The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-10-08
Adopted July q, 1903.

Adopted July q, 1908.
The Democratic party, IN national convent on
assembled, reposing its trust In the intelligence,
patriotism and discrmir ating justice Of the peo-
pie, standing upon the Constitution as the founda-
ton and Limitation Of the powers Of the govern
zen, and recognizing the questions OF slavery and
secession 90 having been settled for all time TO-
come by the war or the voluntary action Of the
Southern States In constitutional conventions as
do. with the return of peace, demand:
First-Immediate restoration Of all the Statec 70,
their rights in the Union under the Constitution,
and Of civil government to the American people,
second-Amnesty for all the past political
chite in the States BY their citizens.
Third-Psymento the public debt Of the United
States 90 rapidly % practicable, all money drawn
from the people by taxation, except 90 much &c
Is ior the nscsssss o. the !,
payment and where the obligations Of the gov
eminent do not expressly state, upon their face
or where the law under which they were issued
does not provide that they shall be paid in COIN
lawful money Of the United States.
Fourth-Equal taxation Of every species Of
property according TO its real value, including
bonds .nS HasE seGn5 and
the people, the laborer and the Office holder tho
pensioner and the soldier, the producer and the
bondholder.
Sixth Economy in the administration Of tho
government; the reduction Of the standing army
and navy; the abolition of the freedmen'a
bureau and all political instrumentalities der
signed to secure negro supremacy; smplidcss
rial modes Of assessing and collecting toe Internal
revenue, 80 that the burden Of taxation may bo
equalized and lessened; the credit of the govern
pent and the currency made good; the repeal OF
q enactments for enrolling the State militia int.
national forces IN time Of peace and tariff foA
revenue upon foreign imports, and such equal tax.
atior under the internal revenue laws as will
AFFORD Incidental protection to domestic manufsc.
lures; and a. will, without impairing the revenues
impose the least burden upon, ard best promote
and encourage the great industrial interest Of thu
country.
Seventh Reform of abuses in the administers
tion the expulsion of corrupt men from Office, tho
abrogation Of useless Offices, the restoration OF
rightful authority to and the ependence of the
executive md judicial departments OF the govern.
ment; the subordination Of the military to the
civil power, to the end that the usurphdons o.;
Congress and the despotism Of the sword may
cease.
Eighth-Equal rights and protection for natu.
ralized 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-
rity, constitutional liberty and Individual rights;
and the maintenance of the rights of naturalized
citizens against the absolute doctrine Of immur
table allegiance and the claims of foreign powera
to punish them for alleged crimes committed be-
yond their jurisdiction;
In demanding these measures and reforms, ws
arragn the radical party for its disregard Of rghs
and the unparalleled oppression sndtyranny which,
have marked its career, after the most solemn and
unanimous pledge Of both houses Of Congress %
prosecute the war exclusively for the maintenance
Of the government and the preservation of tho
Union and Constitution. II Unexpectedly vio-
lated that most sacred pledge, under which was
our flag to victory instead Of restoring the Union,
II has, far as Is in its power and sub
jected ten States, In time Of profound peace, to
military despotism and negro supremacy. lt.has
nulliiied the right Of trial by Jury; i has aool;
and prsIs L hl Bss Ms fSssaG S eRsSSa
and arrests, and military trials and secret star
II has disregarded IN times Of peace the right az
the people to be free from searches and seizures;
II has entered the post and telegraph Offices, and
even the private rooms of individuals, and seiset
their private papers and letters without any spec
fcation or notice Of affidavit as required By tho
organic law; it has converted the American capt
toll into bastile; 1t has established system Of
spies and official espionage to which ne constitp.
q or0Ps ~ q
portant constitutional questions to tho sR-
preme Judicial tribunals, and threatens 10
curtail or destroy its original jurisdictiop,
which is irrevocably vested by the Con.
subjected to great and atrocious csumnses, merely
because he would not prostitute his high ONCE TO
the support Of the false and partisan charges pre-
ferred against the president. Its corruption and
extravgance have exceeded anything known IN
history, and by its frauds and monopolies 1t has
nearly doubled the burden Of the debt created
during the war. Il has stripped the president Of
bis constitutional power Of appointment, even OF
bis own cabinet; under its repeated assaults the
pillars Of the government are rocking on their
base, and should It succeed in November next,
and inaugurate its president, we will meet II ~
subjected and conquered people, amid the ruias
Of liberty and the scattered fragments Of TIE
Constitution: And We do declare and resolve,
threw of all subjugation to the British crown, the
privilege and trust Of suffrage have belonged 70
the several States, and have been granted, rega
lated and controlled exclusively BY the political
attempt by Congress, on any pretext whatever,
to deprive any State Of this right, or interfere
with this exercise, is fragrant usurpaton bf
power, which can find no warrant in the Constith-
ton, and II sanctioned by the people win subvere
our form Of government, and can only end In o
single, centralized, consolidated government, jim
which the separate existence Of the States will DO
entirely absorbed, and an unqualified despotifm
be established in place OF federal Union OF
equal States; that We regard the reconstruction
acts OF Congress, so-called, ss usurpatiops,
unconstitutional. revolutionary and void; that
our soldiers and sailors who carried the hag OF
our country to victory against Q most gall
liant and determined foe must ever be CRAZE
fully remembered, and all the guarantees given in
their favor must be faithfully carried into exeeu-
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, ct the minimum price az est,b-
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 aggressions Of Congress on tho
constitutional rights of the States and the people,
is entitled to the gratitude Of the whols
American people; and on behalf Of the Desno-
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 mast