The Placer herald. [volume] (Auburn, Placer County, Calif.) 1855-1991, 1868-10-17
National Democratic Platform.

National Democratic Platform.
The Democratic party In National Convention
assembled, reposing its trust in the intelligence,
patriotism and discriminating justice OF the peo-
pie, stand upon the Constitution as the foundation
and limitation Of the powers OF the Government
and the guarantee OF the liberties of the citizen,
and recognizing the questions of slavery and Sc
cession az having been settled tor all time to
come BY the war, or the volunteer action of the
Southern States in Constitutional Conventions
assembled, and never to he resuscitated, do, with
the return Of peace demand
First The immediate restoration OF all States
to their rights in the Union under the COnstitu-
ton of civil government and the American peo-
pie.
Second Amnesty for all political offcnses, and
the regulation of the elective franchise in the
States by their citizens.
THird-The payment Of the public debt of the
United States as rapidly as practicable all money
drawn by the people by taxation, except SO much
as is requisite for the necessities of the Govern
ment economically administered, being honestly
applied to such payment, and when the obiiga-
tions of the Government do not expressly state
on 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 in justice to be paid
in the lawful money Of the United States.
F0urth-Equal taxation Of every species OF
property, according to value, including Govern
ment bonds and other public securities
EUn-Oue currcuCy lOf tue OoSeIaWcus Gnu
the people, the laborer and the oficeholder, the
pensioner and the soldier, the producer and the
bond holder.
Sirth-Economy in the administration of the
Government, the reduction of the standing army
and navy, the abolition of the Freedmcn's Bureau,
and all political instrumentalites designed to
serve negro supremacy; simplification of the sys-
TEN, and discontinuance OF ipquistorial modes
of assessing and collecting internal revenue that
the burden of taxation be equalized and lessened;
the credit Of the country made good al enact
ments for the enrolling of the State militia into
national forces in time of peace, and a tariff for
revenue upon foreign imports; and such equal
taxation under the internal revenue laws as will
afford incidental protection to domestic manufac'
lures as will, without impairing the revenue, i'm.
pose the least burden upon and best promote ana
encourage the great Industrial interests OF the
country.
Sepenfh- Reform of the abuses in the admins
tratiou the expulsion OF corrupt men from office;
the abrogatOn of useless offices the restoration
of rightful authority to the independence OF the
Executive and judicial Departments OF the Gov
eminent; the subordinatOn OF military 10 the
civil power. to the end that the usurpation Of
Congress and dcspotism of the sword may cease.
EiqhM-Equal rights and protection for natu
rallied and native born citizens at nome ana
abroad; the assertion of American nationality
which will command the respect OF foreign pow
ers. furnish an example and encouragement to
people struggling for national integrity, consti-
tutional liberty and individual rights, and the
maintenance of the rights Of naturazed citizens
against the absolute doctrine OF immutable ale
glance and the claims Of foreign powers to punish
them for alleged crime committed beyond their
jurisdiction In demanding these measures and
reforms we arraign the Radical party for its dis
regard OF right and the unparalleled opposition
and tyranny which have marked its career. AZ
ter the most solemn and unanimous pledge OF
both Houses Of Congress to prosecute the war ex-
tHov ntuto n
and the preservation of the Union under the Con-
stitution it 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 it has SO far as 1T
ia in its power, dissolved it, and subjected ten
States in time of profound peace to military des-
potism and negro suffrage. 1t has nullihed there
the right of trial by jury; it has. abolished the
habeoS corpus, that most sacred writ OF liberty;
1t has overthrow the freedom OF speech ana the
press: it has substituted arbitrary seizures and
arrests, and military trials and secret Star Cham
her innnisitiops for constitutional tribunals. 1t
has dsregarded in time Of peace the right OF the
people to be free from search and seizures 1t has
entered the post and telegraph Offices, and even
the private rooms of individuals, and seized their
private papers and letters, without any speclnca-
ton or notice of affidavit, as required by the or
rapic law. It has converted the American Capt.
fol into bastile. 1t has established system OF
spies and official espionage to which no constltu-
tional monarchy of Europe would now dare to
resort. 1t has abolished the right OF appeal on
important constitutional questions to the supreme
and judicial tribunal, and threatens to curta'l OF
destroy its original jurisdiction, which is irrevo'
cably vested by the Constitution while the learn,
ed Chief Justice has been subject to great and
atrocous calumnies merely because he would not
prostitute his high Office to the support OF the
false and partzan charges preferred against the
President. Its corruption and exrava gance nave
exceeded any thing known in history, and by its
frauds and monopolcs it has nearly doubled the
burden OF the debt created during the war. II
has stripped the President of his constitutional
power OF appointment, even OF Dis own CaDlnet
Under its repeated assaults the pillars of the
Government are rOcsing on their base, and snould
il succeed in November next and lnau Sur'.te lis
President, we will meet as q subjected and con-
ouered people amid the ruins OF liberty and the
scattered fragments of the Constitution. And
we do declare and resolve that ever since the
people of the United States threw off all subjec-
ton to the British Crown, the privilege and trust
of suffrage have belonged to the several States
and have been granted, regulated and controlled
exclusively by the political power Of each State
respectively, any attempt by Congress, on any
pretext whatever to deprive any State OF this
right, or interfere with this exercise, is fragrant
usurpation OF power which can find no warrant
in the Constitution, and If sanctioned by the PEG
ple will subvert our form of Government, and
will only end in single centralized consolidated
Government, in which the separate existence o.
the States will be absorbed, and an unqualified
despotism be established in place of a Fedora
Union of co-equal States, and that we regard tht
reconstruction acts of Con gress such usurpations
and unconstitutional, revolutionary and void.
That our soldiers and sailors, who carried inc
fac Of our country to victory against a most gal
Liant and determined foe, must be ever gratefully
remembered, and all the guarantees given 10
their favor must he faithfully carried into execu