Year: 1868

great struggle for the liberties of the peo-
pie; and that to all such, to whatever party
they may have heretofore belonged, we
extend the right hand of fellowship, and
hail all such cooperating with US as
friends aud brothers. .....
TIE SOLDIERS AND SAILORS PLATFORM
The following is the platform of the
Soldiers and Sailors Convention
Whereas, During the late rebellion we
took up arms ON the call of our National
Government, relying on the integrity of
Congress in its solemn and unanimous
declaration that the object of the war was
'to defend and maintain the supremacy of
the Constitution and to preserve the Union
with all the dignity, equality and rights of
the several States unimpaired, and not in
any spirit Of oppression or for any rur-
pose of conquest or subjugation = and
Whereas, Since the rebellion was sub
dued and the war terminated the Radical
party has, by fraudulent use of its pow
err, and by the force Of arms in violation of
the objects for which the great battles
were fought and the victories won by the
Army and Navy of the Union and


Because it has frauduently and forcibly
kept States out Of the Union, which the
army and navy fought and hosts of our
comrades bled and died to keep in.


Because it has destroyed the dignity,
equality and rights of portion of the
States, and continues to treat the people
| thereof as conquered and subjugated ene-
mics, exercising over them acts of tyranny
unparalleled by those of Great Britain
which lead to and justified before the
world the American Revolution.


Because it has placed stigma upon the
otherwise untarnished honor of the Union
soldier and sailor, by imposing upon those
who comprised the late Confederate armies
since their surrender, conditions of degra-
ton, in violation of the letter and spirit
Of the capitulation when brave though
misguided foe laid down their arms.
| Because it has practically suspended, if
it has not wholly destroyed, the vital
principles of our Federal Republican sys-
tenn of government, in ignoring the rights
| expressly reserved by the Constitution to
the States respectively or to the people, by
usurping the Constitutional prerog ltives
of the Executive, and by rendering nuga-
tory through legislation and otherwise the
action of the Judiciary.
Because it has practiced a shameful
duplicity by recognizing as in the Union
and entitled to the high privilege of
amending the Federal Constitution for the
abolition Of slavery, States to which it has
denied the right of local legislation and
representation in Congress.


Because it has organized and continues
to operate, under the guise of charity, at
an enormous expenses, a political machine
known as the Freedmen's Bureau, which
has been welded to perpetuate it's pow
er by establishing under its auspices
oath bound leagues of ignorant negroes;
has deprived intelligent people of our own
race in the Southern States of the right of
self-goverument, and endeayored to place
in authority over them, through the pow
slaves, who are neither qualified for such
high duties by the endowment of nature
nor education.


Because it is guilty of gigantic defal-
cations and the grossest corruption in the
collection and management of the public
| treasure; and perversely refuse to permit
| the same to be investigated and exposed.
because it has practiced a wanton pro-
fligacy in the public expenditures which
stands without parallel in history and
! threatenes an irretrievable national bank
| ruptcy.


Because it has been partial and oppress-
| i've in its measure of finance, taxation and
currency, and has inaugurated'a system of
legalized robbery that makes the rich
richer and the poor poorer.


And because it is guilty of manifold
other sins of commission and of omission,
not necessary to be recited herein there
for,


Resolred, That the great principles in
defence of which we took up arms, having
been practically abandoned by the Radi-
cal party, we respectfully and urgently
appeal to the Democratic party, now in
National Convention assembled in this
city, to nominate candidate for the pres
idency of such known antecedents as will
enable US, consistently with our action
during the war, to cooperate with it cor
daily in restoring all the States to their
legitimate rights in the Union, ard in re-
deeming the integrity, prosperity and true
glory Of the American Republic. We de-
sire only an honorable participation in
the achievement of the great victory of
Peace, that is to heal the grcvious
wounds Of war.