The Conservative. (M'connelsville, Ohio) 1866-1871, 1868-07-23
PLATFORM OF THE, DEMOCRACY OF THE
UNITED STATES.
Aj.ptsi in Convention ot'yNcm York on
tte lh of IIIp, 1868.


Tho Democratic party in National Con-
vcntion nsacmblcdt rcposing its trust in fhe
intelligence, patriotism aud discriminating
instinct Of tho people, standing upon the
Constitution as the foundation and lmita.
tion ofthe powers Of Government nnd the
guarantee Of the liberties Of the citizen and
recognizing the questions Of slavery and 80.
cossion as having been aettlcd for all time
to come, by the war aud voluntary action of
the Southern ststss in constitutional con.
vention assembled, aud never io bc renew
cd or rc-agitntqd, do, with the return Of
peace, demand
First The immediate restoration of all
states in the Union under the Constitution
Ofoivil Government.
Second. Amnesty for all paat political Of
fgnsea, and the regulation of the elective
fruuchisc in the states by their citizens.
Third. The payment Of the public debt
OF the United States rs rapidly "a possible,
all money drawn from the people by taxa.
tiOn, except 50 much as Is resquisite for the
necessities Of the government economically
administered, being honestly applied 70
such payment; and where the obligations
Of the government do rot expressly state
upon their face, or the law under which
they wero issued does not provide that
they shall be paid in coin. they ought, ia
right and justice. to be paid in the lawful
llDHt VI Nht bulAtN oAhAths
Fourth. The equal taxation Of every
species Of property according TO value, IN.
cluding government bonds and other public
securities.
Fillh. One currency for the government
aud people the laborer and oilice-holder (;
the pensioner and soldier the producer
and tho bondholdcr.
sixth. Reform in tho administration Of
the GovernmC the reduction of the stau-
dino u-rly aud nayvs tla ubplitinn nf tho
Freodmen's Bureau(great cGcers) and all
political instrumcntglites designed to Sc
cure negro supremacy simplicatiOn OF the
system aud dseOntinuance Olthc inquisIOr-
ial modes Of assessing and collecting revc-
nuo, that the burden oftaxation be cqualizcd
and lessencd, the credit of the Government
mado good the abolition Of all enactments
for the enrolling of state militia into nation.
hl forces in time Of peace, and tariff for
revenue upon foreign imports, and such
equal taxation under the internal revenue
laws a. will afford incidental protection TO
domestic manufactures, aud without I'M
pairing the revenue impose the least bur
den uponthe rcst,promote and encourage the
great Industrial Interests OF the country.
Seventh. Reform OF the abuses of the
Administration the expulsion Of corrupt
mon from Office tho abrogation Of useless
offices the restoration Of the rightful nu.
thOrity and the independence of the execu-
tive and judicial departments of the Gov
crnment the subordination Of the civil
power, to the end that the usurpation of
Congress anu the dcs! otisln OF the sword
may cease
Eight. Equal rights and protection for
naturallzcd aud native born citizenE, at home
aud abroad the reGtoration Of American ma
tionaiity, which shall command the respect
Of foreign powers and furnish an example
and encouragement to people struggling for
national integrity, constitutional liberty
and individual rights of naturalized citizens
against the obsolete doctrine of immutable
allegiance and claims Of foreign powers to
punish the alleged crime committed beyond
their Jurisdiction.
In demanding these measures and rclurms
we arraign the Radical party for the disre-
gard OF right and UNI aralleled opposition
and tyranny winch have marked its career.
After the most solemn and unanimous
pledges Of both houses OF Congress to prose-
cute the war oxoluavely Tor the mainton-
uuce Of tho Government and the preserva-
tiou of the Union under the Constitution, il
has repeatedly violated tho most sacred
pledge under which was rallied that nbble
volunteer army which carried our flag to
victory. Instead of restoring the USion, IL
has, so far as in its power dissolved and sub
lugated ten States in the time of profound
peace I" military despotism and negro SUI
pTemacy. II has nullilied tho rigAt of trial
by iuryi II has abolished the habeas corpus
that most sacred writ Of libertyj il has
oyerthrown the freedom of speech aud of the
prossi IL has substituted arbitrary seizures
and arrests, and military trials, aud secret
star chamber inquisitions for constitutional
tribunals IL has disrogarded in time of
peace the right of people to be free from
search and sie2ures IL has entered the post
and telegraph Offices, and even in the pri-
vato rooms Of individuals, and seized their
private papers and letters without any spec
itications OF affidavit as required by organic
law 1t has converted the American capitol
into bastile; il has established o system
of spies and official espionag TO which no
constitutional monarchy Of Europe would
now dare to resort it has abolished tho
right Of appeal on important constitutional
questions to the supreme judlcals tribunals
and threatens TO cUrtail or destroy its origi-
nal jurisdiction, which is irrevocably vest
ed by the Constitution, while the learned
Chief Justice has been subjected to the great
and atrociOus oalumnies merely because he
would not prostitute his office so the support
Of the false and partizan charges preferred
against the President its corruption aud
extravaganza have exceeded anything
known in history, and by its frauds and
Inonopoles it has nearly doubled the bur-
den OF the debt created during the war II
has stripped the President Of his constitu-
tional power Of appointment Of his own cab
met. Under its repeated assaults the pill.
lara of the Government are rocking on their
base, and should II succeed in November
next and inaugurate its President. we will
meet as subjected and conquered oeopie,
amid the ruins OF Libert7 and the scattered
fragments of the Constitution.
And we do declare aud resolve that ever
since the people ofthe United Staten threw
or all subsection TO the British crown, the
privilege and trust Of suffrage has belonged