The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1868-08-13
The National Democratic
~ Platform. - .'sd

Platform. -si .'sa
The Democratic party, in National Conven-
t;ou Assem- bled reposiag its trust in the intell.
gence, patriotism and discriminating justlce OF
the people, standing upon the Constitution a.
The foundation and limitation Of the powers OF
the Government, and the guarantee 81 the I'D
critics of the citizen, and recognizing the gues-
tions 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 consul
tutional convention assembled, and never to ne
renewed 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, aud 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 puaie debt OF the Uhl-
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 ex-
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 night
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 curT ency for she government ana
the people, the laborer and the oihce holder,
the pensioner and the soldier the producer and
bond holder.
Sixth. Economy in the administration Of the
government, the reduction of the standing army
and navy; the abolition of the freedmen's
bureau lgreat cheers, and all political lnstru-
mentalities designed to secure negro supremacy
simpifcation Of the system, and discontinuanee
Of inqusitorial modes of assessing and collecting
Internal Revenue; so that the burden oftaNation
NAV be eQualized and lessened, the credit OF
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 o tariff for revenue upon foreign I'M
ports: and su'h equal taxation under the Inter
nal Revenue laws as will afford incidental pro
lection TO domestic manufactures. and as will.
without impairins 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
tor: the expulsion of corrupt men from ofnce;
TIE abrogaton of useless offices; the restoration
of riphtful authority Ia and the independence
of the Executveand Judicial departments OF
the government The subordinatiOn OF the mil
itary to the civil power to the end that the usur
patiUns of Congress and the despotism uf the
word may cease.
Eighth Equal rights and protection for nat.
uralized and native born citizens at homo and
abroad. The assertion of American rationality
which shall command the respect of foreign
powers and furnish an example and encourage
meut to people struggling for national integri-
~ constitutional liberty and individual rights,
and the maintenance of the rights of naturaliz-
ed citizens against the absolute doctrine Of i'm.
Inutabe allegiance, and the claims of foreign
powers 10 punish them for crime committed
beyond their jurisdiction.
In demanding these measures and reforms we
arraign the Radical party for its disregard Tor
;,kt anI fla mn llplpl unurpSSiOn and tyr.
amy which has marked its career, after the
most solemn and unanimous pledges OF both
houses of Congress to prosecute the war eNclu'
sively 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
il has 30 far as IL is in its power, dissolved II,
and subjected ten States in time OF profound
peace to military despotism and negro supre.
macy. 1t has nullfed th.re the right OF trial
bv Jury. 1t has abolished the habeas corpus,
that most sacred writ Of liberty. 1t has over
thrown the freedom of speech and of tho press
1t has substituted arbitrary seizures and ar.
rest and military trials and the secret star
chambers of inquisitions fT constitutional tri
bunals. 1t has disregarded in time OF peace the
right of the people to be free from search anu
seizures. Ii has entered the post and telegraph
offices and even the private rooms of individ'
without any specification, or notice, or afhda-
Wit, as required by the organic law. 1t has
converted the American capitol into a Bastile
Ii has established system of spies and ofhcial
espionage TO which no constitutional monarchy
in Europe would now dare to resort.
1t has abolished the right of appeal on i'm
portant constitutional questions TO the SUI
preme judicial tribunal and threatens torur-
tail or destroy its original jurisdiction, whchis
irrevocably vested by the Constitution, while
the learned Chief Justice has been subjc ctedto
great and atrOCinus caluianies, merely because
he would not prostitute his high Office to the
support of the false and partisan charges pre-
ferred against the President It's corruption
and extravaganza have exceeded anything
known in history, and by lis frauds ana monop
olies Il has nearly doubled the burden of debt
created during tie war. II has stripped the
President of his constitutional power oi sp'
pointment, even of his own cabinet. | nder lts
repeated assaults the pillars of the Government
are rocking on their bases, and should II sue
coed in November next aud inaugurate its
President, we will meet, rs subjects and con.
quered people, amid the ruiiIsoi liberty and
the scattered fragments ofthc Constitution.
and we do declare and resolve, That ever
since the people of the United States threw OH
ali subsection to the British crown, the privi-
lege and trust of suffrage have belonged to the
several States and have been granted, regulated
and controlled exclusively by the political pow.
or OF each State respectively and any attempt
by Congress on any pItlfAJ "IdtfNtl W
pIive any State of this right or interfere with
this exercise is fragrant usurpation of power,
which can find no warrant in the Constitution,
and if sanctioned by the people will subvert our
form of government and can only end in sim
gle centralized consolidated government, In
which the separate existence of the States will
he entirely absorbed, and an unqualified des-
potism be established in place of n Federal
union Of coequal States; and that we regard the
reconstruction acts so called, Of Congress such
ttfttff nj
and void; and that our soldiers and sailors who
carried the flag of our co1ntry 10 vict Try
against most gallant and determined Zoe must
be- ever gratefully remembered, and all Gnaran.
ties given in the law must he faithfully carried
into execution.
That the public land should be distributed
widely among the people. and should be disp0s.
ed OF under the presumption OF homestead laws,
and sold in reasonable quantities. and to none
bat actual occupants, at the minimum price es.
tabished by the government. When grants OF
the public lands may be allowed necessary for
the encouragement of important public i'm
provemcnts, the proceeds Of the sale of such
lands, and not the lands themselves, should he
80 applied.
drew johnson, in exercising the power of his
high office in resisting the aggressions OF Con-
gress on the Constitutional rights OF the States
and the people, is entitled to the gratitude OF
the whole American people and on behalf OF
the Democratic party We tfHueT Hlul qua thhhho
for his patriotic efforts in that regard.
Upon this platform tho Democratic party ap.
peals to every patriot. including all the Conser.
vative element and all who desire TO support the
constitution and restore the Union forgetting
past differences OF opinion, TO unite with us in
tue present great struggle for the liberties of
the people, and that to all such, to whatever
party tley NAV have heretofore belonged, we
extend the right hand of fellowship, and hail all
such cooperating with us a. friends and broth