The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1868-08-01

which have marked its career after the
most solemn and unanimous pledge of
both Houses of Congress to prosecute
the war exclusively for the mainte-
nance of the Government, and the pre-
servation of the Union and the Consti-
tuition.
1t has repeatedly violated that most
sacred pledge, under which was rallied
that noble volunteer army which car
ried our flag to victory. Instead of
restoring the Union, it has, SO far as
inits power, dissolved it, and subjected
ten States, in times of profound peace,
to military despotism and negro su-
premacy.
1t has nulfifed the right of trial by
jury.
1t has abolished the writ of habeas
corpus. that most sacred writ of liberty.
1t has overthrow the freedom of
speech and press.
1t has substituted arbitrary seizures
and arrests. and military trials, and Sc
cret star chamber inquisitions, for
SOAotiOuIlOhdk tEIUuIlhIS.
1t has diregarded in time of peace
the right of the people to be free from
searches and seizures.
1t has entered the post and telegraph
Offices and even the private rooms of
individuals, and seized their private pa
pers and letters without any specifica-
ton or notice ofaffidavit, as required
by the. organic law.
lthas converted the American Cap
itol into a bastile.
1t has established system of spies
and official espionage to which no mon
archy of Europe would dare to resort.
1t has abolished the right Of appeal,
on important Constitutional questions,
to the supreme Judicial tribunal, and
threatens to curtail or destroy its
original jurisdiction, which is irrevoca-
bly, vested by the Constitution; while
the learned Chief Justice has been sub
jected to great and atrocious calumnies
merely bee ause he would not prostitute
his high Office to the support of the
false partisan Charges preferred against
the President.
Its corruption and extravaganza
have exceeded anything known in his
tory, and by its frauds and monopolies
it has nearly doubled the burden of
the debt created during the war.
1t has stripped the President of his
con shtutional power of appointment,
even of his own Cabinet.
Under its repeated assaults the pil
lars of the Government are rocking on
their base. and should it succeed in
November next, and inangurate its
President, we will meet it as a subiec-
ted and conquered people, amid the
ruins of liberty. and the scattered
fragments of the Constitution.
FURTHER DECLARATIONS.
And aoe do Declare and ResoLpe,
That ever since the people of the Uni
ted States threw off all subjugation to
the British Crown, the privilege and
trust of suffrage have belonged to the
several States, and have been granted.
regulated and controlled exclusively
by the political power of each State.
respectively, and any attempt by Con-
gress, or any pretext whatever, to de-
prive any State of this right, or inter.
fere with thir exercise, Is a fragrant
usurpation of power, which con find no
warrant in the Constitution, and if
sanction by the people, will subvert
our form of Government, and can only
end in single, centralized, consolida-
ted Government, in which the separate
existence of the States will be entirely
absorbed; and an unqualified despotism
be established in place of Federal
Union of equal States.
That we regard the reconstruction
acts of Congress, so-called, as usurpa-
tons, unconstitutional, revolutionary
and void.
That our soldiers and sailors who
carried the flag of our country to yicto-
~ against a most gallant and deter
mined foe, must ever be gratefully re-
membered, and all the guarantees Civ
en- in their favor must be faithfully car
ried into execution.
That the public lands should be- dis
tributed wisely among the people, and
should be disposed of either under the
pre- -emption of homestead lands, and
sold in reasonable quantities, and to
ndgie but actual occupants, at the mini
mum price, as established by the Gov
eminent; and that, when grants of the
public lan1s may be allowed, necessa-
ry for theencouragement of important
public improvements; the proceeds of
the sale of such lands, and not the
lands themselves. should be so applied
That the President of the United
States, Andrew johnson. in exercising
the power of his high Office in resist
ing the aggressions of Congress on the
constitutional rights of the States and
he people, is entitled 10 the gratitude
If the whole American people. and ON
behalf of the Democratic party we ten
Ter him. our thanks for his patriotic
'fforts in that regard.
THE APPEAL TO THE PEOPLE.
Upon this platform the Democratic
,,arty appeal to every patriot, inclu-
ling all the conservative element, and
Ill who desire to support the Constitu.
ian and racfo.o H. ri. -.