Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-08-26
THE PLATFORM.

The Democratic party, in National Conven-
ton assembled. reposng its trust in the intelli.
gence, patriotism and discrimin atinR justice OF
| the people: standing upon the Constitution as
| the foundation and limitation of the powers Of
the Govirnment and the guarantee Of the lib
| critics of the citizen and recognizing the ques-
| tions Of 'lavery and secession as having been
| settled for all time to come by the war or the
| voluntary action of the Southern States in
| Constitutional Conventions assembled, and
| never to be renewed or reagtated do, with the
return Of peace, demand.
l. Imm ediate restoration OF, all the States to
| their rights in the Union under the Constit tu-
| tion and civil government of the American
| people. ..
| the regulation of the elective franchise in the
States by their ci izens. and the payment Of the
public debt of the United States as rapidly as
practicable.
3. All money 6rawn from the people bv 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
payment, and where the obligations Of the Gov
erDment do not expire sly. state upon their face,
not provide that they shall be paid l, coin. they
ought, in rig and justice. be paid in the law
full mOnry Of the United States.
4. Equal taxation of every specie: Of property
according to its real value. including Govern
ment bonds and other public securities.
5, One currency for the Government and the
people, The laborer and the. officeholder, the
rensioner and the soldier. the producer and
6. Economy in the administration of the
Government; the reduction of the standing
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 discontinuance
Of ipquisitorial boards for assessing and COL
lectipg internal revenue, 70 that the burden of
taxation may be equalized and lessened the
credit of the Government and the currency
made good /: the repeal of all enactments for
enrolling the State militia into National forces
in time of peace a tariff for revenue upon
foreign imports, and such equal taxation. under
the internal revenue laws as 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
the country.
Z. Reform of abuses in the Administration,
the expulsion of ertupt men from Offices. the
abroeation Of useless oifises, the restoration OF 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
sword may cease.
s. Equal rights and protection for natural:
lied and native-born citizens at home and
abroad; an assertion of American nationality.
which shall command the respect Of forcisn
powers and furnish an example and encourage
ment to people struggling for national integ-
rity. constitutional liberty and. individual
naturalized citizens against the absolute 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 Radical party for its 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 ex-
clusively for the maintenance Of the govern
ment and the preservation of the Union under
the Constitution.
pledge under which was rallied that noble vol
unteer army. which carried our flag to victory.
Instead of restoring the Union. il has. SO far
as in its power. dissolved 1t. and subjected ten
States in time of peace to military despotism
and negro supremacy.
1t has nullifed there the right of trial byjury.
II has abolished the habeas corpus, that
most sacred writ of liberty. :,
1t has overthrown the freedom OF speech and
IL has substituted arbitrary seizures and
arrests. and military trials and secret Star
Chamber inquisitions, for constitutional tri-
bunals.
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 atbdavit, |
as required by the organic law.
1t has converted the American capitol into
bastile. W
IL has established system Of spies and Off
cial espionage to which no constitutional moH-
archy of Europe would now dareto resort.
1t has abolished the right Of appeal on I'M |
portant constitutional questions TO the SUI |
preme judiciary tribunal, and threatens to |
curtail. or destroy its original jurisdiction.
which i irrevocably vested BY the Gonsttu-
subjected to the most atrOcious caiunnies, |
merely because he would not prostitute MS |
high Office to the support Of the false and par
Its corruption and extravagance have ex-
ceeded anything known in history, and by its /
frauds and monopolies IL has nearly doubled /
the burden Of debt created during the war.
tional power Of appointment. even Of his own
Under its repeated assaults the pillars Of the
Government are rocking on their base, and /
should Il succeed in November next and inau-
gurate its President we will meet as a subject /
and conquerea people amid the runs 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 /
threw of all subjection % the British Crown
the privilege end trust OF fuiirage have, be-
lonecd 10 the several States. and have been
rranted. reguated. and controlled exclusively
By the political power q each State respect
lively, and any attempt By Congress, on any
rrsteHt whatever. 10 aeprite any s.ste o. nus
grant usurpatiou Of power which can find no /
warrant IN the Consultation. and. IL sanctioned
By the people. viii gubvert our form OF Gov
ernment, and can only end In a single ceptral-
ired, eonfolidated government, in which the
,eparate existence Of the States will be entirely
4 ahsorbed, and a. unqualified dosrotifm be
established in place Of FEDERAL Union Of
equal States.
That We rernrd the reoonstructita acts Of
Congress. so-called. a. tusurpations. unconfti-
tufional revolutionary and void, and that our
soldier and sailors who carried the Sag of our
eountry 10 victory against . most railaut ard
determined foe. mast ever be gratefully re-