The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1868-11-02
PLATFORM
OF THE
NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY.
ADOPTED JULY ?, 1868.


limitation of the powers of the govern
ment, and the guarantee of the liberty of
the citizen, and recognizing the questions
of slavery and secession as having been
settled for all time to come by the war or
the voluntary action of the Southern
States in constitutional conventions assem-
bled, and never to be renewed or reagita-
ted, do, with the return of peace, demand:
First-Immediate restoration Of all the
States to their rights in the Union under
the Constitution. and of civil government
to the American people.
Second-Amnesty for all the past politi-
cal offences, and the regulation of the cleo
tive franchise in the States by their cit
liens.
Third-Payment of the public debt of
the United States as rapidly as practicable,
all money drawn from the people by taxa
ton, except so much as is requisite for the
necessities of the government, economical
ly administered, being applied to such
payment: and where the obligations of
the government do not expressly state,
upon their face, or where the law under
(which they were issued does not provide
that they shall be paid in coin, they onght
in right and in justice be paid in tho law
full money of the United States.
Fourth-Equal taxation of every species
of property according to its real value, in
Guiding government bonds and other pub
lie securities.
Fifth-One currency for the government
and the people, the laborer and the Office
holder, the pensioner and the soldier, the
producer and the bondholder.
Sixth-EconOmy in the administration
of the government; the reduction of the
standing army and navy; the abolition of
the Freedmen's Bureau and all political
instrumentalities designed to secure negro
supremacy; simplification of the system
and discontinuancc of irqnisitorial modes
revenue, so that the burden of taxation
may be egualized and lessened the credit
of the government and the currency made
good; the repeal Of all enactments for en-
rolling the State militia into national
forces in time of peace; and tariff for
revenue upon foreign imports, and such
equal taxation under the internal revenue
laws as will afford incidental protection to
domestic manufactures; and as will, with
ont impairing the revenue, impose the
least burden upon, and best promote and
encourage the great industrial interest of
the country.
Seventh-Reform of abuses in the adj
ministration, the expulsion of corrupt men
from Office, the abrogation of useless Of
fees, the restoration of rightful authority
to and tho independence of the executive
and judicial departments of the govern
ment; the subordination of the military to
the civil power, to the end that the usur-
patrons OF Congress and tho despotism of
the sword may cease.
ighth-Equal rights and protection for
naturalized and native born citizens at
home and abroad, the assertion of Ameri-
can nationality, which shall command the
respect of foreign powers and furnish an
example and encouragement to people
struggling for national integrity, constitu-
tional liberty and individual rights; and
the maintenance of the rights of natural
lied citizens against the absolute doctrine
of immutable allegiance and the claims of
foreign powers to punish them for alleged
crimes committed beyond their jurisdic
ton.
In demanding these measures and re-
forms, we arraign the Radical Party for its
disregard of right and the unparalleled
oppression and tyranny which have mark
ed it's career, after the most solemn and
unanimous pledge of both Houses of Con.
gress to prosecute the war exclusively for
the maintenance of the government and
the preservation of tho Union and Consti
tuition. 1t has repeatedly violated that
most sacred pledge, under which was raj
lied that noble volunteer army which car.
ried our flag to victory instead of res.
storing the Union, it has, so far as is in its
power. dissolved it, and subjected ten
States, in time of profound peace, to mill
tary despotism and negro supremacy. II
has nullitied the right of trial by jury il
has abolished the habeas corpus. that most
sacred writ of liberty; it has overthrow,
the freedom of speech and press; 1t has
substituted arbitrary seizures and arrests
and military trials and secret star chamber
inquisitiOns for constitutional tribunals
it has disregarded in times of peace the
right of the people to be free from searches
and seizures; it has entered the post and
telegraph offices, and even the private
rooms of individuals. and seized their pri
! waite papers and letters without any speci
ficatiOn or notice of affidavit as required
by the organic law; it has converted thu
American capitol into 4 bastile; it has es
tablished system of spies and official es
pionage to which no constitutional MOI
archy of Europe would dare to resort; i
has abolished the right of appeal on i'm
portant constitutional questions to the su
preme judicial tribunals, and threatens t,
curtail or destroy its original jurisdiction
which is irrevOeably vested by the Consti
tuition, while the learned Chief Justice Ina
been subjected to great and atrocious cal
umnies, merely because he would not pros
IL. ~. L. Ia. ~.