The Placer herald., 1868-12-26
National Democratic Platform.

patT1Otl0m anu DISCRIMINATING Justice VI tnc Peo-
pie, stand upon the Constitution rs the foundation
and limitation of the powers Of the Government
and the guarantee ot the liberties OF the citizen,
and recognizing the questions of slavery ana Sc
cession as having been settled ior an tlne 10
come by the war, or the volunteer action OF tne
Southern States in Constitutional conventions
assembled, and never to be resuscitated' do WIN
the return Of peace demand
Eysf-Tbe immediate restoration OF all States
to their rights in the Union under the Constltu-
ton of civil government and the American peo-
pie.
Secend-Amnesty for all political offcnses, and
the regulation of the elective franchise in the
States by their citizens
Inird-The payment Of the public debt OF the
United States as rapidly rs practicable, all money
drawn by the people by taxation, except 80 much
rs is requisite for the necessities OF the Govern
ment economically administered. being honestly
applied to such payment, and when the ooiiga-
tions of the Government do not expressly state
on 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 Ct the United States.
Fourth-Equal taxation Of every species OF
property, according to value inc!aa,ns 'o'e'n'
FIfih-One currency for the Government and
the people, the laborer and the ofice-holder, the
pensioner and the soldier, the producer and the
bond. holder.
Sirth-Economy in the administration of the
Government, the reduction of the standing army
and navy, the abolition Of the Freedmcn's Bureau,
and all political instrumeutalities designed to
serve negro supremacy simplifcation OF the sys-
TEN, and discontinuance Of inquistOrial modes
of assessing and collecting internal revenue that
the burden of taxation be equalizcd and lessened;
the credit of the country made good all enact
ments for the enrolling of the State militia into
national forces in time OF peace, and tariff tor
revenue upon foreign imports; and such equal
taxation under the internal revenue laws as will
afford incidental protection to domestic manufac-
lures as will. without impairing the revenue, lm-
pose the least burden upon and best promote ana
encourage the great Industrial interests ol the
country.
Serenth- Reform of the abuses 10 the admins
tration the expulsion of corrupt men IRON othce;
the abrogaton of useless offices the restoration
Of rightlul authority to the independence OF the
Executive and Judicial Departments OF the Gov
ernment; the subortinaon OF military TO the
civil power to the end that the usurpation OF
Congress and despotism of the sword may cease
Eighth-Equal rights and protection Tor natu-
ralized and native born citizens at home and
abroad; the assertion of American nationality
which will command the respect OF foreign pow:
ers, furnish an example and encouragement to
people struggling for national integrity, consti-
tutional liberty and individual rights and the
maintenance of the rights of naturalized citizens
against the absolute doctrine OF immutable alle.
glance and the claims Of fore en- powers to punish
them for alleged crime committed beyond their
jurisdiction. In demanding these measures and
reforms we arraign the Radical party for its dis
regard OF right and the unparalleled opposition
and tyranny which have marked its career. Al
ter the most solemn and unanimous pledge oil
both Houses Of Congress to prosecute the war ex-
clusively for the maintenance OF the Government
anG the preservation OF the Union under the Con-
stituton, it 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 it has so far as 1t
is in its power, dissolved it, and subjected ten
States in time of profound peace TO military des-
potism and negro suffrage. 1t has nullied there
the right Of trial by jury; it has abolished the
habeos corpus, that most sacred writ OF liberty;
it has Overthrown the freedom OF speech ana the
press; it has substituted arbitrary seizures ana
arrests, and military trials and secret Star Cham
ber inquistiOns for constitutional tribunals. III
has disregarded in time OF peace the right OF the
people to be free from search aad seizures 1t has
entered the pest and telegraph Offices, aud even
the private rooms of individuals, and seized their
private papers and letters, without any specihca-
ton or notice of affidavit. as required by the or!
,Ranic law. 1t has converted the American Capt.
tol into baste. 1t has established a stem OF
spies and official espionage to which no cOnstltu-
tiOnal monarchy of Europe VOud now dare TO
resort. 1t has abolished the right OF appeal on
important constitutional questions to the supreme
ana JUDICIAL trlnunaI. ana tureatchS W Vu' '"' VI
destroy its original jurisdiction, which is lrrevo'
cably vested by the Constitution. while the learn
ed Chief Justice has been subject to great and /
atrocious calumnes merely because he would not
prostitute his high Office to the support OF the
false and partizan charges preferred against the
President Its corruption and extravaganza have
exceeded any thing known in history, and by its
frauds and lnonopolics it has nearly doubled the
burden OF the debt created during the war. 1t
has stripped the President of his constitutional
power OF appointment. even Of his own Cabinet.
Under its repeated assaults the pillars of the
Government are rocking on their base, and should
it succeed in November next, and inaugurate Its
President, we will meet subjected and con-
quered people amid the ruins OF liberty and the
scattered fragments of the Constitution. And
we do declare and resolve that ever since the
people of the United States threw of all subjec-
ton to the British Crown the privilege and trust
of suffrage have belonged 10 the several States,
and have been granted, regulated and controlled
exclusively by the political power of each State
respectively, any attempt by Congress, on any
pretext whatever to deprive any State OF this
right, or interfere with this exercise, is fragrant
usurpaton of power which can find no warrant
in the Constitution aud if sanctioned by the peO-
pie will subvert our form OF Government, and
will only end in single centralized, consolidated
Government, in which the separate existence OF
the States will be absorbed, and an unqualified
despotism be established in place OF Federal
Union OF co-equal States, ana that we Regard tue
reconstruction acts OF Congress such usurpati0ns
and unconstitutional, revolutionary and void.
. That our soldiers and sailors, who carried the
flag Of our country to victory against most gal
liant and determined foe, must be over gratefully
remembered, and all the guarantees given in
their favor must be faithfully carried into exccu-
ton.
That the public lands should be distributed as
widely among the people and should be disposed
Of either under the pre-empton OF homestead
laws, and sold in reasonable quantities, and to
none but actual occupants. at the minimum price
established by the Government. When grants OF
the public lands may be allowed necessary for the
encouragement of important public improve
ments, the proceeds of such lands. and not the
lands themselves, should be applied.
That the President Of the United States, An
drew johnson, exercising the power of his office
in restricting the aggressons Of Congress on the
constitutional rights of the States and the people
is entitled to the gratitude OF the whole American