The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1868-09-03
The National! Democratic
platform.

The Democratic party, in National Conven.
ton assembled reposiHg its trust In the intelE-
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-
tions of slavery and secession as having been
settled for all limo to come, by war and the vol
untary action of the Southern states, IN consti-
tutional convention assembled, and never 10 be
renewed or regulated, 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 for 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 as rapidly as practicable; 2ii money
drawn from the people by taxation, except so
much as is requisite for the necessities OF the
government economically administered, being
Honestly applied 10 such payment, and where
the obligations of the Government do not ex.
pressly 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 10 its real value, including
Government bonds and other public securities.
Fifth. One curr ency for the government and
the people, the laborer and the sthce holder;
the pensioner and the soldier, thepeoducer and
bond holder.
sixth. Economy in the administration Of the
government the reduction OF the standing army
and navy. the abolition of the Freedmen 5
bureau Igreat cbeersl, and all political instru-
mentalities designed To secure negro supremacy;
simplitcatiOn OF the system, and discontinuance
of inouisitorial modes of assessing anu collecting
Internal Revenue; so that the burden oil taxation
NAV be euualzed and lessened 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 tariff for revenue upon foreign i'm
uorts: and such equal taxation under the Inter.
nal Revenue laws, as will afford incidental pro-
lection to domestic manufactures, and as Will.
without impairins 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 adminlstra.
tiog; the expulsion of corrupt men from oftice;
the abrogatiOn of useless offices; the restoration
of rigLtful authority to and the independence
of the Executive and Judicial departments OF
the government The subordination OF tue NIL
itary to the civil power to the end that the usur
nations Of Congress and the despotism OF the
sword may cease.
Eighth. Equal rights and protection for nat.
urali2ed and native born citizens at home 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 of i'm
mutable allegiance, and tho claims of foreign
pOwers to punish them Tor 4 CRIME committed
beyond their jurisdiction.
In demanding these measures and reforms We
arrairn the Radical party for its disregard for
md ha m ra1 1plpI Onnre9SlOn and tyr.
amy which has marked its career, after the
most solemn and unanimous pledges OF both
houses of Congress TO prosecute the war eSclu.
sively for the maintenance OF the Government
and the protection of the Union under the
Constitution 1t 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
il las so far il is in its poser dissolved IT,
and subjected ten States in time Of profound
peace to military desp0tism and negro supre,
macy. 1t has nullfied there the right of trial
| by Jury. 1t has abolished the habeas corpus,
| that most sacred writ of liberty. 1t has over
| thrown the freedom of speech and OF the press.
1t has substituted arbitrary seizures and ar.
rest, and military trials aud the secret star
chambers of inquisitions for constitutional tri-
bunals II has disIegarded in time of peace the
right of the people to be free from search and
seizures II has entered the post and telegraph
offices, and even the private rooms OF individ-
uals and seized their private papers and letters
without any specification or notice, or atfida-
Wit, rs required by the organic law. 1t has
converted the American capitol into Bastile.
1t has established system of spies and official
espionage to which no constitutional monarchy
| in Europe would now dare to resort.
| 1t has abOlis shed the right of appeal on i'm.
portant constitutional questions to the srI.
preme judicial tribunal. and threatens toscur.
tail or destroy its original jurisdiction, which, is
| irrevocably vested by the Constitution, while
the learned Chief Justice has been subie cted to
| great and atrOciouS calulnnies, merely because
| he would not prostitute his high office to the
support of the false and partisan charges pre-.
fcrred against the President. Its corruption
| and extravaganza have exceeded anything
known in history and by its frauds and monOp.
olies II has nearly doubled the burden Of debt
created during tie war 1t has stripped the
| President of his constitutional power OF ap
pointment, even of his own cabinet. Under its
repeated assaults the pillars Of the Government
are rocking OH their bases and should 1t sue
coed in November next and inaugurate its
President, we will meet a. subjects and n COZ.
uuercd people, amid the ruins of liberty and
the scattered fragments Ofthe Constitution.
| And We do declare and resolve, That ever
since the people of the United States threw of
i all subsection to the British crown the privi
lcTc and trust of suffrage have belonged TO the
several States. and have been granted, regulated
| and controlled exclusively 10y the political pow
rr OF each State respectively: and amy attempt
by Congress OH any pTetcNt whatever TO de
privc any State of this right or interfere with
ths exercise is fragrant usurpation OF power,
which can find no warrant i'll the Constitution,
and if sanctioned by the people will subvert our
form of government, and can only end III stu
Gle centralized consolidated government, in
which the separate existence OF the States will
be entirely absorbed and an unqualified dies.
potism DO established in place of Federal
union of cocqual States and that we regard the
reconstruction acts, 80 called, of Congress such
usurpatiOn, and unconstitutional, revolutionary
and void: and that our soldiers and sailors who
carried the iiag of our cOantry to Wet Try
against most gallant and determined foe must
be- ever gratefully remembered, and all guaran
ties given III the law must bc faithfully carried
into execution.
That the public land should he distributed
widely among the people, and should be dispos
cd of under the presumption OF homestead laws,
and sold in reasonable quantities. and to none
but actual occupants at the minimum price es.
tablshcd by the government. When grants OF
the public lands may be allowed, necessary fol-
the encouragement OF important public i'm
provcments, the proceeds of the sac of such
lands and not the lands themselves, should be
so applied.
That the President of the United States, An
drew johnson, in exercising the power of his
high Office in resisting the aggressions OF Con
gress oil the Constitutional rights OF the States
and the people, is entitled to the gratitude OF
| the whole American people, and on behalf oi
| the Democratic party we tender him our thanks
| for his patriotic efforts i'll that regard.
Upon this platform the Democratic party ap
peals TO every patriot. including all the Conser
vative element and all who desire TO support the
constitution and restore the Union, forgetting
past differences OF opinion, tounite with us il
the present great struggle for the liberties Of
the people, and that to all such, to whatever
party they may have heretofore belonged, VT
extend tho right hand of fellowship, and hail al
such cooperating with us Us friends and broth
ers.