The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-10-03
Adopted July q, 1909.

The Democratic party, In national convention
patriotism and ustice Of tbs pee,
pie, standing upon the Constitution as the founda-
ton and limitation Of the powers of the govern
ment, and the guarantee Of the liberty OF the cit-
secession as having been settled for ali time to
come by the war or the voluntary action Of the
Southern States In constitutional conventions as
sembled, and never to be renewed or regulated,
do, with the return Of peace, demand
their rights in the Union under the Consultation,
and Of civil government to the American people.
Second-Amnesty for all the past political
offenses, and the regulation Of the elective fran
chise in the States by their citizens.
Third-Paymento of the public debt of the United
States a. rapidly 90 practicable, ell money drawn
from the people by taxation, except 90 much az
economically administered, being applied to such
payment and where the obligations Of the gov.
eminent do not expressly state, upen their face,
or where the law under which they were issued
they ought In right and In justice be paid In the
lawful money Of the Omitted States. -1l.sf 81
Fourth-Equal taxation Of every species of
property according to its real value, including
government bonds and other public securities.
Fifth-One currency for the government and
the people, the laborer and the Office holder, the
pensioner and the soldier. the producer and the
bondhoder. aI0
Sixth Economy in the administration of the
government; the reduction of the standing army
and navy the abolition of the freedmen's
bureau and all political instrumentalities de-
signed to secure negro supremacy; slmplifca-
ton of the system and discontinuance of nquisto-
rial modes of assessing and collecting the internal
revenue, so that the burden of taxation may be
equslized and lessened; the credit of the govern
ment and the currency made good; the repeal OF
all epactments for enrolling the State militia into
nat In n n
revenue upon foreign imports, and such equal tax
atioI under the internal revenue laws as will
afford incidental profession to domestic manufac-
lures; and as will, without imparing the revenue,
impose the least burden upon, and best promote
and encourage the great industrial interest Of the
country. f
seventh-Reform of abuses in the administra.
tion the expulsion of corrupt men from Office tho
sbrogation of useless Offices, the restoration of
rightful authority to and the independence Of the
executive and judicial departments 81 the govern
ment; the subordination of the military to the
civil power, to the end that the usurpations Of
cease.
Eighth-Equal rights and protection for natu.
rallied and native born citizens at home and
abroad, the assertion of American nationality,
which shall command the respect OF for
eign powers and furnish an example and encour-
agement to people struggling for national integ-
rity, constitutional liberty and individual rights;
and the maintenance of the rights Of naturalized
table allegiance and the claims of foreign powers
to punish them for alleged crimes committed be-
yond their jurisdiction. ..t.s -.-.. ......
In demanding these measures and reforms, we
arraign the radical party for its disregard Of right
and the unparalleled oppression andtyranny which
have marked its career, after the most solemn and
unanimous pledge of both houses Of Congress to
prosecute the war exclusively for the maintenance
Tp ios sDS Consttution has repeatedly vo
lated that most sacred pledge, under which was
rallied that noble volunteer army which carried
our flag to victory instead Of restoring the Union.
jected ten States, in time Of profound peace, to
military despotism and negro supremacy. 1t has
nullfied the right of trial by jury; It has abol-
ished the habeas corpus. that most sacred writ OF
liberty; il has overthrown the freedom of speech
and press; il has substituted arbitrary seizures
and arrests, and military trials and secret star
chamber inquisitons for constitutional tribunals
ii has disregarded in times of peace the right OF
the people to be free from searches and seizures
il has entered the post and telegraph Offices, and
even the private rooms OF individuals, and seized
their private papers and letters without any speci
fcaiion or notice Of affidavit as required by the
organic law; it has converted the American capi-
toll into bastile; II has established system Of
spies and official espionage to which no consttu.
tioDal monarchy of Europe would dare to resort I;
it has abolished the right of appeal on i'm
portant constitutional questions to the su-
preme judicial tribunals, and threatens to
curtsil or destroy its original jurisdiction,
which is irrevocably vested by the Con-
stitution while the learned chief justice has been
subjected to great and atrocious csumnies, merely
because he would not prostitute his high Office TO
the support Of the false and partisan charges pre-
ferred against the president. Its corruption and
extravaganza have exceeded anything known IN
nearly doubled the burden Of the debt created
during the war. 1t has stripped the president Of
his constitutional power OF appointment, even OF
bis own cabinet; under its repeated assaults tae
lila 81 h. vrv xonf opn m
base, and should 1t succeed In November next.
and inaugurate its president, We will meet 1t as o
subjected and conquered people, amid the ruins
Of liberty and the scattered Fragments OF the
Constitution. And we do declare and resolve,
that ever since the people Of the United States
threw of all subjugaton to the British crown, the
privilege and trust Of suffrage have belonged 70
the several States, and have been granted, regu
power of each State, respectively; and any
attempt by Congress, on any pretext whatever,
to deprive any State of this right, or interfere
with this exercise. is fragrant usurpstion OF
ton, and If sanctioned by the people will subvert
our form Of government, and can only end In q
single, centralized, consolidated government, In
which the separate existence Of the States will be
entirely absorbed, and an unqualified despotisn.
be established in place Of fedora. Union OF
equal states that we regard the reconstruction
acts of Congress, 90 called, Is usurpations,
unconstitutional. revolutionary and void; that
our soldiers and sailors who carried the flag or
our country to victory against most gall
liant and determined foe must ever be CRATE
fully remembered, and all the guarantees given In
their favor must be faithfully carried into execu-
ton; that the public lands should be distributed
among the people, and should be disposed OF
either under the presumption Of homestead laws,
or sold In reasonable quantities, and to none but
actual occupants. at the minimum price as estab.
lished by the government; when grants Of the
public lands may be allowed necessarily for the
encouragements Of important public improve
ments, 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 resisting the sggressions Of Congress on the
constitutional rights Of the States and the people,
Is entitled TO the gratitude Of the whole
American people; and on behalf Of the Demo-
cratic party we tender him our thanks for his pa
triotic efforts IN that regard.
Upon this platform the Democratic party appeal
to every patriot, including all the Conservative
element, and all who desire to support the Consti-
tuition and restore the Union, forgetting all past
differences of opinion, to unite with as In the
present great struggle for the liberties Of the peo
pie, and that to all such, to whatever party they
NAV bov horotoforo ha1o0Ood extand the