Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1870-06-21
Democratic Conservative Platform,

of West Virginia, desiring to aid in preserving
her government and in promoting the best
interests of the State and country, present to
the voters of the State the following declara-
ton of principles and invite their cooperation
in giving them effect:
1st That the Federal Government has no
right to deny to States of this Union the
privilege Of equal participation in its affairs, and
that all distinction against the equal represen.
tation of States in Congress, and all Federal
interference in the purely domestic concerns
of the States, is unwarrented by the Federal
Constitution and ought to cease.
I'd. That the present system OF taxation.
raising, as it does, the bulk of the Federal
revenue from the labor rather than from the
wealth of the country, is unfair and oppres-
sive, and that this system should be so re-
formed as to relieve the industry of the coun-
try from its unjust burdens, abolish the un-
necessary and vexatious features of stamp, IL
cense and income taxes, dispense with the
swarms of Federal spies, that pry into the prl-
waite business of the people, eating out their
substance, and provide for the collection of
the Federal revenue by State and county Of
ficers
Sd. That the Republican party by voting
to ratify the Fifteenth Amendment of the
Constitution, has shamefully violated its pledg-
es, that the question of suffrage should be re-
tanned within the control of the people of the
States. Calling to political power an alien
and inferior class, it has declared the white
man incapable of selfgovernment In OPP
position to this monstrous doctrine we invite
all intelligent white men to unite with us IN
asserting the principle that the white race is
the rulino race of this republic.
4th That the bill to enforce the Fifteenth
Amendment lately passed by Congress is cor
rupting to public morals in that it offers pre-
miums for perjury, subversive of the States
in that it gives Federal authority control of
State affairs, and destructive of the peace of
the country in that it invests the negroes
with exclusive and peculiar privileges, lifting
them 10 power and dignity through the deg
relation of the whites.
5th That we are unalterably opposed to
the bill lately introduced into the United
States Senate by Senator Sumner for enfor-
cling the social equality of the races, placing
negroes upon juries and abolishinS all dis
tinctions between the races.
9th. That for the advancement of West
Virginia in all her interests and especially to
secure good government to her people, We de-
mand
Thorough reform in our system of local
Offices and the greatest reduction in the num-
Der of such Offices that may be consistent with
the public interests.
Prompt collection of the large balances in
favor of the State, which, through Repub-
lican ineficiency have accumulated in the
hands of delinquent sherifs; such faithful
management of the State finances, as will pre-
vent farther deficiencies in the revenue and
such economy, in appropriation as will secure
the administration of the Government, at the
least cost to the payers of the State.
A public policy that will invite immigfa-
ton, capital and enterprise into our State, in
lieu of the measures of the dominant party,
that have driven these elements ofgrowth and
greatness from our midst.
The continued exclusion of negroes from
the public schools, attended by white children.
In opposition to the Radical policy of ming
ling the races in these institutions, and OF de-
stroying our educational system, for the benefit
of the blacks.
Full protection to the people, against the
outrages provided for by the registration law,
aud constantly committed by registration
officers.
The prompt abolition of every test oath
upon the statute books of the State.
And finally, to wipe out the injustice and
the disgrace incident to the disfranchisement
in our midst of twenty-five thousand men of
our own race, while negroes exercise the cleo
tive franchise without hindrance or condition,
we demand free ballot for white men and
the immediate enactment of such measures as
will secure it.
We cordially invite all good citizens, wheth-
er Democrats, Conservatives or Republicans,
to unite with US in carrying out the policy
here advocated.