Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-09-08
THE PLATFORM.

The Democratic party, in National Convep-
ton assembled reposng its trust in the intelli,
| pence. patriotism and Discrimination justice Of
1 The people. standing upon the Copstitution a:
/ the foundation and Limitation of the powers Il
the Gov.rnment. and the guarantee Of. the lib.
critics Of the citizen and recognizing the ques-
| tions Of ,lavery and secession as having beer
settled for all time to come by the war or the
| voluntary action of the Southern States In
Constitutional Conventions assembled, and
| never 10 be renewed or reagitated do, with ths
return Of peare. demand. taM
l. Imu ediate restoration Of all the States u
| their rights in the Union under the Constitu-
tion and civil government of the American
| 2. Amnesty for all past political offenscs, and
| the regulation Of the elective franchise in the
| States by their citizens. and thepayment of the
public debt Of the United States asrapidly as
5. All money Srawn from the people BY tax
alton, except so much as is requisite for the ne
cessities of the Government, economically ad-
m;nistered, should be honestly applied to such
I payment, and where the obligations Of the Gov
1 ernment do not expre.sly state upon their face,
not provide that they shall be paid IN coin. they
ought, in right and ju stice. be paid in tho law
| full mon v Of the United States. II -NA ettt
4. Equal taxation Of every species of frroperty
nSSotins %sDt bonds G and other public Securities
5. One currency for the Government and the
people, tho laborer and the ofiicchoder. the
pensioner and the soldier. the producer and
6. Economy in the administration Of the
Government; the reduction of the etapdir g
army and navy; the abolishment of the freed
mems bureau. and all political instrumental
tiles designed to secure negro supremacy; SIM
plifcation of the system and the ditcontinuance
Of inquisitorial boards for assessing and coll
Letting internal revenue, 80 that the burden OF
taxation may be equalized and lessen cd the
credit of the Government and the cnrrency
made good; the repeal of al enactments for
enrolling the State militia into National forces
in time of peace : a tariH for revenue unon
foreign imports, and such equal taxation under
the internal revenue laws ms will afford Incl
dental protection to domestic manufactures,
and as will, without impairing the revenue,
impose the least burden upon and best promote
aud encourage the great industrial interests of
7. Reform Of abuses in the Adnini. tration,
the expulsion OF ,erfupt men from Offices. tha
abroeation Of useless Offices. the restoration of
rightfu authority to. aud the independence of
the Executive and Judicial departments of the
Government, the subordination of the military
to the civil power to the end that the usurpa-
tions of Congress and the despotism Of the
s. Equal rights and protection for natural:
lied and nativetborn cifizeDs At homo and
abroad an assertion of American nationality,
wn,cn sus frnsb an exampis and
ment to people struggling for national integ-
Iity. Institutional liberty and. indir ridual
rishts.. and the maintenance, ofsthe rights of
naiuralzed citizens against the obsolete doc
trine of immutable Allegiance. and the claims
of foreign powers to punish them for alleged
crime committed beyond their jurisdiction.
In demanding these measures and reforms
we arraign the Kadical party for its disregard
of ripht, and the unparalleled oppression and
tyranny which have marked its ca-eer, after
the most tolemn and unanimous pledge Of both
Houses Of Congress to prosecute the war ex-
clusively fer the maintenance of the govern
ment and the preservation of the Union under
the Constitution.
Y has repeatedly violated that most sacred
pleige under which was rsl sllicd that noble vo'-
unteer armv. which carried our flag to victory.
Instead of restoring the Union, it has, SO far
rs in its power dissolved IL, and subjected ten
States in time of pesce to military despotism
and negro supremacy.
1t has nullifed the the riehtoftrial byjury.
1t has abolished the habeas corpus, that
most sacred writ Of liberty. IA n
IT has overthrown the freedom Of speech and
the press.
Il has. substituted arbitrary seizures and
arrests. and military trials and secret Star
Chamber inquisitions, for constitutional tri-
Ii has disregarded in time Of peace the right
of the people to be free from search and seiz-
ures.
1t has entered the post and telegraph offices.
and even, the private rooms OF individuals,
and seized their private papers and letters,
without any specification or notice of afbdavit,
as required by the organic law. .. tsr
1t has converted the American capitol into
bastile.
Il has established system Of spies and off,
cial espionage 10 which no constitutional mon
archy Of Europe would now dare to resort.
It has abolished the right OF appeal on i'm
portant constitutional questions to the su-
curtail or destroy its original iurisdiction.
which Is irrevocably vested BY the Constitu
ton. while the learn Chief Justice has been
merely because he would not prostitute his
high Office to the support Of the false and par
tisan charges preferred against the President. |
It's corruption and extrayagance have ex--i
ceeded anything known in history, and by its |
frauds and monopolies Il has nearly doubled |
Il has stripped the President of his constitu- |
tional power of appointment, even Of his own
Under its repeated assaults the pillars of the |
Government are rocking on their base, and |
should II succeed in November next and inau-
and conquered people amid the ruins Of lib
erty and the scattered fragments of the Constr
tuition; and we do declare and resolve that
ever since the people Of the United States
the privilege and trust OF suffrage have. be-
longed TO the several States, and have been
eranled. regulated. and controlled exclusively
BY the political power & 6 each c State respect
pretext whatever, to deprive any State of this
right. or interfere with this exercise. Is fla
grant usurpation Of power which can ind no
warrant in the Constitution. and, IL sanction cd
By the people. will subvert our form OF gov
ernment, and can only end in a single central
lied, consolidated Fosernmeut, in which the
separate existence OF the States will be entirely
absorbed, and on unqualified despotism be
established in place of a Federal Union Of
That we regard the reconstruotltn acts Of
Congress. so-called. as tusurpations. nnconsti-
tutional revolutionary and void, and that our
soldiers and sailors who carried the 1cR Of our
country 20 victory ngainst a most gallant and
deterInined foe. must ever be gratefully re-
mem berod, and all the & arantees given 10
their favor must Be faithfully carried into exe-
cufion.
That the public lands should be distributed
widely among the recrio. and ehould be dis
posed Of either under therre-emption or home
stead laws. aud sold in reasonable Quantities.
and 80 none but actual occupants a the mini
mum price az established by the 6oSefIHeht
When grants Of the public lands may oe al
lowed, n ceeEary for the encoui arcment oi i'm
poftant public improvements, the rrocccds of
the sale of such lands aud not the lands them
selves should Be- 50 applied.
Upon this platform the Democratie party
aTpeal 20 every Patriot. including all the con-
ssrvntivo element and al who desire 20 support
the Consttutian and rest re the Union. Tor
retfing FL past diferc1ces of opinion. % unite
With ne IN the present. great stfu11le for the
liberties OF the people. and tsst 20 al such. 20
' hafeyer party they nay have herctsfore be-
Ionred. We extend The rirht hand Of feIlouEhip
nd hail Al such ce-opeIa ating vilh - =
I-f~-.lr nnd hrotherF.