Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1868-08-20

asseubled, reposng it, trust in the intelligence
pairi0tism and discriminatenS lgsice Of the
people. standing upon the Constitution the
foundation and Limitation of the powers Of the
government. and the guaranty Of the liberties Of
the eitissn, and recognizing The questlans q
slavery and secession ~ having been settled for
all time b. come by the war. or the voluntary
action Of tho Southern States in constitutional
CONVEX IONS assotn blot. and never to be renewed
or re-sEitated. do with the return Of peace de-
Immediate restoration Of all the States 10 their
rights in the Union. under the Constitution, and
Of civil government to the American people.
SecoHd Amnesty for all past political ofenses
aud the regulation Of the elective franchise 10
the States by their citizens.
Third Payment Of the public debt of the
United States as rapidly rs practicable, all
moneys a lawn from the people w taxation. ex-
cept much is requisite for the necessities Of
the government economically administered. be-
ing honestly sp o. e such payment and
expressly state upon their face, or the law I'M
der which they were issued does not provide
that they shall be paid in coin, they ought, in
Of the United States. sa.s
Fourth Equal taxation Of every species Of
property according % It's real value including
government bonds and other public securities
Fgfh One currency for the government and
the people. the laboreF and the Ofice-hOlder,
the penFioner aud the soldier. the producer and
the bondhdider.
MrfL Economy ia the administration Of the
government. the reduction Of the standing army
and nhvy, tho abolition Of the Ereedmen's I'm
reau. and all political instrumentalties
designed TO secure negro supremacy: Sim
plhcation Of tho system and discontinue
anoe Of inquisiiOrial modes Of ASSESSING and col
lecting internal revenue. so that the burden Of
taxation may be equalized and lessened, the
credit Of thsROYernment aud the currency made
good the repeal Of al onnctmentE for enrolling
the State militia into national forces in time Of
peace aud tariff for revenue upon foreign inn
ports. aud such equal q tion under the internal
Tevenue laws ~ will afford incidental Profession
a. domestic manufactures and rs will without
'mpAiriRg the revenue. impose the least burden
upon and best promote and encourage the greas
industrial interests OF the country.
.SeUeafh' Reform Of abuses in the administra-
ton, the oKpulson of corrupt men from office.
the abrogation Of useless Offices the restoration
of righiful authority 10 and the Independence ~
the Executive aad Judicial Departments Of the
government, the subordinatiOn Of the military
10 the civil power, 90 the end that the usurpa-
tions of Congress and the despOtism Of the sword
may cease I-a.a
Ei0hih Equal rights and protection for natu-
rallied and native born citizens at home and
abroad, the assertion of American nationality
which shall cOmmEnd tho respect of foreign
powers. and furnish an example and encouraged
ment 30 people struggling for naiianal integrity.
constitutional liberty aud industrial rights and
the maintenance Of the rights Of naturalized
citizens against the absolute doctrine Of immu-
table allegiance and the claims If foreign powers
20 punish them for alleged crime committed be-
yend their jurisdictiOe. FI
In demanding these measures and reforms We
hrraiRn the Radical party for is dsregard Of
right and the uni'ara leled oppression and
tyranny which have marked its career. After
the most solemn and unanimous pledge Of both
houses Of Congress to prosecute the war exclu- 4
siyely for the maintenance Of the government.
aud the preservation Of the Union under the \
Constitution, il has repeatedly violated the
most sarred pledge under which alone was raj ]
lied that nobie volunteer army which carried
our flag 90 victory. Instead of restoring the
Union. il has. 80 far rs in its power. dissolved It,
aud subjected ten States an time Of profound
peace 10 military despoiism and negro suprem-
aey IL has nullifed there the right Of trial by
jury il has abolished the habeas corpHs, that
most sacred writ Of liberty 10 has overthrow
the freedom Of speech and the press; Il has sub
stituted aIbitrary seizures aud arrests. and md
tions for the constitutional tribunals IL has
disregarded in time Of peace the right Of the
people 10 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 specific charge or notice Of Affidavit, as re-
CURED by the organic law Il has converted the
American Capitol into n Bestilc; 10 has estab-
lished a system of spies and espionage 10 which /
no constitutional monarchy Of Europe would now
dare TO resort Il has abolished the right Of APP
peal on important constitutional Questions to |
the supreme judicial tribunals. and Threatens 20
ourtail destroy its original jurisdiction which
s irrev0oRby vested by the Constitution; while |
the learned Chief Justice has been subjected TO /
the most atrOcious oalumnies merely because he /
would not prostitute his high office 70 the sup |
port of the false and partisan charges preferred
against the President. Its corruption and ex- /
history; and hyits frauds and m0nopOliet il has i
nearly doubled the burden Of tho debt created Il
by the var IL has stripped the President Of 4
his constitutional power of appointment, even Il
Of his own Cabinet. Under its repeated assaults
the pillars Of the government are rocking on
their base. and should 10 succeed In November Il
next and inaugurate its President, we will meet
a. a subject aud conquered people amid the /
ruins Of liberty and the shattered fragments Of
the Constitution.
Aud We DO declare and resolve. that ever since
the people of the United States threw on al
suhiertiOn 10 the British Grown the privilege |
aud trust Of suffrage have belonged 10 the sew
eral States, and have been granted, regulated
aud controlled exclusively by the political pow
nr Of each State respectively, and that any at
tempt by Congress, on any pretoNt whatever, 10
deprive any State VI this right. or interfere with
ItE exercise, ~ hagrant usurpRtion of power
which can find no warrant in the Constitution |
and. " eRncsioned hy TIN people. will sutVeft |
bur form Of government, and can only end in a |
which the separate existence Of the States will
be- entirely absorbed. and an unqualified des-
pOtism ho established m place Of Federal
Union Of coeQuRl states; aud that we regsrd
he recbnstrnciion acts $50 cailedl Of Congress L
~ such are usuTpations md Unconstitutional |
and void;
That our soldiers and sailors who carried tho
lag Of our country 90 Victory against most Il
rallant and determined foe, must ever be grate-
uliy remembered and All the guarantees given
n thetf fHNtf MUST fAIIieN INTO OK
,cutioh.
That the public lands should bc distributed
= widely ~ possible among the people, and
hOuld DO disposed of eIthor under the pre-
,rnption or homestead laws, and sold in reason
lble quantities. and 20 none bat actual oeru-
,ants. at the minimum price established by the
lovsrnment When grants of the public lands
nay be allowed necessary for the encourage
nent Of important public improvements, the
proceeds Of the sale OF such lands, and not the
nnds themselves, should be 80 applied.
That the President of the United States, An
rev johnson, ~ exercising the power OF has |
igh odice 10 resisting the aggrcssions OF Con |
ross ugoa the Institutional gtts of the States
nd the EeOple. h entitled 90 the gratitudo Of
he whole American people. ana I'M behalf of the
lemocrktie party we ieudeT hsm cur thanks fer |
IL patriotic efforts in that regard. .Hl.. H.
Upon this platform the Democratic party ap- |
cal 90 every patriot, includiag all the cunserva-
We element. and all who desire 30 support the
onstituti0n and restore the Union. forgetting | /
v past differences Of opinion. O. unite WITH ms +,
the present great struggle Tor the hherttes 81 Il
be people: and that 20 all such, 90 whstever !
arty they may have heretofore belonged. we !
gteno the right hand Of fellowship, and bail
I such cooperating with us ~ friends and I
-pfhren.