Des Arc weekly citizen., 1868-08-11
DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM.

The Democratic party in national conven- {ion assembled, reposing it's trust in the in telligenee. patriotism and discriminating jus tice of the people, standing upon the 0onsti- tuition as4he foundation and limitation of the powers of the Government and theguarantee of the liberties of the citizen, and recogniz- ing the questions of slavery and secession as having been settled for all time to come by the war or the voluntary action of the South ern States in constitutional convention as- sembled, and never to be renewed or reagi.a- ted do. with the return of peace, demand
 1st, Immediate restoration of all the States to their rights in the Union under the Con- stitution, and of civil government te the American people.
 2d. The amnesty for all the past political offenses and the regulation of the elective franchise in the States by their citizens; the payment of the public debt of the United States as rapidly as practicable.
 Sd. All the money drawn from the people by taxation, except so much as is requisite for the necessities of the Government, econ omically administered, being honestly ap- piled to such payment, and where the obliga- tions of the Government do not expressly state upon their face, or the law under which they were issued does not provide that they shallbe paid in coin, they ought in right and JucttCt bt puiu III tut iuWlul iuohVy VA thS United States.
 4th. Equal taxation of every species of pro- perty according to it's real value, including Government bonds and other public securi- ties
 5th. One currency for the Government and the people, the laborer and the office-holders, the producer and the bond-holder.
 9th. Economy in the administration of the Government; the reduction of the standing army and navy; the abolition of the freed mems bureau, and all political instrumentali- ties designed to secure negro supremacy; simpliiication of the system, and discontinu- ance of inquisitorial boards of assessing and collecting the internal revenue, so that the burden of taxation may be capitalized and lessened and the credit of the Government and the currency made good; the repeal oi all enactments for enrolling the State militia into the national forces in time of peace; c tariff for revenue upon foreign imports, and such equal taxation under the internal reve. nue laws as will afford incidental protection to domestic manufactures, and will, without impairing the revenue, impose the least bur- den upon and best promote and encourage the great industrial interests of the country
 7th Reform of abuses in administration the expulsion of corrupt men from office; the abrogation of useless offices; the restoration of rightful authority to, and the independ encc of, the executive and judicial depart ments of the Government; the subordination of the military to the civil power, to the end that the usurpations of Congress and the despotism of the sword may cease.
 Sth. Equal rights and protection for natu, ralized and native-born citizens at home and abroad. The assertion of American nation alty which shall command the respect o1 foreign powers, furnish on example and en couragement to the people struggling for na. tional integrity, constitutional liberty and undivcd rights, and the maintainance of the rights of naturalized citizens against the ab' solute doctrine of immutable allegiance and the claims of foreign powers to punish them for alleged crime committed beyond their ju- risdiction.
 In demanding these measures and reforms we arraign the Radical party for
 Its disregard of right and the unparalleled oppression and tyranny which have marked it's career after the most solemn and unani- nous pledge of both houses of Congress to prosecute the war exclusively for the main- tainance of the Gouernment and the preser- vation of the Union under the Constitution.
 It has repeatedly violated the most sacred pledge unoer which was rallied that noble volunteer army which carried our flag to victory.
 Instead of restoring the Union, it has, so far as in it's power, dissolved it, and subject ed ten States in time of profound peace, 10 military despetism and negro supremacy
 1t sias nullified there the right of trial by jury.
 It has abolished the habeas corpus, that most sacred writ of liberty.
 IL has overthrown the freedom of speech and the press.
 Jt has substituted arbitrary seizures and arrests, and military trials and star chamber inquisitions for constitutional tribunals.
 It has disregaraed in time of peace the right of the people to be free from search and seizure.
 It has entered the postoffices and telegraph offices, and even the private rooms of indi- viduals, and seized their private papers and letters without any specification or notice of affidavit, as required by the organic law.
 It has converted the American capitol into bastile.
 1t has established system of spies and of fcial espionage to which no monarchy of Flu rope would now dare to resort.
 It has abolished the right of appeal on i'm portant constitutional questions to the su preme judicial tribunals, and threatens t( control or destroy it's original jurisdiction which is rrevocably vested by the constitu ton, while the learned Chief Justice has beer subjected to great and atrocious calumnies, merely because he would not prostitute hi' high office to the support of the false ant partisan charges preferred against the Pres ident,
 It's corruption and extravagance have ex ceeded anything known in history by it. friends and monopolies.
 1t has nearly doubled the burden of deb created during the war.
 I, hoe StpirpaI ina Drnsidant of his cnnetf tutional power of appointment, even of hi. own cabinet.
 Under it's repeated assaults the pillars oi the Government are rocking on their base and, should il succeed in November next ana inaugurate its President, we will meet as c subjugated and conquered people amid tht ruins of liberty and the scattered fragments of the Consultation.
 And VIC do declare and resolve:
 That, ever since the people of the United States threw of all subjection to the Britis. crown, the privilege and trust of suffrage have belonged to the several States, and hay, been granted, regulated and controlled ex clusively by the political power of each State respectively, and any attempt by Congress on any pretext whatever, to deprive any State of this right, oY to interfere with this exer' else, is a aagrant usurpation of power whicl can find no warrant in the Constitution, and if sanctioned by the people, will subyert oui form of government, and can only end in . single, centralized, consolidated government, in which the separate existence of the States will be entirely absorbed and an unqualified despotism be established in the place of a Federal Union of equal States.
 That we regard the reconstruction acts oi Congress, so-called, and such usurpations, as unconstitutional, revolutionary and void, and that our soldiers and sailors who carried the flag of our country to victory, against most gallant and determined foe, must ever be gratefully remembered, and all the guaran- tees given in their favor must be faithfully carried into execution.
 That the public lands should be distributed