The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1868-09-19
The National Democratic
platfoYn1.

FtdCIOTIIIs
The Democratic party, in National Conven
ton assembled, repesiHg its trust IN the lnteiii
gence, patriotism and discriminating justice "
fbe people, standing upon the Constitution as
the Foundation and Limitation of the powers Of
the Government, and the guarantee OF the I'D
critics of the citizen, and recognizing the CUES
tions of slavery and secession as having been
settled for all time to come, by war ana the VOL
untary action of the Southern states, in consul
tutional convention assembled, and never 70 ot
renewed or regulated 40, Win tue ie'"iA VI
peace demand -,
First The immediate restoration OF al the
States to their rights in the Union, under the
Constitution, and OF civil government Tor the
American people. - ,,., At
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 SC
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 paidin coin, they ought IL right
and justice, be paid in the lawful msney 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 curr ency for the government and
the people, the laborer and the office Eolder,
the pensioner and the soldier, the producer ana
bond.holder .,..,,
government. the reduction of the standing army
and navy; the abolition of the Freedmen
bureau great cbeersl, and all political instru
mentalities designed to secure negro supremacy
simplificaton of the system, and discontinuanct
of inquisitorial modes of assessing and collecting
Internal Revenue; 50 that the burden OF taxation
NAV be e1ualized and lesssned, 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 OIL
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 VIII
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
ton; the expulsion of corrupt men from oihce
the abroCation of useless Offices the restoration
of richtful 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 homo 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 naturaliz
ed citizens against the absolute doctrine of i'm
mutable allegiance and the claims OF foreign
powers to punish them for crime committed
beyond their jurisdiction.
In demanding these measures and reforms we
arraign the Radical party for its disregard fol-
right, and the unparalleled oppression and tyr
most solemn and unanimous pledges OF both
houses of Congress to prosecute the war eXclu
siyely 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 0ul
flag to victory. Instead Of restoring the Union
il has so far as it is iii its power, dissolved IT,
and subjected ten States in time Of profound
peace to military despOtisn and negro supre
macy. 1t has nullitied there the right OF tria
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 stai
chambers of inquisitiOns for constitutional tri
bunals 1t has disregarded in time of peace the
right of the people to he free from search and
offices aud even the private rooms OF lnuiNld
uals and seized their private papers and letters
without any specification, or notice, or aida
Wit, rs required by the organic law. 1t has
converted the American capitol into 4 BaStile
1t has established system of spies and official
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 su
preme judicial tribunal, and threatens tolcur
tail or destroy its original jurisdiction, which II
irrevocably vested by the Constitution, while
the learned Chief Justice has been subjc 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-
ferred against the President. Its corruption
and extravaganza have exceeded anything
known in history and by its frauds lmonop
olies it has nearly doubled the burden of deb,
created during the 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 1t sue
coed in November next and inaugurate its
President, we will meet, as subjects and a COZ
0uered 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 of
all subsection TO the British crown, the priv
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 pretext whatever TO de
prive 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 oul
form of government, and can only end in sin
gle centralized consolidated government, in
which the separate existence ofthe States will
be entirely absorbed, and an unqualified dcs
potism be established in eplaoe of a Federal
union of coeoual 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
against most gallant and determined foe must