Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1871-05-26

~ AAAV AANOAAV) - AVAO -
New Democratic Platform-vallandig-
ham Accepts the Constitutional Amend
ments, and will Stand by Them.
DAYTON, O., May 18-The Montgomery
County Democratic Convention met to-day.
Mr.. Vallandigham, from the committee on re-
solutions, reported a new Democratic depar-
ture platform, intended for the groundwork
of a national platform. The resolutions,
which were prepared by Mr.. Vallandigham,
declare that they unite upon the living issues
of the day; accept the legitimate results Of the
war, SO far as waged for its ostensible. pur-
poses and fully concur in the three several a.
mendments to the Constitution recently adopt
ed, and acquiesce in the same as no longer is
sues before the country; declare that the Dem
ocratic party pledges itself to the faithful ard
absolute execution and enforcement of the
Constitution as it now is, so as to secure equal
rights to all persons, without distinction of
race, color or condition demand absolute e.
quality for each and every State in the Union;
oppose Capitalization and the consolidation of
power in the General Government; demand
genera! amnesty; favor the payment of the
public debt as early as practicable and con-
sistent with moderate taxation, and call for
strict economy and honesty in all departments
Of the Government; call for reform in the In
ternal Revenue system and civil service; favor
a strictly revenue tariff. and declare taxation
should be based on wealth, not population
demand as speedy return to specie payment
as possible; sympathize with the laboring
class, and state there is no necessary war be-
tween labor and capital; oppose the granting
of public lands to railroads; oppose the &C
QUESTION Of San Domingo; denounce the bills
passed by Congress known as the bayonet bill
and Ku-Klux bill, and claim that the Repub-
lican party is no longer Union party, but
the administration party.
MR.. vALLANDIGHAM's EXPLANATORY SPEECH.
In reporting the resolutions from the COM
mittee, (which were adopted by reclamation, J
Mr.. Vallandigham said:
These resolutions, Mr.. President, sufficient
ly explain themselves. The principles and
policies which they enunciate require the hon.
est censure of those only whose hostility is
sincere. Carping criticism we both expect
and contemn. For more than two years past
the bitter and bloody passions of the war have
been gradually, but steadily and surely, dying
out. Continued and irreconcieable dissent
upon the new issues necessarily born of to-
day, and even bitter personal discord among
together 90 the questions of the past, inevita-
bly, followed. The Democratic party wisely
remained silent or confined itself to the new
issues. The Republican party having fulfill
ed its original mission. was rapidly falling into
decay Moderation, justice, and peace were
becoming to its more violent leaders the SEN
tence of death. The Administration party,
into which since the 4th of March, 1869, it
has been wholly transferred, had begun from
causes thoroughly understood to be odious,
and even intolerable to the people. Upon the
issues Of amnesty, of honesty in the legisla-
tive and executive departments, of the tariff
Of revenue and civil service reform, of land
grants to corporations, the currency, taxation,
San Domingo, and other similar questions, it
was certain to be condemned. Necessity re-
quired that some decisive movement should
be made to avert impending defeat. Not the
statesmen, but the mere politician-the syco-
plants Of the party, the parasites clinging to
and deriving nurture solely from executive
favor-were called into council. These Bour-
bons of the present hour, the men who forget
nothing, learn nothing resolved upon one
more appeal to the expiring passions and pre-
JUDGES of their partisans, the war cries of the
past. If civil war in fact could not again be
|naugurated, civil war in form, with all its
legislative and executive machinery and all
its political appliances must be revived in
every State, to secure first the nomination and
next the reelection of Gen. Grant. The BEL
ligerent pronunciamiento went forth, the
bloody blast of the war bugle was again
sounded. A distinguished Senator, the con-
fdential adviser and main support Of the Pre-
sident himself, q consummate partizan leader
but powerful in proportion to the unskilful
ness and cowardice Of his foes, was put forth
as the chief fomenter of this new crusade;
but say to him that neither he uor they can
be permitted to provoke or dictate issues for
the Democratic party, or to ignore those
which the revolving years and changing con-
dition of the country necessarily bring forth.
That which since 1868 has been but ques-
ton of time is now upon us.
The suspicious moment, the golden oppor-
tunity, the tide in the affairs of men to be
taken at the flood, has now, 10 my deliberate
Judgment, reached US, when the Democratic
party of to-day, laying aside every weight
and shaking from it the dead body of the
past, yet adhering 10 its ancient principles,
can and must at one bound place itself upon
the vantage ground of the present and defy
its enemies to battle upon the living issues of
the hour. 1t is the purpose Of these resolu-
lions to establish the Democratic party of
Montgomery county openly and squarely upon
this firm and impregnable basis. Tacitly and
in fact we have stood upon it for the past two
years, and victory has steadily been ours
Confident am that we shall meet prompt
and very cordial response from our brethren
elsewhere and everywhere in this and other
States. Personally care not for denuncia-
ton or unjust criticism from any quarter
Upon fullest deliberation and ample counsel
with wise and brave men of the party, take
the responsibility with pride and pleasure.
add to that, as these resolutions are The fruit
of the joint labors and counsels of the gentle
men associated with me here at home, so also
this movement meets their nearly concurrence.
1t is not new departure but a return, the re-
storatiop Of the Democratic party once more