The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1868-08-22


patriotism and discriminating justice Of the peo
pie, standing upon the Constitution as the founda-
tion aud limitation of the powers of the Govern
ment, and the guarantee of the liberties of the cit
iLen; and recognizing the questions of slavery
and secession as haviag been settled for all time
TO come by the war the voluntary action Of the
Southern States in Constitutional Convention as
sembled, aud never 70 be renewed or roagitated,
do with the return Of peace demand
First-Imm ediate restoration of all the States
to their rights in the Union under the Constitu-
ton, and Of civil government to the American
people.
Secoad-Amnesty for all past political ofTenses.
and the regulation of the elective franchise in the
States by their citizens.
Tkird-Payment of the public debt of the United
States rapidly practicable; all moneys drawn
from the people by taxation except So much as is
requisite for the necessities Of the Government,
economically administered, being honestly applied
to ..eh payment, and where the obligations of the
Government do not expressly state upen their
face. or the law under which they issued
does not provide that they shall be paid in coin.
they ought, in right aud in justice, to be paid in
the lawful N oney Of the United States
FoWrta-Equal taxation of every species of
property according 20 its real value, including
Government bonds aud other public securities.
FJftA-One currency for the Government and
the people, the laborcr aud the ofiee holder the
PensiOner and the soldier, the producer aud the
bondhOlder.
SirtR-Economy in the administration of the
Government; the reduction of the standing army
and the navy; the abolition Of the Freedman's
Bureau, and all political instrumentaties designed
to secure negro supremacy; simplihcation of the
system, and discontinuance Of inquiSitOrial modes
of assessing and collecting Internal Revenue, so
that the burden # taxation may be equaliEed and
leSsened; the credit of the Government and the
currency male good the repeal of all enactments
for enrolling the State militia into national forces
in time Of pace, and n tariff for revenue upon
foreign Imports, and such equal taxation under
the Internal Revenue laws as will aaord incl
dental protection 10 domestic manufactures, and
as viii, without impairtng the revenue, impose the
least burden upon and best promote and
age the gFest industrial interests Of the country.
SereHtk-lsetOrm Of abuses in the administrA-
ton, the expulsion Of corrupt from Of
flee, the abr 1-Cfiun Of useless Offices, the
restoration Of rishtful authority 70, and the
independence Of, The executive and judicial de
partmentS OF tho government, the subordnation
of the military 20 the civil power TO the end that
the usurps3ions of Congress and the dcspOtism Of
the sword may cease.
Eiqkts-Equal rights and protection for nat
uralized and native-born citizens at home and
abroad, the assertion OF American nationality
which shall command the respect Of foreign pow
ers and furnish an example and encouragement
to people struggling for national integrity.
stitutiOnal liberty and individual rights and the
maintenance OF the rights Of nAtRrahEed citizens
against the absolute doctrine Of immutabie ale
glance and the claims Of fersign powers to pun
ish them for alleged crime committed hey their
Jurisdiction
In demanding these measures and reforms We
rraign the Radical party for its disregard cf right
and the unparalleled oppression and tyranny which
have marked its career.
After the most solemn and unanimous pledge OF
both Houses Of Congress 70 prosecute the
elzsively for the maintenance Of the Government
and the preservation Of the Union under the Con
stitution. L as repeatedly violated that most
cred pledge uu3er Ehich alone vas rallied that
noble volunteer army which carried oar flag 10
victory. Instead of restoring the Union il has
= u. u
ten States, n time Of prqfgnBd peace TO military
despotiSH and negro supremacy. II has nullined
there the right Of trial By jury; i has abolished
the habsas eorPs that most sacred sEit Of liberty
IL has 0YcrsErown the freedom of speech aud the
press II has substituted arbitrary seizures, and
arrests. and military trials, and secret star cham
Der inquisitions for the constitutional tribunals il
has disregaTded IN time Of peace the right OF the
people 70 be free from searches and seizures; it
has entered the post and telegraph Offices and
even the priya Of individuals. and seized
thsir private papers and letters without any spe-
q, cifc charge notice Of affidavit, required By
the organic law /; II has converted the American
Capitol into a bastIie; 10 has established q Eys-
TEN Of spies and official espionage 10 which no
constitutional monarchy Of Europe would now
dare TO resort; It has abolished the right Of sp-
peal on important constitutional questions 20 the
supreme Judicial tribunal and threatens % curtail
or destroy its original jurisdiction which is ire
voeabIy vested BY the Constitution, while the
learned Chief Justice has been subjected u the
most atToei0us ealumnies, merely because he
would not prostitute his high Ofiee 10 the support
of the false and paTtzan charges preferred against
the President. It's corruption and extraFsgance
have exceeded anything known IL history, and by
its frauds and monopolies it has nearly doubled
the burden Of the debt created By the war. ID
has stripped the President Of his constitutional
power Of appointment, even Of his own Cabinet.
Under It's repeated assaults the pillars Of the Cow
eminent are rocking their base, and should i'd
succeed in November next and inaugurate it
D. H. ..leo r~Tks A01 -
duered people amid the ruins Of liberty and thf
scattered fragmants Of the Constitution.
And we do declare and resolve that ever sinca
the people Of the United States threw OF all cub
lection to the British Crown the privilege and trs
Of suffrage have belonged to the several ststA
and have been granted. regulated and coDtroH
exclusively BY the political power Of each 81
respectively, and that any attempt by Congrs-
on any preteZt whatever, 10 deprive any State
this night, or interfere with its exercise is /
grant usuTpatiOn Of power which find no
rant IN the Constitution, and if sanctioned by
people viii Eubvert our form of Government a
can only end IN a single centralized and con-
idated government in which the separate existen /
Of the States will be entirely absorbed, and
qualified deEpotism be established in place Of j
Federal Union Of coequal States.
And that We regard the Reconstruction Acts ESQ
ealled) of Congress, as such, as usurpations and
unconstitutional, revolutionary and void.
That our soldiers and sailors who carried the
flag Of our country to victory against a most gal
liant and determined foe must ever be gratefully
remembered, and all the guarantees given in theil
favor must be faithfully carried into execution.
That the public lands should be distributed al
widely as possible among the people, and should
be disposed of either under the pre-emption oi
homestead lands, or sold In reasonable quantities
and to none but actual occupants, at the minimum
price established by the Government Wher
grants of the public lands may be allowed, neces
sary for the encouragement Of important public
improvements, the proceeds of the sale Of suef
lands and not the lands themselves should be 81
applied.
That the President of the United States, Andrew
johnson, in exercising the power of his high Of
fee in resisting the aggressions of Congress upor
the Constitutional rights of the States and th'
People, is entitled to the gratitude of the whole
American people, and in behalf of the Democratic
. party tender him thanks for his patriots
efforts in that regard.
Upon this Platform the Democratic party ap
peal to every patriot, including all the conserva
tive element and all who desire to support tn
Constitution and restore the Union, forgetting al
past differences Of opinion. to unite with us in th
present great struggle for the liberties of the peo
ple and that to all such, to whatever party the,
may have heretofore belonged, we extend the righ
hand of fellowship, and hail all such cooperating
with as friends and brethren.
Am nr urt,n snrno