Year: 1864

Democratic Platform.


The following is the Platform as adopted


at the National Democratic Convention ir


Chicago on the 29th ult., without decent
ing voice upon which the reader will And


comments on the I'd page:


Resolosd, That in the future, as in thu


past, we will adhere with answering fidel.
ity to the Union under the Constitution as


the only sClid foundation Of our strength


security and happiness as people, and as


framework of government equally con


ductive to the welfare and prosperity Of al


the States, both Northern and Southern.
Rssolued, That this convention does ex.


plicitly declare, as the sense of the Ameri.


can people, that after four years Of failure


to restore the Union by the experiment oi
war, during which, under the pretence of q
military necessity or war power higher


than the constitution, the constitution itself
has been disregarded in every part, and
public liberty and private right alike trod-
den down and the material prosperity Of
the country essentially impaired. Justice,
humanity, liberty, and the public welfare
demand that immediate efforts be made for
a cession Of hostilities, with a view to an
ultimate convention Of the States, or other
peaceable means, to the end that at the
earliest practicable moment peace may be
restored on the basis Of the Federal Union
Of the States.


Resolrsd, That the direct interference of
the military authorities of the United States
in the recent elections held in Kentucky,
Maryland, Missouri, and Delaware, was
shameful violation Of the constitution; and
repitition of such acts in the approaching
election will be held as revolutionary. and
resisted with all the means and power un.
der our control.


Resslred, That the aim and object of the
democr attic party is to preserve the Federal
Union and the rights Of the States unim-
paired and they hereby declare that they
consider that the administrative usurpation
of extraordinary and dangerous powers not
granted by the constitution; the subver
sion Of the civil by the military law in
States not in insurrection the arbitrary
military arrest, imprisonment, trial aud
Of American citizens in States
where civil law exists in full force; the
suppression Of freedOm of speech and Of
the press; the denial Of the right Of asylum
the open and avowed disregard Of State
rights the employment of unusual test
oaths; aud the interference with and denial
Of the rights Of the people to bear arms in
their defence, is calculated to prevent re-
storation Of the Union and the perpetuation
Of a government deriving its just powers
from the consent of the governed.


ResOlgsd, That the shameful disregard
Of the administration to its duty, in respect
to our fellow citizens who nOx are and
long have been, prisoners Of war in suf.
fering condition, deserves the severest re
probation on the score alike ofpublic policy
and common humanity.


Resolued, That the sympathy of the dem
ocratic party is heartily and earnestly ex-
tended to the soldiery of our army and
sailors of our navy, who are. and have been
in the field and on the sea, under the flag
of their country and, in the event Of its
attaining power, they will receive all the
care, protection, and regard that the brave
soldiers and sailors Of the Republic have
SO nobly earned.