The Sweetwater enterprise. (Sweetwater, Tenn.) 1869-187?, 1872-07-18

had not come tor him to speak out. let,
at the present, no man was authorized to
speak for him.
incimat Baltimore Platform.
uFFICINL COPY. q
We the Democratic electors of the
United States, in National Convention
asscmaled, present the following princi-
pies already proclaimed at Cincinnati,
as essential to just government.
l. Werocognize the equality OF all men
before the law, and hold that it is the
duty Of Government, in its dealings with
the people, to mete out equal and exact
justice to all Of whatever nativity, race,
color, or persuasion, religious or politi-
cal.
,. We pledge ourselves to maintain
the Union of these States, emancipation
and eniranchisement, and to oppose any
%re-opcning of the questions settled by
the Thirteenth, Fourteenth, and Eff
teenth amendments of the Constitutions
g. We demand the immediate and alb
solute removal Of all disabilities imposed
ON account of the rebellion, which Was
finally subdued seven years ago, beliey-
ing that universal amnesty will result in
complete paciiication in all sections Of
the country.
/. Local seif-goyernment with impair
tial suffrage will guard the rights of all
citizens more securely than any centra-
lied power. The public welfare re-
quiros the supremacy Of the civil over
military authority, and the freedom Of
person under the protection of the ha-
beas corpus. We demand for the indi-
vidual, the largest liberty consistent with
public order, for the State, self-govcrn .
ment, and for the nation, aroturn to the
methods Of peace and the constitutional
limitations Of power.
5. The civil service of the Government
has become a mere instrument of parti-
san tyranny and personal ambition, and
an object Of selfish greed. 1t is a sean
dial and roproach upon free institutions,
and breeds a Generalization dangerous
to the porpotuity of republican govern
mcnt.
&. We therefore regard a thorough rC-
form Of the Civil Service as one of the
most pressing necessities of the hour;
that honesty, capacity, and fidelity con-
stitutc the only valid claims to public
employment, that the offices Of the Gov
eminent cease to boa matter Of arbitrary
]iayorItism and patronage, and that pub
lie station shall become AGAIN a place OF
honor, To this end it is imperatiyoly
required that no President shall be tt
candidate for reelection.
:. W. demand n system of taxation
which shall not unnecessarily interfere
with the industry Of the people, and
which shall provide tile means necessary
to pay the expenses of the government,
economically administered, the pensions,
the interest on the public debt, and Il
moderate annual reduction, Of the prin-
cipal thereof; and recognizing that there
are in or midst honest and i~rreconcila-
bic differences of opinion with regard
to the respective systems of Protection
and Free Trade, we remit the discussion
Of the subject to the people i'll their
Congressional Districts thereon, wholly
free from executive interference or die
tation.
8. The public credit must be sacredly
maintained, and we denounce repudia-
ton in every form and guise.
0. A speedy return to specie payments
is demanded alike by the highest con-
slderations Of commercial morality and
honest government.
10, We remember with gratitude the
hcroism and sacrifices Of the soldiers and
sailors OF the Republic, and no act of
ours shall ever detract from their Justly
earned fame or the full rewards of their
patriotism.
II. We are opposed to all further
grants of land to railroads or other cor
porations. The public domain should
be held sacred TO actual settlers.
-. We hold that it is the duty Of the
Government in its intercourse with for
eign nation to cultivate the friendship
of peace, by treating with all on fair and
equal terms, regarding alike dishonora-
Bile either to demand what is not right
or submit to what is wrong.
-. For the promotion and success of
these vital principles, and tue support
Of the candidates nominated by this con
vention, we invite and cordially well
come the cooperation of all patriotic
citizens, without regard to previous
political affiliations.
D -
In addition to the amount sent to
North Carolina from the Public Treasu-