The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1868-08-01
DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM.
Gonventi9n, convened at New York,

COANSAS0 db ENSW AOAA1
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 founds-
ton aud limitation of the powers Of the Govern
ment, and the guarantee Of the liberties Of the cit
iEen and recognizing the questions Of slavery
and secession as having been settled for all time
to come by the war OF the voluntary action OF the
Southern States in Constitutional Convention as
sembled, and never 20 be renewed or regulated,
do with the return Of peace demand
restoration OF all the States
60 their rights in the Union under the Constitu-
ton, and Of civil government TO the American
people.
SeeORd-Amnesty for all past political oHenses.
and the regulation Of the elective franchise in the
States by their citizens.
TRird-Payment Of the public debt of the United
States as rapidly as practicable all moneys drawn
from the people by taxation, except so much as is
requisite for the necessities Of the Government,
economically administered, being honestly applied
20 such 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,
FoHrth-Elual taxation Of every species Of
property according to its real value, including
Government bonds and other public securities.
FgtA-0ne currency for the Government and
the people, the laborer and the Office holder. the
.pensiOner and the soldier, the producer and the
6ondholder.
SxtA-Eeonomy ia the administration of the
Government; the reduction Of the standing army
and the navy; the abolition of the Freedman's
Bureau, and al Political instrumentalities designed
TO secure negro supremacy: simplifcation Of the
system, and diseontinuanee Of inquisitorial modes
OF assessing snd collecting Internal Revenue, so
that the burden Of taxation may be equalized and
lessened; the credit Of the Government and the
currency made good the repeal of all enactments
for euroIliuV The State militia info national forrea
IN time Of peace and n tariff for revenue upon
foreign imports, and such equal taxation under
the Internal Revenue laws as will afford incl
dental protection 20 domestic manufactures, and
as will, without i~mpairing the revenue, impose the
least burden upon and best promote and encour-
age the great Industrial interests Of the country.
SersHh-Resorm Of abuses in the administra-
ftion, the expulsion Of corrupt men from OF
flee. the abrOgotiOn Of useless Offices. the
restoration Of rightful authority to, and the
Independence Of, the executive and judicial de-
paztnents of the government, the subordination
of the military 70 the civil power. to the end that
the usurPatiOns Of Congress and the despotism Of
the sword may cease.
Eigbth-Equal rights and protection for nat
aralized and native-bOru citizens at home and
abroad, the assertion OF American nationality
which shall command the respect of foreign pow
es and furnish an example and encouragement
to people stru ggling for national integrity, con-
stitutional liberty and individual rights and the
maintenance Of the rights Of naturalized citizens
against the absolute doctrine Of immutable allie
glance, and the claims of foreign powers to pun
ish them for alleged crime committed beyond their
jurisdiction.
In demanding these measures and reforms we
arraign the Radical party for its disregard Of right
and the unparalleled oppression and tyranny which
have marked ITS career.
After the most solemn and unanimous pledge of
both Houses Of Congress to prosecute the war ex-
clusiTely for the maintenance Of the Government
and the preservation Of the Union under the Con-
s~titutiOn, 1t has repeatedly violated that most sa-
cred pledge under which alone was rallied that
noble volunteer army which carried OR flag 10
victory. Instead Of restoring the Union II has,
50 far as IN its power, dissolved it, and subjected
ten States, In time Of profound peace, 70 military
despotism and negro supremacy. Il has nuIiifed
there the right Of trial by jury; it has abolished
the hG6sGs corpus, that most sacred writ of liberty
Il has overthrow the freedom Of speech and the
press 1t has substituted arbitrary seizures, and
arrests, and military trials, and secret star cham
beE inquisitlons for the constitutional tribunals il
has disregarded In time Of peace the right of the
Ipeople 70 be free from searches and seizures; II
has entered the post and telegraph Offices and
even the private rooms Of individuals. and seized
their private papers and letters without any spe-
eihe charge or notice Of affidavit, as required by
the organic law /; il has converted the American
Capitol into q bastile; il has established a gys
TEN Of spies and official espionage to which no
constitutional monarchy Of Europe woald now
dare to resort; it has abolished the right Of ap-
peal on important constitutional questions to the
supreme judicial tribunal and threatens to curtail
or destroy its original jurisdiction which is ire.
sTOcably vested by the Constitution, while the
Learned Chief Justice has been subjected To the
most atrocious ealumnies, merely because he
would not prostitute his high Office TO the support
of the false and partizan charges preferred against
the President. It's corruption and extravaganza
have exceeded anything known in history, and By
its frauds and monopolies it has nearly doubled
the burden Of the debt created by the war. Il
has stripped the President Of his constitutions
power of appointment, even Of his own Cabinet
Under its repeated assaults the piilars Of the Gov
eminent are rocking on their base, and should il
succeed IN November next and inaugurate it
President, We viii meet as a subjected and con.
quered people amid the ruins of liberty and tbs
scattered fragments of the Constitution.
And VIC do declare and resolve that ever sinct
the people Of the United States threw off all sub
lection to the British Crown the privilege and trus
Of suffrage have belonged to the several states
and have been granted. regulated and controlled
exclusively by the political power of each Stats
respectively. and that any attempt by Congress
on any pretext whatever, 70 deprive any State Of
this right, or interfere with its exercise, is q ia
grant usurpation Of power which can find no war
rant In the Constitution, and if sanctioned by tn,
people will subvert our form of Government, anC
can only end in a single centralized and consoI
idated government in which the separate ~existenc,
Of the States viii be entirely absorbed, and an IN
qualified despotism be established in place of
Federal Union of coequal States.
anu Iudl VIC EeSHTu Lue hec0nSIrucLl0n AcLg1S
called of Congress, as such, as usurpations and
unconstitutional revolutionary and void.
That our soldiers and sailors who carried tn,
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 thei
favor must be faithfully carried into execution.
That the public lands should be distributed a
widely as possible among the people, and should
be disposed of either under the o
homestead lands, or sold 10 reasonable quantities
and to none but actual occupants, at the minimum
price established by the Government. WheI
grants of the public lands may be allowed, neces
sary for the encouragement Of important public
improvements, the proceeds of the sale of sucl
lands, and not the lands themselves should be 5,
applied.
That the President of the United States, Andrev
johnson, in exercising the power of his high of
fee in resisting the aggressions Of Congress upoI
the Constitutional rights of the States and thu
People, is entitled to the gratitude of the Who'll
American people, and in behalf os the Democratic
party we tender him our thanks for his patriots
efforts in thatregard.
Upon this Platform the Democratic party ap
peal to every patriot, including all the conserve
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 tn
present great stru ggle for the liberties of the PEG
PIE, and that 70 all such, to whatever party they
may have heretofore belonged, we extend the RICH
hand Of fellowship and hail all such cooperating
With us az friends and brethren.