The Fairfield herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1849-1876, 1876-09-20
THE
South Carolina Democratic Platform


The Democratic party Of South
Ca acolina, in Convention as sembled,
announce the following us it's plat~
form of principles:
We declare our acceptance in
perfect good faith Of the Thirteenth,
Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amend
ments to the Federal Constitution (;
accepting and standing upon them,
we turn from tho settled and final
past to the great living and momcn..
tous issues of the present and the
future.
We nd opt the platform of princ::-
pies . .announced by tho Nation al
Demo cratic party recently a SEM
bled at st. Louis, and pledge cur
selves to full and hearty co-op,la-
ton in securing the election OF its
distinguished nominees. Samuel j.
Tilden, of New York, and Thomas
a. Hendricks, of Indiana, and be-
HevG that under the wise and iust
administration of it's distinguished
reform leader, assisted by the
eminently patriotic and able coun-
sellers by whom he will be sml
rounded, peace and prosperity will
again bless our country, and the
uisscnsions, confusion and malad~
ninistration of the past eight years
will give place to concord, good
government, and II thorough rcstora.
ton Of thc Union. In accordance
with the declarations of that plat
form, and the uttcrmccs and acts
OF our distinguished leader, We
demand u genuine and thorough
reform in the State OF South Caro-.
lima, and call upon all OF It's citizens,
irrespective Of race, color or Pre-
vious condition, to rally with us to
its redemption, 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 array
ing race against race, creating dis
tuiEanccs, and fomcntinS dln"ui-
ties; with prostitutins the elective
franchise, tlnpcring with the bal
lot-1ox, and holding unfair ml
ltiitiiticlt Cl"tilDIloS Will nINltitS
uGcI.nut.;tcd an enormous d"',;.
niS.n nHGcl the finances, are .N:.':
ed the credit Of the State, w;,n
lerv,nS eXo2 bitant taxes and s,n.an~
dering Them when collected, thus
wiring lny from the toll and livcl.-
hood OF the honest poor man Of the
State. Il large pc. centum Of his hard
earnings, without giving in lctuln
any compensation therefor ana
with hopclessiy involving in debt IL
majority of the counties Of the
State. It's management OF our
penal and charitable institutions is
II shame and II dis grace. We charge
it's legislation as demoralizing, par~
tisan and djsgraccfnl and the
venality and corruption which have
characterized every branch of the
government, executive, Legislative
and judicial, have no parallel in the
history Of nations. 1t has created
multiplicity of unnecessary and
useless Offices, complicated in their
system, and unnecessarily cxpens,
i've. It has attempted to elevate
to the bench two most corrupt and
degraded men. 1t can never pnriiy
itself, give good and impartial gov,
ernment, or by it's moral fol ce and
character, exercise in it's full sovcr>
eighty the law of the land. We do
not charge this condition Of things,
which every patriot most deeply
dcplorcs, upon the masses of the
party, but upon their leaders, who
have made such fatal use Of their
conf lcncc, and trust for it is our
firm conviction that all the good
people of the State, of both races,
desire pc .ce and prosperity.
We, therefore, call upon all Of onr
fellow citizens, irrespective of race
or pnst party affiliations, to join
with us in restoring the good name
of their State, and to again elevate
it to q place of dignity and character
among the commonwealths of this
great country. We discountenancc
I'll disturbances Of the peace of the
State, and dcnounce all instigators
and promoters thereof, and earn
cstly call upon all of our fellow
citizens, irrespective of party lines,
to exercise forhearnnce and cult
vate good will and if the govern
ment of tho State be committed to
our control, we pledge ourselves to
protect tho persons, rights and
property of all it's people, and to
speedily bring to summary justice
any one who dare violate them
We desire fair, peaceablc cleo
tion, appealing to the reason and
not tho passions Of the people, and
demand of the Republican party 4
fair showing in the appointment OF
commissioners of election. We do
mand o fair election and q fs.il
count Wo call upon all of tho
patriotic sons Of Carolina to join
us. We ask but trial of COM
mitting tho State to our keeping
and if good government, security
4 l. ii