The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1868-09-11
THE PLATFORM.

gence patriotism and discriminating justice Of the
people standing upon the Constitution as the foun-
dalton and limitation Of the powers of the Govern
nent and the guarantee of the liberties of the cit
zen and recognizing the questions of slavery and
secession as having been settled for all time to
by the war the voluntary action Of the Southern
States in Constitutional Conventions assembled, and
to be renewed or regulated, do, with the re-
turn Of peace, demand
1st The Immediate restoration Of all the States to
their rights in the Union under the Constitution,
and of civil government to the American people.
ID Amnesty for all past political offenses, and
the regulation Of the elective franchise in the States
by the citizens and the payment Of the public debt
Of the United States rapidly as practicable.
Cd. All the money drawn from the people by tax
atiOn except much IS required for the necessl
ties of the Government economically administered,
to be honestly applied 70 such payment, ana, Where
the obligations of the Government do not express
ly state upon their face or the law u2der which
they issued does not provide that they snail Dc
paid in COIN they ought in right and justice to be
paid in the lawful money Of the United States
! lThunders of applause.
4th Equal taxation Of every species of property,
according to its real value, including Government
bonds md other securities. Renewed cheering and
9Th. One currency Tor tho Government and the
-, the Iaborer and the Office holder, the pen
/ md the soldier, the producer and the bond
! IN Great cheering, and cries OF "Road 1t
The fifth resolution was again read and again
/ eth Economy in the administration of the Gov
/ eminent the reduction Of the standing army and
navy the abolishment Of the Frcedmen's bureau,
!
| signed to secure negro supremacy the simpllnca-
ton of the system and the discontnuance OF the in
qusitorial boards of assessing and collecting inter
nal revenue so that the burden of taxation may be
/ equalized and lessened, the credit OF the Govern
menu ana Inc currency LI ~ So 49, III 49,
enactments for enrolling the state mlltla INTO ma
tiona forces in time of peace, and tariff for reye-
nue. upon foreign imports, and such equal taxation
under the internal revenue laws as VIII AFFORD mel
eidental protection to domestic manufactures, and
as will witho ut impairing the revenue impose the
least burden upon and best promote and encourage
| he
9TH The reform of abuses in the administration,
the expulsion Of corrupt men from Office, the abro
CATION OF useless Offices, the restoration Of Tghtful
| authority to and the Independence Of the EXecu-
| tive and Judicial Department Of the Government
to the end that the usurpatOns Of Congress and the
despOtism of the sword my cease.
8th. Equal rights and protection for naturalized
and native born citizens at home and abroad The
assertion of American nationality, which shall com
mand the respect of foreign powers, furnish an ex-
| ample and encouragement TO people struggling Ior
national integrity, constitutional liberty and indi
Vidual rights and the maintenance Of tie rights Of
naturaZed citizens against the absolute doctrine Of
| inmutable allegiance, and the claims Of foreign
powers to punish them for alleged crime committed
beyond their jurisdiction. Applause.
In demanding these measures and reforms we ar
ragn the radical party for It's disregard of right,
and the unparalleled oppression and tyranny which
/ have marked its career.
After the most solemn and unanimous pledge of
both Houses of Congress to prosecute the war exclu-
sIvely for the maintenance of the Government and
the preservation OF the Union under the Constitu-
| tom It has repeatedly violated that most sacred
pledge under " hch was rallied that noble volunteer
| army which carried our flag to victory.
Instead of restoring the Union, it has, so far as
was in its power, dissolved it, and subjected ten
States in a time of profound peace to military des-
tt has nuIIifed there the right of trial by jury.
1t has abolished the writ Of habees Corpus-that
most sacred writ of liberty.
1t has oYerthrown the freedom Of speech and Of
the press.
and military trials secret starchamber inquisi-
| tiOns for constitutional tribunals.
It has disregarded in time of peace the right of
the people to be free from search and seizure
It has entered the post and telegraph omces, and
even the private rooms of individuals, and seized
their private papers and letters, without any speC
hcaton or notice or affidavit as rep ired by the or
1t has converted the American oapitolinto bas-
tile.
1t has established system of spies and official es-
pionage to which constitutional monarchy Of
Europe would now dare to resort.
1t has abolished the right of appeal on important
constitutional questions to the supreme judicial tri
buna and threatens to curtail or destroy its origi
nal iuTisdiction Which is irrevocaby vested by the
Constitution while the learned Chief Justice has
been subjected TO great and atrociOus calumnIes
merely because he would not prostitute his high
Office to the support Of the false and partIzan char
/ yes prefa red against the President.
Its corruption and extravaganza have exceeded
any thing known ia history, and by its frauds and
mOnOPohes it has nearly doubled the burdens Of
debt created during the 1t has stripped the
! President ofFis constitutional power Of appoint
ment even of his own cabinet,
Under its repeated assaults the pillars of the Gov
eminent rocking on their base, and, should it
succeed In NOvemb Der next and inaugurate its Pres
| ident, we will meet as a subect and conquered peO
pie amid the ruins Of liberty and ne scattered trag
/ ments of the Constitution and we do declare and
resolve, that, ever since the people Of the United
States threw of all subsection to the British Crown
the privilege and trust of suffrage have belonged to
the several States and have been granted, regulat
ed, and controlled exclusively by the political pow
/ er of each State, and any attempt by Congress,
any pTeteXt whatever TO deprive any State Of this
right, or Interfere with this exercise Is hagrant
usurpation Of rover which can find warrant in
the Constitution, and if sanctioned by the people,
viii subveTt our form Of Government, and can only
/ end in single. centralized consolidated Govern
ment in which the separate existence of the States
/ viii be entirely absorbed and an unqualified des-
potism be established in place of a Federal Union
That we regard the reconstruction acts Of Con-
/ gross, so7caled, UsuTPations, unconstitutional,
That our soldiers and sailors, who carried the
flag of our country to victory against most gallant
and determined foe, must ever be gratefully rer1em-
bered, and all the guarantees given in Their favor
/ must be faithfully carried into execution.
! That the public land should be distributed
widely among the people as possible and should be
/ disposed of either under the pre-emptiOn OF the
homestead law, and sold IN reasonable quantities,
and to none but actual occupants, and at minimum
| prices as established by the Government. When
grants Of public lands may be deemed necessary tor
/ the encour agement of important public improve
ments, the proceeds otthe sales OF such lands and
| not the lands themselves, should be so applied.
J That the President Of the United States Andrew
Johnson IN exercising the power OF his hugh once
in resisting the aggresions Of Congress the cons
tutional rights of the States and the people, is
titled 60 the gratitude Of the whole American peO-
pie and on behalf Of the Democratic party we ten
der him thanks for his patriotic efforts in that
/ regard. fGraat applauseI
/ Upon this platform, the Democratic party appeal
TO every patriot, including all the conservative Gle
meut and all who desire TO support the Constitution
Of opinion. 70 unite with rs in the present great
struggle for the liberties Of the people and that 10
al such 70 rs 1ate'er arty they Nay have hereto
fore belonged, Wr ezy.I- ti.s right hHEt ~ Fellow
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