Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1868-07-25
THE PLATFORM.

assembled reposing is trust IN the intelligence,
patriotism and discriminating justice OF the
people standing upon the Constitution az the
foundation aud Limitation OF the powers Of the
government. and the guaranty Of the liberties Of
the citizen. and recognizing the questions Of
slavery and secession az having been settled for
an time h. come by the war, or the voluntary
action Of the Southern States 10 constitutional
conventions assembled, and never 10 be renewed
or re-agitated. do with the return OF peace de-
mRnd i
Immediate restoration Of all the States 10 their
rights in the Union. under the Constitution, and
Of civil government to the American people.
Sccold Amnesty for att past political 0Henses
and tho regulation Of the elective franchise in
the States by their citizens.
Third Payment Of the public debt Of the
United states az RAPIDLY as practicable, all
moneys drawn from the people BY taxation, ex-
cept 20 mach a. is requGite for the necessities Of
the government economically administered, be-
ing honestly applied % such payment, and,
where the obligations Of the government do not
expressly state upon their face, or the law IN
der which they we're issued does not provide
that they shall be paid in coin they ought in
right and Ia Justice, be paid IN the lawful money
Of the United States
Fourth: Equal taxation Of oyery species Of
property according 10 its real value intending
government bonds and other public securities
Fgth: One currency for the government and
the people. the lah0rer and the ofice-holder
the pensioner and the soldier. the producer and
the bondholdor.
Sirth Economy in the administration Of the
government the reduction Of the standing army
and navy. the abolition Of the Freedmen's Bu-
roau. and all political instrumentalties
designed 10 secure negro supremacy; sim
plihc8tinn Of the system and discOntiuu-
ance of inquisitorial modes Of ASSESSING and col
lociing internal revenue, - that The burden Of
taxation may b8 equAlizCd and lessened the
credit 81 theEOveument and the currency made
good. the repeal Of all enactments for enrolling
'he state militia into national forces in time Of
peace. and y tariff for revenue upon foreign i'm
ports aud such equal t. Xat on under the internal
revenue laws as will afford incidental protection
{" domestic manuinetures, and as will without
lmpairing the revenue, Impose the least burden
upon aud best promote and encourage tho great
industrial interests Of the country.
NcpcHfh Reform Of abuses in the administra-
ton, the expulsion Of corrupt men fFom Office
the Hbr0gati0n Of useless Offices the restoration
Of riRhtful authority b. and the independence of
tho Executive aad Judicial Departments Of the
government, the subordlnatiOn Of the military
10 the civil power. 20 the end that the usurpa-
tions Of Congress and the desPotism Of the sword
may cease.
E,oLfh Equal rights and protection for natl-
rallied and native born citizens at home and
abroad. the assertion Of American nationality
wbich shall command the respect Of foreign
powers. and furnish an example and CacOurago-
ment 60 people struggling for national integrity
constitutional liberty and industrial rights and
the maintenance OF the rights Of natuFalzed
citizens against the absolute doctrine Of immu
table alieEiance and the claims Of foreign powers
60 punish them for alleged crime committed he
y0nd their jurisdiction.
In demanding these measures aud reforms We
hrraign the kadical party for its disregard Of
right aud the unparalleled oppression and
tyranny which have marked its career After
the most solemn and unanimous pledge of both
houses Oi Congress to prosecute the war cXclu-
sIyely for tho maintenance of the government
aud tho preservation Of the Union under the
Constitution. At has repeatedly Violated the
most sacrsd pledge under which alone was raj
lied that noble volunteer army which carried
our nag 10 victory. Instead of restoring the
Union. u has SO Tar a. m Is power dissolved H.
ana sulyocted ten States IN lime of profound
% Il IN and no
acy. II has nulliGcd there the right OF trial by
Jury II has abolished the HdbcGs CORPUS that
most sacred WIT Of liberty IL has overthrow
the freedom Of speech and the press: Il has sub
sututed arbitrary seizures and arrests, and nil
itary trials, aud secret star chamber inguisi- |
lions for the constitutional tribunals ithas !
disreFarded IA time Of peace the right Of tho /
people 20 be free from searches and seizures. il /
has entered the post aud telegraph Offices and /
even the private rooms Of individuals, aud /
seized Their private papers and letters without
any specific charge or notice of affidavit as re- /
CURED by the organic law : il has converted the 4
American Capitol into Bustile il has esiab-
llshed a system OF spies and espionage 20 which
no constitutional monarchy Of Europe would nov
dare 60 resort IL has abolished the right Of at-
peal on important constitutional questions 10 L
tho supreme judicial tribunals, and threatens 20
curtai or destroy its original jurisdiction which /
~ iTrevOcably vested by the Constitution while
the learned Chief ustice has been subjected 10
the most atrocious calumnies merely because he
would not prostitute his high office 10 the sup |
port OF the false and partisan charges preferred |
against the President. Its corruption and ex- |
travagance have exceeded anything known 10
history aud hy its frauds and munopolies 10 has |
nearly doubled the burden Of the debt created |
by the var. IL has stripped the President II |
his constitutional power of appointment. even
Of has own Cabinet. Under its repeated assaults |
the pillars of the government are rocking on |
their base aud should il succeed in Noycmber
next and inaugurate It's President We viii meet
ruins Of liberty and The shattered fragments &C
The Constitution. |
Aud we do declare aud resolve, that ever since
tho people Of the United States threw of an
.ubiection Go the British Crown the priyilcgs |
aud trust Of suffrage have belonged 90 the sew |
aral states, aud have been granted. regulated 1
ma eohltoiled exclusively by the political pow
u OF each State respectively, and that any at
empt by Congress, ON any prctoNt whatever, 10
lepuve any State Of this right OF Interfere with
{, exercise, isa fragrant usurpation of power
Fhleh can bud no warrant in the Oanstitution |
nd II sanctioned BY the people will spbvert |
ur form OF government, and can only end in a /
lhgie ecntfah7cd and consolidated government.
'hlch the separate existence Of the States will |
e entirely absorbed, aud an unqualified Jes-
.uusm be established iu place of A Fedcrsl
nlen o. ceequh 6ttes aud that W. regard
20 roeonsuucten acts 80 called OF Congress
T bHch arc u'urpati"ns and unconstitutional, /
evolutionary and void.
That cur soldiers aud sailors who carried the
az OF our country 20 victory against "A most |
allant and determined foe, must ever Ia crate 1
llly remembered and an the guarantees gtyrp /
D their Favor must DC faithfully carried into ca |
That the public lands should be distributed |
! Widely ~ possible among the people. aud
aould be disposed OF either under the pro /
mplon or homestead laws, and stlA in ruason- j
bio quantities.. aud % none hut actual oCru- I
ants, nj The minimum price C-tahhshed by the /
"hcrnmcnt. Whom grants ct tha public lands
N De SLOWED Necessary taT the encourage /
,eut oi important public improvements the
ruccods Of The sale Of snch lands and not the 1
nds thems cly e. should he 50 applied
That the Pruslduut OF the United States. An
pW Johnson, AZ exercising the power of has /
gh otnvo az resisting the aEeressions of Con / ,
css upou the constitutional rights Of the States ]
al the people. Is entitled o. the gratitude "a
10 whole AtuoTican people. ana In behalf oh /
emocraiIe party We tender him our - T. 80
: patriotic efforts an that regard 'N"''"'
l pom this platform the Dcmc - .,
al % every patriot, lncludIr al - L ,S, ~
We element. aud all who = Az 'ne Suh.v' ~ /
institution and rostorr ati5ire =" - PiNlt ~
the present crcns opinion. 90 unite with a.
q people. an struggle Tor the liberties al
Fty they r. a that Co all such, O. whatever
tend the .ay have heretofore belonged, We
such bght hand of fellowship, and hail
ethr cooperating with us a. friends and