The Opelousas courier. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1852-1910, 1868-08-08
The Platform Of the Democratic
National Convention,
ADOPTED JULY 7th. 1868

r, o'ttnuins upon tne constitution as the fOunt
atioh ana limitation of the powers of the 90,
| ernment, aud the guarantee of the liberty Of 'tI
cltlzcn, and recognizing the question of SLAYER
ana secession as having been settled for all tim
l ~ come oy The war or the voluntary action G
the Southern States in constitutional eonver
tlons assembled, and never to be renewed or r.
agltated, do, with the return of peace. demand
2ffst-!mmedlate restoration of all the State
Fl 20 ther rights in the Union under the Constit,
people. = $3.50 - - - A''"'
esecond-Amnesty for all the past political OF
1ences, and the regulation of the elective fran
chIsedn Us the States by their citizens :.
r1n;4dH d;t4lfHasIayment sI OF the public debt of tn,
United States as rapidly as practicable, al
meney drawn from the people by taxation, ex
cepL SO much as Is requisite for the necessities
OF the government, economically administered
oeing applled to such payment; and where tht
satrens OF the government do not expressly
state, upon their face, where the law undeI
Mhlch they were issued does not provide that
| they snail be paid in coin, they ought in right
ana ana IN justice be paid in the lawful money of the
oI,oea FoeSa+b h1ates 5ihunders of applausej
Foufth-Equal taxation of every species OF
property according to its real value, including
government bonds and other public securities
theneWed cheering, and cries of "Read it
again.'1 -
Fifth-One currency for the government and
the people, the laborer and the office holder the
pensloner and the soldier, the producer and the
bondholder. tGreat cheering and cries of
| "Read it again.'1
The fifth resolution was AGAIN read and aoa;n
| cheered. t . = 80 - = = .
Sixth-Economy in the administration of the
government; the reduction of the standing
arm army and navy the abolition Of the Freedmens
bureau, tgfeat cheersl and all political instru-
iellIa6ies designed to secure negro supremacy !;
| slmpilfieatlon'o of the system and discontinuance
OF mquisitorlai modes of assessing and collect
ing internal revenue, so that the burden of tax
laeioh m iss DC equahzed and lessened, the credit
and
The repeal Of all enactments for enrolling the
State militia into national forces in time of peae
and o rarih for revenue upon foreign IMPORTS
| ana such equal taxation under the internal reve-
domestic manufactures, and as viii, without
| impairing the revenue, impose the least burden
upon and best promote and encourage the greaf
INDUSTRIAL o. interests of the country. = -
seventh-Reform of abuses in the administra-
tion, 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 subordination of the military
to the civil power, to the end that the usurps
tions of Congress and the despotism of the
sword may cease. I1
Eghth-Equal rights and protection for natu
railzed and native-born citizens at home and
abroad; the assertion of American nationalitv
which shall command the respect of foreien
powers and furnish an example and eneonrape
ment to people struggling for national INTEGRITY.
constitutional liberty and individual rights
and the maintenance of the rights of natursIized
citizens against the absolute doctrine of ;mr,n.
table allegiance and the claims of foreign now
ers to punish them for alleged crimes Committed
beyond their jurisdiction. tApplatsel
In demanding thess measures and reforms, we
arraign the Radical party for its disregard of
right, and the unparalleled Oppression and ty-
ranny which have marked its career after the
most solemn and unanimous pledge of both
houses OF Congress to prosecute the war exclu-
civ ly fnrf %,zns ns,,&a, s.cx Il !.
and the preservation of the Union and the Con-
stitution. 1t has repeatedly violated that most
sacred pledge, under which was rallied that M, |
pie volunteer army which carried eur flag to VIC
far as is in its power dissolved it. and Subjected
ten States. In times Of profound peace. to mill |
tary despotism and negro Supremacy. II has |
nulliiied the right of trial by jury; it has aboI
ished the habeas corpus, that most sacred writ [
of liberty; it las overfhrown the freedom of
speech and press; it has substituted arbitrary
seizures and arrests and military trials. and Sc
eret star chamber inquisitions, for constitutional
tflDunais; q 1t has disregarded in time of peace
tne @ rignt OF the people to be free from searches
and seizures; it has entered the post and tele-
graph offices, and even the private rooms of indi-
vlduals, and seized their private papers and let
lers, without any specification or notice of afi-
aavlt, as required by tine organic law: ii has n1,
serted the American capitol into a bastiIe; IL 1
has established q system of spies and official es-
glonaSe 70 winch no constitutional monarchy of
= europe Wouid dare to resort; 1t has abolished I
me fight OF appeal ON important constitutional
luestions 20 the supreme Judicial tribunals and
,reatenea Io curtail or destroy it's original uris
netion, WhIch rs arfeNecably vested by tIlesCon
Nhle tne learned Ghlef Justice has
zen g ereal ana aFrocleus eaIumnies
he would not prostitute his high
4 'oo ~ ehs snpPof6 oI the ise and partisan l.,
latgss lIeaerred against tfIe President. Itseor
i u,.lon ]I anu eAtraVasanee have exceeded any
4. history, ana oy ITS frauds and
9 N. - IaS hesiriy doubted the burden of
~ 49, @ Us euaIihg bne war lt has stripped
~ ~ nis eonstitutlonai power of ap
even on nus own cabinet; under It's
sassasnlss, tne puiars OF the government
7 s,9 ~ lnelr pase, ana should II succeed
=. LII . aeAt' alld Sufate It's PRESIDENT,
,u ~ WI s. ness II as q suglected and conquered
erda Iasns q per.y and the scat
Ana ,s IL u sl.s s.
he ~ u. - ai nesofVs unat ever since
n NJ. sla1ea throw on all sub
- AZ " tae privilege and
- sssIiL ! Delohged 10 the several
saa .esI granbeu regulated and
an oy the poiItIcai power OF
sssa.Ss - aIa any attempt by
!, ~ ~ aa:y Wha5ever 70 deprive
g u VI sllS ~ InIerIere with Its ex
! = HI; e = esesl oI power, winch
= ~ ~ and
! ny siio peopie VIII sunveft our form
.s an4 csn ohy END III single,
governmenf, ~ which
~ W OF the states will be en-
;,s ,i . ~ ~ unananed despotlsm De
! staplisiisd q y pace OF Federal Union of equal