The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1868-10-02
THE PLATFORM

zen and recognizing the questions OF slavery and
secession having been settled for all time to come
by the war the voluntary action Of the Southern
States in Constitutional Conventions assembled, and
never to be renewed or regulated, do with the re-
turn of peace, demand,
1st. The immediate restoration of all the States to
their rights in the Union under the Constitution,
and of civil government to the American people.
ID Amnesty for all past political ofenses, and |
the regulation of the elective franchise in the States
by the citizens and the payment Of the public debt
of the United States rapidly practicable.
Sd. All the money drawn from the people by tax |
ation except much is required for the necessi-
ties Of the Government economically administered |
to be honestly applied to such payment, and, where
the obligations Of the Government do lot express
ly state upon their face or the law ender which
they were issued does not provide thai they shall be
paid in coin, they ought in right and justice to be
paid in the lawful money Of the United States
fThuuders Of aPplause.l
9TH Equal taxation Of every species of property,
according to its real value including Government
bonds md other securities. Renewed cheering and
cries of''Read it again."l
5th One currency for the Government and the
neople the laborer and the of1ee-holder, the pen
Aser and the soldier, the producer and the bond
[Great cheering, and cries Of "Read it
~~1he fifth resolution was again read and again
/ eheered.
| eth Economy in the administration of the Gov
J ernment the reduction of the standing army and
navy the adjustment OF the FTcedmen's Bureau,
Tgreat cheers and all political instrumentahhes de-
! signed to secure negro supremacy; the simPhhca-
ton of the system and the dsconhnuance OF the in
ousitorial boards of assessing and collecting inter
nal revenue so that the burden of taxation may be
/ eoualzed and lessened, the credit of the Govern
ment and the currency made good, the repeal OF ali
enactInents for enrolling the State militia into ma
tional forces in time Of peace, and tariff for reve-
nue. upon foreign imports, and such equal taxation
under the internal revenue laws as viii afford mel
! eidental protection to domestic manufactures, and
as viii, withC ut imparing the revenue, impose the
/ least burden upon and best promote and encourage
/ the great industrial interests Of the eoun ry.
! 18th. The reform of abuses in the administration,
the expulsion of corrupt men from office, the abrO-
CATION OF useless offices, the restoration OF rghtful
| authority to and the independence OF the Exeeu-
| tive and Judicial Department Of the Government,
the subordnaton of the military to the civil power,
to the end that the usuPaions OF Congress and the
despotism of the sword my cease.
| 8th. Equal rights and protection for naturalized
and native born citizens at home and abroad: The
assertion of American nationality, which shall COM
mand the respect Of foreign powers furnish an eE-
ample and encouragement to people struggling for
national integrity, constitutional hoerty and lhdlC
vidual rights and the maintenance OF the rlghGs OF
uaturalized citizens against the absolute doctrine of
| immutable allegiance, and the claims of foreign
powers to punish them for alleged crime committed
| beyond their jurisdiction. [Applause.l
In demanding these measures and reforms We ar
ragn 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 exeU
| slvely for the maintenance of the Government and
! the preservation of the Union under the Constitu-
| ton, it has repeatedly violated that most sacred
pledge under which rallied that noble volunteer
| army which carried our flag to victory.
Instead of restoring the Union, 1t has, 80 far as
was in its power, dissolved 1t, and subjected ten
States in time of profound peace to military des-
pOtism and negro supremacy.
It has nullihed there the right Of trial by jury.
1t has abolished the writ of habees oorPus-that
! most sacred writ Of liberty.
It has overthrow the freedom Of speech and of
It has substituted arbitrary seizures and arrests
ard military trials secret star-chamber lnquls-
| tiOns for constitutional tribunals.
1t has disregarded in time of peace the right Of
the people to be free from search and seizure.
1t has entered the post and telegraph othcesj and
even the private rooms Of individuals, and seized
their private papers and letters, without any sPeo
fcation notice affidavit, reqr ired by the or
1t has converted the American capitolinto bas-
tile.
It has established a system of spies and official ess
pionage to which constitutional monarchy OF
| Europe would now dare to resort.
1t has abolished the right of appeal on important
constitutional questions to the supreme Judicial tri
buna and threatens to curtail or destroy its orgi-
nal jurisdiction, which is rTevOcably vested by the
Constitution, W lille the learned Chief justice has
been subjected TO great and atrocious calumn1es
merely because he would not prostitute his high
Office to the support Of the false and Parzan char
ges prefe red against the President.
| Its corruption and extravaganza have exceeded
any thing known IL history, and by its frauds and
monopolies it has nearly doubled the burdens of
debt created during the war. 1t has stripped the
1 President Off Institutional power Of appoint
| ment of his own cabinet.
Under its repeated assaults the pillars OF the GOV
| eminent rocking on their base, and, should 1t
succeed in November next, and inaugurate its Pres
| ident, viii meet subject and conquered PEG
pie amid the ruins of liberty and the scattered trag
/ ments of the Constitution and We do declare and
resolve that, ever since the people OF the United
States threw oil all subsection 20 the BRUSH crown
the privilege and trust of suffrage have belonged to
the several States and have been granted, regulat
cd and controlled exclusively by the political pow
! er of each State and any attempt by Congress,
any pretext whatever, TO deprive any State of this
right, interfere with this exercise, Is fragrant
usurpation Of over which can find warrant in
the Constitution and if sanctioned by the people,
will subvert our form of Government, and can only
end in single, centralized, consolidated Govern
ment which the separate eXistenc of the States
will be entirely absorbed and an unqualified des-
potism be established in place Of Federal Union
Of equal States.
That we regard the reconstruction acts of Con
gress, so-called, usUrpations, unconstitutional,
revolutionary and void.
That our soldiers and sailors, who carried the
flag of our country to victory against mostgallant
and determined foe must ever be gratefully remem-
bered and all the guarantees given in Their favor
must be faithfully carried into execution.
That the public land should be distributed
widely among the people as possible. and should be
disposed of either under the presumption OF the
homestead law, and sold in reasonable quantities,
and to none but actual occupants, and at minimum
! prices as established by the Government. When
the cncou- agenent of important public improve
ments the proceeds ofthe sales 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 aggresiOns of Congress the const
tutiOnal rights of the States and the people, Is en-
titled to the gratitude of the whole American peo-
pie, and on behalf Of the Democratic party ten
der him thanks for his patriotic efforts in that
regard. Great applaGse.l
Upon this platform, the Democratic party appeal
To every patriot, including all the conservative ele
m0ut and all who desire to support the Constitution
and restore tho Union, forgetting all past differences
Of opinion, 60 unite with Us in the present great
struggle for the liberties Of the people, and that 20
all such to whatever arty they may have hereto
fore belonged, We extend the right hand of fellow
shin. and hail all such C0-OpEratIur with