Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 3.djvu/60

50 of the rebel states to representation as soon as it was safe so to do; the fourth opposes the payment of the national debt, contracted in specie, in legal tender; the fifth declares that congress had no right to interfere with the elective franchise where a state is represented in congress, and has a civil government not overthrown by rebellion; the sixth demanded the protection of all citizens, native or naturalized; the seventh encouraged foreign immigration; the eighth pledged its support to the soldiers and sailors, and favored liberal pensions; and the ninth resolution favored liberal appropriations of land and money by the government to aid in the construction of railroads.

The democratic state convention which convened on March 19, 1868, adopted a platform containing twelve resolutions, the first of which pledged the convention to adherence and unswerving fidelity to the time-honored principles of the party; the second declared that the federal government was one of limited powers, defined by the constitution; the third denied that the constitution authorized congress to legislate upon internal affairs of the state; and the subsequent portions of the platform, in substance, declared in favor of the maintenance of the constitution; opposed to sharing with the servile races the priceless political heritage achieved alone by white men and by them transmitted to their posterity; and declared that good faith and justice to all demands that the public debts should be paid in like currency as contracted, and that United States securities should be taxed as other property; that taxation should be upon the property instead of the industries, and protested against the reconstruction acts; condemned the usurpation of the judiciary and executive by congress; expressed sympathy with the Irish people in their efforts to secure for themselves liberty, and declared that the