The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1871-08-03
The Vnlluud,gham Platform


OHIO
FirsI-That %denOuncing the eGtraor'
binary means 10y which they were
brought about, w recognize as accom-.
tlisbed facts the three amendments to
the Constitution recently declared adOp.
ted, and cunSi Ter the same rs no lon
perroIilical issues before the country.
q Scvond-Wc demand that The rule OF
strict construction, rs proclaimed by
,hc Democratic iaterrS, accepted by
statesmen OF all parties previous TO the
war and cmhod ei IN the tent! amend
ment TO the Constitution, be vigorously
applied now to the Constitution rs 1t is,
Including the three recent amend
mrntS above referred to, and insis that
those appointments shall not be held to
have, IN any respect, altered or mod
iicd the original theory aAd character
OF the Federal Government, hut ouly
to have enlarged the powers delegated
10 il, and TO that extent, and no more,
to have abridged the reserved rights Of
The States; and thai. as thus construed,
the Democratic party pledges itself to
a tnll. faithful ard absolute execution
and enforcement Of the Constitution as
it now is, 50 as to sccdrc equal rights
TO all persons under il, without disLlnc
ton Of race, color or condition.
Thirl--That the absolute equality OF
each aud every State within the onion
is n Fundamental principle Of lie Fed
eral Government that VIC shall always
cherish and uphold the American sys.
ten OF State and local government for
Estate and local purposes, and the gen
cral government for general purposes,
only and are unalterably opposed to
all attempts at Capitalization Or consol.
ldution Of power in the hands of the
general government, and more es
pccialIy when such attempts are in the
form Of usurpati0n by any department
ottho government,
Fourth-That we adhere firmly to
the principle Of maintaining perfect in
dependence between the co ordinate
. departments Of the government, the
| Legislative, Executive and Judicial,
. coademning all the encroachments by
the one upon the functions of the
other.
Fitth--WAil the Fundamental law,
as expressed in the Constitution, is nee.
c~ssarily paramount until abrogatGd, as
prescribed by that instrument, all leg.
i"slation is, in its nature and purposes,
temporary, and subject to change, mod
iGcation or repeal at the will ofthe ma.
jority Of the people us expressed
through the lawmaking power, and that
the pretcnsc that any act of Congress,
not eXecut, d, or any legislative policy
Of party is al absolute inaiity, is totally
Inconsistent with the whole theory OF
government, that it is the unquestiona
bic right Of the people Of themselves
and through their representatives al
each successive election and in each
successive Congress, to judge what leg
i~slation is necessary, proper, or appro'
pirate to cary into execution or enforce
the central powers, rights and duties o.
the Federal Government.
Sixth That as IN instance of the
emincntIy appropriate legislation undcl
the Fourteenth Amendment we demand
now of Congress- universal amnesty.
Spvcuth--That while we denounc(
~ riotous combinations and conspira
cips against law or to disturb peace If
the Sonth or elsewhere, and demand O
all good citizens their utmost influence
to put all such down, we also denouncc
the act commonly called the ''bayoncr
bill' recently pas,ed hy Congress, anC
the more recent act. commonly called
the "Ku KIux BILL" extending by its
terms to any State and enacted for nc
othe pulposc than 10 complete cenirAli
cation OF all power in the hands OF thu
general government, and to establish {
military dcspotism, and TINS to porpet,
uate the present administl alton without
regard to the viii Of the people, and as
not only Inconsistent with the whole
theory and character Of TIE Federal
Government and as revolutionary and
dangerous in their character, hut rs in
direct conflict with the spirit and letter
of the Constitution, including TIT
amendments which they pretend to en-.
folc..
Eighh--That holding still to the
good old democratic doctrine OF M,
neXation, or the acquisition OF terrific.
nv, we. are yet totally opposed to the
scheme of President Grant to acquire
st. Domingo rs a job, and by the
means and for the purposes evidently
intended.
Ninth--That "e are in favor OF a
strictly evenu tariff, c%onforned to
the theory and principles Of all other
just and wise tax laws, and opposed
to the protective theory. so.called.
Tenth -That pIoaigate corruption
and wanLon extravaganza. which per-
wade every department OF the federal
government, sacrifice the interests Of
labor and aggrandize y haldlul of ar
istocrats, are q wicked deprivation of
the people Of their rightful heritage in
public lands which have been made
gifts to railroads and other monopo-
lists. paying more than twenty millions
premium during the administration of
President Grant in government bonds,
payable at par; maintenance at an an
nual cost to the people Of nearly thirty
millions, and an unconstitutional, OPP
pressivc and extortionate system of
banking, whereby money is made
scarce, and interest high, are abuses
which call for wise and thorough rem
cdies.
Eleycntb--That VIZ are i'm favor of