The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1876-09-14
The Democratic Platform of South
Carolina.

| The Democratic party of South Oarolina, in
Convention assembled, announce the following
as It's platform Of principles
''We declare our acceptance in perfect good
faith OF the Thirteenth, Fourteenth and Fif-
teenth Amendments to the Federal Constitu-
tion; accepting and standing upon them wo
turn from tho settled and fnal past to the
great living and momentous issues Of the pres
ent and the future. rg
We adopt the platform of principles an
nounced by the National Democratic oparty
recently assembled at ST. Louis, and pledge
ourselves to full and hearty co operation in
securing the election Of it's distinguished NOM
inees, Samuel j. Tilden, of New York, and
Thomas A. Hendrick, Of Indiana, gand believe
that under the wise and just administration
of its distinguished. reform loader, assisted by
the ,ominently patriotic and able Ncounsellors
by whom he will be surrounded, peace and
prosperity will again bless our country, and
the dissensions, confusion and maladministra-
ton Of the past eight years will give place to
concord, good government, and q thorough
restoration Of the Union. In accordance with
the declaration Of that platform, and the ut
terances and acts of our distinguished leader
we demand genuine and thorough reform in
the State Of South Carolina, and call upon
all of its citizens, irrespective of race color or
previous condition, to rally with us to it's re-
demption, for it is evident that substantial
| and lasting reform is impossible within the
ranks of the Republican party Of this State.
| We charge that party with arraying race
| against race, creating disturbances, and TO-
menting difficulties; with prostituting the ell
ection franchise, tampering with the ballot
| box, and holding unfair and fraudulent cleo
lions, with having accumulated enormous debt
mismanaged the finances, and injured the
| credit of the State; with leVying cxorbitant
taxes and squandering them when collected
thus winning from the toll and livelihood of
the honest poor man Of the State, a large per-
| centum of his hard earnings, without giving
in return any compensation therefor, aud has
| hopelessly involved in debt q majority Of the
counties of the State. It's management Of our
penal and charitable institutions is o shame
and disgrace, We charge its legislation as
demoralizing, partisan, and disgraceiul and
the Yenalty snd corruption which lave char
acterzed every branch of the government
executive, Legislative and judicial, have no
parallel in the history of lations 1t has Gre
atcd multiplicity of unnecessary and useless
Offices, complicated in their system, and un~
necessarily expensive. 1t has attempted to
'elevato to the bench two most corrupt and do
graded mon. IT, cdlt never purify ITSELF give
good and impartial government, or by its
normal force and character, exercise in its
full sovereignty the law Of the land. We do
II
cry patriot most deeply deplore, upon the
masses of the party, but upon their leaders,
who have made such fatal use of their conf
dencc and trusts; for ii is our firm conviction
that oil the good people Of the State of both
races, desire peace and prosperity.
We, therefore, call upon all of our fellow
citizens, irrespective of race or past party
afliliation, to join with us in restoring the
good nnmo of their State, and to again ele-
IN q Of II oh,
among the commonwealth Of this great coun-
try. We dlscourtenance all disturbances of
the Fcacc Of the State, and denounce all in
stigators and promoters thereof, aud earnest
ly call upon all of our fellow citizens, irres-
pcctiYc Of party lines, to exercise forbea1auce
and cnltivatc good will; and if the government
of the State is committed to our control, we
pledge ourselves to protect the persons, rights
and property of all its people, and to speed
lily bring to summary justice any one who
dare violate them. '.-''
We desire fair, pcnccable, election, ap-
pea!tlg to the reason and not the passions of
the people, and demand Of the Republican
party II fair showing in the appointment of
CONN issionors Of election. We demand q fair
election and q fair count. We call upon all
Of the patriotic sons Of Carolina to join u.s.
We ask but trial of committing the State to
our Keeping, and If good government, secu-
rity, protection and prosperity do not dawn
in our over taxed, dcspoiled, and disheart-
ened people, then drive us from power, with
scorn and indignation Our object, is reform,
retrenohment, and relief, that by honesty
and economy we may reduce the taxes, and
Tighten the burthens Of the people; giving at
the same timeNbsolute security and protec-
tion to the rights and property of ALL Upon
this paramount issue we cordially invite the
cooperation of every Democrat and Repub-
lican who is earnest and willing in this crisis
Of our State, to unite with us in this great
work. ID q =. u