Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1868-08-27
PLATFORM OF THE
National Democratic Conyen.
tlvl.

Inc Democr@tlc party III NatlC1itl C0nven
ton assembled, reposing its trust in The intel
hgence, patriotism and discriminating Justice
81 the people, standing upon lie Constitution
as the foundation aud limitation of the powers
OF the Government, and the guarantee of the
liberties OF the citizen; and recognising III.
questions of slavery and secession as having
been settled for all time TO come by the war
or the voluntary action Of tn; Southern States
In Constitutional Convention assembled. and
never to be renewed or rcag!tated do with
| the return OF peace demand
First. Immediate re.:O,sjion of all the
States to n II rights in the uuion under The
Constitution, AND of civil governments to The
American people.
Second Amnesty for all past political often
ces, and the regula ion of the elective franchise
IN The States by the ciii,ens
Third Payment of the public debt as rapid.
~ as practicable; all oneys drawn from the
people by taxation, except go much as is re-
quisite Tor the necessities Of the Government
economically administered. being honestly APP
piied 10 such payment. and where the obliga
TONS OF the Uoserninen; do not expressly state
upon ,her face. or the l.% under which thew
were issued does not provide hal hey shall
De pald IN IN. they ought, in rivGt and JUS
lce, o. paid IN The lawful money Ct The Uni
ted States.
rrth. Equal asniion of every species of
property according 10 Il. real W. le. including
government bond. ard ether pubi,c securities.
Filth. one currency Tor the sov-ensl. nj and
HE people. he lahorer ant re otsce foi,ier,
the pensIoner and the soldier, the producer
and the boa-hoider
Sixth Economy in the administration OF
the government; he reduction OF t.e stand
ing army and navy; the abolition OF h Freed
HtIreau a1.i all noi;t,cof iustr,,uon,al;
Ties designed 10 secure negro supremacy. sim
plihca'ion of the system. and dscontinuance
OF the inquislt orial modes of assessing and
collecting internal revenue, that the burden
OF taxation may be equaliged and lessened;
the credit or the government and The currency
made good; the repeal of all enacments for
enrolling ihe State militia into national forces
IN time of peace: and tariff for revenue up
on foreign imports. ami such equal taxation
under the int ernal revenue laws as will afford
incidental protection 70 lomest ic manufactures,
and as WILL without impairiag the revenue
impose he least burden upon and best pro-
mote and encourage the industrial interests
of the country.
Seventh. Reform of abuses in the admins
traiion, the expulsion Of corrupt men from
iii e. the abroyation of useless Offices, the
restoration Of rishtful authority 10, and the
independence of the executive and judicial
Gepar ments of The government, the subordi-
nation OF the military TO the civil power, to
the end that the usurpations Oh Congress and
the despOt1Sm OF the sword may cease.
Eighth. Equal rights and protection to nat
uralized and native born citizens at home and
abroad. the assertion of American nationality
which shall command the respect of foreign
powers, and furnish example and eneour-
agement 10 people struggling for national in
tegrity, constitutional liberty and mainten
| ance of the rights o. naturalized citizens
against the absolute doctrine of immutable
allegiance, and the claims Of pow rs to punish
them for alleged crime committed be- ond
their jurisdiction.
In demanding these measures and reforms
, we arraign The Republican party for It's dis
regard of right and the unparalleled oppres-
sion and tyranny which have marked its career
After tn. mos. solemn and unanimous pledge
of both Houses OF Congress to prosecute the
war exclusively for the maintenance of the
Government and the preservation of he Union
under the Constitution. it has repeatedly vio
lated that most sacred pledge under which
alone we rallied that noble volunteer army
which carrie our flag to victory. Instead of
resori az the Union, it has, so far as in its
power. dissolved ii, and subjected ten States
n time OF profound peace TO military despot
Ism anu negro suprSHftcy' mas Huilueu
the RICH of trial by jury; it has abolish.
ed the hdbeas corpns-that most sacred writ OF
| liberty; it has overthrown the freedom OF
| speech and of the press; it has substituted ar
bfrary seizures and arrests. anu military tria Is
and secret star chamber inquistions for the
| constitutional tribunals; it has dsregarded IN
| time of peace the right of the people 10 be free
| from searches and seizures; it has entered the
post and telegraph Offices, and even the pri
| yate rooms OF individuals and seized their
| private papers and letters without any specif-
ic charge or notice of affidavit. as required by