded any thing known II history, and By
its frauds and Ia0nopOiies It has nearly doubled
the burden of the debt created by tue war. II
has stripped the President Of his constitutional
power Of appointment, even Of his own Cabinet
Under its repeated assaults the pillars Of the Gov
eminent are rocking their base, and should i
succeed in November next and inaugurate IL
President, We viii meet as q subjected and con
quered people amid the ruins Of liberty and tbs
scattered fragmants Of the Constitution.
And VIC do declare and resolve that ever since
the people Of the United States threw Of all sub
lection to the British Crown the privilege and irus
of suffrage have belonged to the several states
and have been granted. regulated and controlled
exclusively by the political power Of each STATE
respectively, and that any attempt by Congress
on any pretext whatever to deprive any State ol
this right. Or interfere with its exercise is a fla
grant usurpation Of power which can find no war
rant in the Constitution, and if sanctioned By thf
people win subyert our form Of Government, and
can only end IN q single centralized and consOl.
idated government in which the separate existence
of the States will be entirely absorbed, and an un
qualified despotism be established in place Of
Federal Union Of e0equal States.
And that we regard the Reconstruction Acts (sG
caIled) Of Congress, as such, as usurpations and
unconstitutional, revolutionary and void.
That our soldiers and sailors who carried tbs
flag of our country to victory against a most gal
liant and determined foe must ever be gratefully
remembered, and all the guarantees given in the
favor must be faithfully carried into execution.
That the public lands should be distributed al
widely as possible among the people, and should
be disposed of either under the pre-emption o
homestead lands or sold IN reasonable quantities
and to none bat actual occupants, at the minimu; !;
price established by the Government. Whei
grants Of the public lands may be allowed, neces
eary for the encoura cement Of important public
improvements, the proceeds Of the sale of suci
lands, and not the lands themselves should be 81
applied.
That the President of the United States, Andrew
Johnson, in exercising the power Of his high Of
fee in resisting the aggressions Of Congress upoI
the Constitutional rights of the States and th
People, is entitled to the gratitude of the who'll
American people, and IN behalf of the Democratic
party we tender him our thanks for his patriots
efforts in that regard.
Upon this Platform the Democratic party ap
peal to every patriot, including all the congerva
tive element and all who desire to support tn
Constitution and restore the Union, forgetting al
past differences of opinion. to unite with us in th
present great struggle for the liberties Of the peo
pie, and that to all such, to whatever party the,
may have heretofore belonged, We extend the righ
hand OF fellowship, and hail all such cooperating
with us as friends and brethren.
~sp----