Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-07-22
THE PLATFORM.

/
tion assembled. reposing its trust in the intelli
| gence, patriotism and discrimn pting Justice Of
| the people standing upon the Constitution as
ana Spa tbo S hs
critics Of the citizen and recoghizipg the ques-
| tions of lavery and secession as having been
settled for all time to come by the war or the
voluntary action Of the Southern. States in
Copstitutional Conventions assembled. and
never TO be renewed or reagitated do. with the
return of peace, demand. ..-..-.,.-s,,a,.--
l. Imu ediate restoration OF all the States to
their rights in the Union under the Constitu-
| tion and civil government of the American
| people,. Yt..a!Ig efafL
2. Amnesty for all past political offenses, and
the s q the elsc5ys IN Ss
| public debt Of the United States as rapidly as
8. All money drawn from the people BY tax
alton, except so much is requisite for the ne-
cessities Of the Government, economically adj
| ministered, should be honestly applied to such
payment, and where the obligations of the Gov
ernment do not expressly. state upon their, face,
or the law under which they were isued does
not provide that they shall be paid y coin, they
ought, in right and justice, be paid in the law
| ful money Of the United States.
10
ment bon ds, and other public securities.
5. One currency for the Government aud the
people, the laborer and the ofticeholder. the
rensioner and the soldier. the Producer and
6. Economy in the administration Of the
! Government; the. reduction of the Standing
army and navy; the abolishment Of the freed
mems bureau. and all political instrumental
tiles designed TO secure negro supremacy SIM
plfcation of the system and the dis continuance
of inquisitorial boards for assessing and COL
ecting internal revenue, 80 thai thai the burden ,t Of
credit of the Government and the currency
made good the repeal of all eeractments for
enrolling the State militia into National forces
1 Il ...H l1~ ~.
foreign imports, and such equal taxation under
the internal revenue laws as will afford Incl
dental protection TO domestic manufactures,
and as will. without impairing the revenue,
impose the least burden upon and best promote
and encourage the great industrial interests OF
the country.
Z. Reform of abuses in the Administration.
the expulsion OF ,errupt men from omces. the
riehtful authority to, and the independence oil
the Executive and Judicial departments Of the
Government, the subordination OF the milltary
TO the civil power to the end that the usurpa-
tions of Congress and the despotism of the
sword may cease. .rr.
s. EQUAL rights and projection for natural;
lied and native-born CITIZENS at home ana
abroad; an assertion of American nationality.
which shall command the respect of forein
rowers and furnish an example and encourage
ment to people struggling for national integ,
riehts,. and the maintenance of the rights of
naturniized citizens against the absolute doc
trine of immutabc allegiance, and the claims
Of foreign powers to punish them for alleged
crime committed beyond their jurisdiction.
In demanding these measures and reforms
we arraign the Radical party for its disregard
Of right, and the unparalleled oppression ana
tyranny which have marked It's sad,eer, fite5 hntS
Houses of Congress to prosecute the war ex-
clusively fer the maintenance, OF the govern
ment ana the preservation ofthe Union under
II has repeatedly violated that most sacred
pledge under which was rallied that noble vol
unteer army. which carried our flag to victory.
Instead of restoring the Union II nss; ss M iar
States in time OF peace to military despotsm
and negro supremacy.
1t has nullifed there the riehtof trial byjary.
IL has abolished the habeas corpus, that
most sacred writ of liberty.
1t has overthrow the freedom Of speech and
| the press.
1t has substituted arbitrary seizures and
| arrests, and military trials and secret star
Chamber inquisitons, for constitutional tri-
II has disregarded in time of peace the right
Of the people to be free from search and seis-
II has entered the rost and telegraph Offices,
| and even the privste rooms Of iudivicuals.
and seized their. private papers and letters
without any specification or notice OF afiidavit,
| as required by the organic law.
1t has converted the American capitol into a
bastiie. ..
Ii has established system OF SUES an Vih-
cial espionage to which no constitutional mon
archy Of Europe would now dare to resort.
II has abolished the right Of appeal on I'M
portant constitutional questions TO the su-
| preme judiciary tribunal. and threatens 70
curtail or destroy its original lurlsuicuuns
which Is irrevocably vested by the Consutu-
| ton. while the learn, Chief Justice has been
| subjected to the most atrocious caiumnies.
merely because be would not prostitute ms
high Office TO the support Of the false and par
| tisan charges preferred against the President.
Its corruption and extravaGance have ex-
ceedod anything known in history, and by 70.
| frauds and monopolies IL has nearly doubled
| the burden OF debt created during the war.
| II has stripped ths President Of bis constitu-
tional power Of app ointment, even Of his own
| cabinet.
Under its repeated assaults the pillars Of the
Government are rocking on their base. and
| shouI Ia II succoed in November next and inau-
| Rurate its President We will meet as a subject
| and conquered people amid the ruins Of lib
erty and the scattered fragments or the Consti.
| tuition and We do declare and resolve that
ever since the people Of the United States
threw OF all subsection 70 the British Crown
| the privilege and trust OF suffrage have be-
/ loured 10 the several States, and have been
| gran ted. regulated. and controller exciusivey
~ the political power cf each State respect
lively. and any attempt BY CongTess. on Any
| rfrht or interfere with this exercise. is ha-
grant usurpation OF power which can Ind no
i warrant in the Constitution and, II sanctioned
/ bv the people, viii subvert our form OF foy-
ernment, and can only end In a Iingie cer tral-
ired, confolidated government, u which ne
| Absorbed. and an unquali1ed de.pQtism Be
sstshlshsd in place Of a Federal Union Of
That We regard the rsconstrnct,es acts ef