The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-10-17
Adopted July n, 1893.

Adopted July y, 1868.
The Democratic party, IN national convention
assembled, reposing its trust In the intelligence,
patriotism and dscrimin atng justice Of the peo-
pie, standing upon The Constitution as the founda-
don and limitation of the powers of the govern
ment, and the guarantee Of the liberty CT the citi.
zen, and recognizing the questions of slavery and
secession 20 having been settled for all time 10
Southern States In constitutional ations as
sembled, and never to be renewed or regulated,
do with the return Of peace, demand:
First--Immediate restoration Of ali tho Statec to
their riRhts in the Union under the Constitution,
and Of civil government to the American people.
Second--Amnesty for ell the past political
onenses, and the regulation of the elective fran
chise In the States BY their citizens.
Third-Psymento Of the public debt OF The United
States as rapidly as practicable, all money drawn
from the people by taxation, except so much as
is requisite for the necessities Of the government,
economically administered, being applied to such
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,
they ought in right and a IN justice be paid In the
Fourth-Equal taxation Of every species of
properly according to its real value. including
government bonds and other public securities.
the people, the Iaborer and the ONCE holder. the
pen.iorer and the soldier. the producer and the
bondholder.
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 simplihca-
ton Of the system and discontinuance OF inquisito-
rial modes Of assessing and collecting the internal
revenue SO that the burden Of taxation may be
equalized and lessened; the credit of the govern
ment and the currency made good; the repeal Of
all enactments for enrolling the State militia into
national forces In time Of peace; and tarin for
revenue upon foreign imports, and such equal tax
stior Under the internal revenue laws as will
afford incidental protection to domestic manufac-
tures and as will, without impairing the revenue,
impose the least burden upon, and best promote
and encourage the great Industrial interest Of the
country.
tion the expulsion of corrupt men from office, the
abrogation Of useless offices, the restoration OF
rightful authority to and the independence OF the
executive and judicial departments Of the govern.
ment; the subordination Of the military TO the
civil power, to the end that the usufpations Of
Congress and the despotism OF the sword may
cease.
Eighih-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
egn powers and furnish an example and eucour-
agement to people struggling for national integ-
rty, constitutional liberty and individual rights;
and the maintenance Of the rights of naturalized
| citizens against the absolute doctrine OF immu-
table allegiance and the claims of foreign powers
| to punish them for alleged crimes committed be-
| yond their Jurisdiction.
In demanding these measures and reforms, We
arraign the radical party for its disregard OF right
and the unparalleled oppression andy amy 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
| Of the government and the preservation OF the
| Union and Constitution. Ii has repeatedly vio-
| lated that most sacred pledge, under which was
| rallied that noble volunteer army which carried
our flag to victory instead OF restoring the union'
has, SO far sn its power dissolvedi it, and SUBJ
jected ten States. In time OF profound peace, to
| military despotism and negro supremacy. IL has
nullifed the right of trial by jury; 1t has abol.
ished the hsbeas corpus that most sacrea VIII OF
| and press; 1t has substituted arbitrary seizures
and arrests, and military trials and secret star
chamber inquisitions for constitutional tribunals
IL has dsregarded 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 spec-
fcati0n or notice Of affidavit as required by the
organic law; it has converted the American capi-
tol into bastile; it has established system Of
spies and official espionage to which no constitu.
tional monarchy of Europe would dare to resort ;
it has abolished the right Of appeal on i'm
portsnt constitutional questions 10 the su-
preme judicial tribunals, and threatens to
curtail or destroy its original Jurisdiction,
which is irrevocably vested By the Con-
stituton, while the learned chief justice he's been
subjected to greatand atrocious calumnies, merely
because be would not prostitute hs high Office to
the support of the false and partisan charges pre-
ferred sgainst 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. II has stripped the president Of
bis constitutional power Of appointment, even Of
10 nAort ia 40 ted n
| pillars Of the government are rocking on their
base, and should 1t succeed in November next.
| and inaugurate its president. we will meet it 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 subjugation TO the British crown, the
privilege and trust of suffrage have belonged to
the several States, and have been granted, regu
lated and controlled exclusively by the political
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 usurpation Of
power, which can find no warrant In the Constitu-
tion and If sanctioned by the people will subvert
onr 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 despotism
be established in place Of a federal Union of
equal States; that we regard the reconstruction
acts OF Congress, so-called, as usurpations
1 uuCvusbtutOndis IcNtlubouaiJ oIu WIN. tha.
our soldiers and sailors who carried the dag oil
our country to victory against most gal
liant and determined foe must ever be crate
fully remembered, and all the guarantees given 10
their favor must be faithfully carried into execu
ton; that the public lands should be distributed
among the people, and should be disposed oil
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 sach lands and
not the lands themselves, should be SO applied.
That the president Of the United States, Andre "
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
/ 1sa-- n % xnffo nil In flo