The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1868-11-02
The National Democratic
Platform.

The Democratic party, in National CUnven'
tiOn assembled, repesihg its trust in the intelli.
| gence patriotism and discriminating justice OF
| the people, standing upon the Constitution as
| the foundation and limitation of the powers OF
! the Government, and the guarantee OF the lib
critics of the citizen, and recognizing the queS
! lions of slavery and secession as having been
- titled for all time to come, by war and the vol
untary action of the southern states, in COnsti.
| tutional convention assembled, and never 10 be
renewed or rcagtatCd DO, with the return of
peace demand
First. The Immediate restoration of all the
States to their rights in the Union, under the
Constitution, and of civil government fo- 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 public debt of the Uni
ted States ~ rapidly rs practicable; all money
drawn from the people by taxation, except so
much a. 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 OK.
prcssly 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 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 CUR enCv for the government and
the people, the labOrer and the Office holder,
the peusoner 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 ;
bureau great cheers !, and all political instru-
mentalities designed to secure negro supremacy;
simplihcatiOn of the system, and discontinuanCe
of inqusitorial modes of assessing and collecting
Internal Revenue; so that the burden of taxation
may be equalized 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 Of
peace, and a 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 will,
without impairing 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-
tiOs; the expulsion of corrupt men from office;
the abrogation of useless Offices the restoration
of rightful authority to and the independence
of the Executive and Judicial departments OF
the government. The subordinstion 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 hsme 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.
~, constitutional liberty and individual rights,
and the maintenance of the rights of naturaliZ-
ed citizens against the absolute doctrine ef i'm
mutahle allegiance and the claims of foreign
powers to punish them for crime committed
beyond their Jurisdiction.
IN demanding these measures and reforms we
al tS!Eh the Radical party for its disregard Tor
s.SaI' ana the unparalleled oppression and tyr.
/ "huH "nl'h has marked its career. after the
ii"s' S".Tnh and unanimous pledges of both
H'uSvS VI congress TO prosecute the war exclu.
SlNeIi loT the maintenance of the Goyarnmen-
anu the protection Of the Union undsr tbs
Constitution. 1t has repeatedly yioIa+sS 10
most sacred pledge. under which yss r,T,iaS
that noble volunteer army which carried 60,
flag 10 victory. Instead Of restoring the T-,;D
il has so far as il Is in Its power, dissolved -
and subjected ten States in time of protounG
peace to military despetism and negro supre
macy. 1t has nullifed thsre the rigRt of trial
by iury. 1t has abolished the habess corpus
that most sacred writ OF liberty. 1t has over.
thrown the freedom of speech and of the press
1t has substituted arbitrary seizures ana ar.
rest, and military trials and the secret star
chambers of inQuisitions for constitutional tri
bunals. 1t has disregarded in time of peace the
right of the people TO be free from search and
seizures. 1t has entered the post and telegraph
offices, and even the private rooms of individ.