Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-08-31
THE PLATFORM.

THE PLATFUkM.
The Democratic party. in National Convtn-
tion assembled. reposing its trust in the inteli
The people: standing upon the Constitution as
| the foundation and limitation of the powers #
| the Government. and the guarantee Of the lib
critics Of the citizen and recognising 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
| Constitutional Conventions assembled. and
| never to be renewed or reagitated; do. with the
| return Of peace, demand.
l. Immediate restoration of all the States to
| their rights in the Union under the Constitu-
tion and civil government of the American
people.
| 2. Amnesty for all past political offenses. and
| the regulation OF the elective franchise in the
| States by their citizens. and the payment of the
public debt of the United States as rapidly as
8. All money drawn from the people by tax
ation except so much as Is requisite for the me-
cessities Of the Government, economically ad-
m;nistered, 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 issued does
not provide that they shall be paid IL cein, they
ought. in right and justice. be paid in the law
| full money of the United States.
1. Fqual taxation of every species of property
| according to its real value. including Govern
men bonds. and other public securities.
L
| people, the .laborer and the officeholder, the
persioner and the soldier. the producer and
| the bondholder.
8 Economy in the. administration of the
Government; the reduction of the standing
army and navy; the abolishment of the freed
meas bureau. and all political instrumental
itie designed to secure negro supremacy; SIM
nj fcation of the system and the dis continuance
Of finquisitorial boards for assessing. and col
lesting internal revenue, so that the burden of
| taIation may be equalzed and lessened; the
credit of the Government and the currency
made good the repeal of all enactments for
| enrolling the State militia into National forces
| ID time of peace !; a tariff for revenue upon
| i)reign imports. and such equal taxation under
| be internal revenue laws MS will afford Incl
iertal protection to domestic manufactures,
md as will, without impairing the reveHue,
impose the least burden upon and best promote
and encourage the great industrial interests of
the country.
7. Reform of abuses in the Adminis stration,
the expulsion of .ortupt men from Offices. the
Abroeation Of useless Offices. the restoration OF
fiehtfu authority to, and the independence of
the Executive and Judicial departments Of the
iGovsrnment, the subordination of the military
Ito the civil power to the end that the usurpa-
Itions of Congress and the despotism of the
sword may cease.
8. Equal rights and protection for natural.
lied and native-born citizens at home and
abrf ad an assertion Of American nationality,
which shall command the respect OF foreizn
powers and furnish an example and encourage
ment to people struggling for national integ-
rity, constitutional liberty and individua!
rights. and the maintenance of the rights OF
naturalized citizens against the obsolete. doc
trine of immutable 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 riebt, 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 ex-
.lxx e. 4l.Ax otw.tA aft hA
ment and the preservation Of the Union under
the Constitution.
1t 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. 1t has, SO far
as in its power. dissolved 1t, and subjected ten
States in time of peace to military despotsm
1t hasnullifed there the right Of trial by jury.
1t hps abolished the habeas corpus, that
most sacred writ of liberty.
1t has overthrown the freedom OF speech and
It has substituted arbitrary seizures and
arrests. and military trials and secret Star
Chambtr inquisitions, for constitutional tri-
II hasdisregarded in time of peace the right
of the people to be free from search and seiz-
ures. f -rr
1t hasentered the post and telegraph offices,
and evtn the private rooms of individuals,
and seized their. private papers and letters,
withoutauy specification or notice of affidavit,
as requned by the organic law.
1t hssponverted tho American capitol into
It has adestablished a system of spies and off,
cial espinage to which no constitutional moH-
archy ofEurope would now dare 10 resort.
II SnS sns sns.;ons q appsa tSe On
preme idiciary tribunal, and threatens to
curtail r destroy its original jurisdiction,
which i4irrevocably vested by the Constitu-
tion. while the learn, Chief Justice has been
subjected to the most atrocious calumnies,
merely kcause he would not prostitute his
high ofid to the support Of the false and par
tisan chdges preferred AGAINST the President.
Its corruption and extravagance have ex-
ceeded anything known in history, and by its
| frauds aid monopolies IL has nearly doubled
| the burdsn Of debt created during the war.
II has Stripped the President of his constitu-
tional poFer of app ointment, even Of his own
Under Is repeated assaults the pillars of the
| 0overnrnnt are rocking on their base, and
| should ituccced in November next and inau-
| gurate il President we will meet as a subject |
and conherel people amid tho runs of lib |
| erty andhe scattered fragments OF the Consti.
tuition; bd we do declare and resolve that |
! ever sinle the people Of the limited States |
| threw % all subsection TO the British Crown |
| the privtege and trust OF suffrage have be- |
longed 4 tho several States. and have been
granted. peeuiated and controlled exclusively |
| BY the Hliiical power cf each State respect |
lively, adj any attempt by Congress, on auy |
pretext tnatever. TO deprive any State OF this |
rlEtt OIL ulefttIc Win tuir CAtIcltIs ~ Ia
grant u4rpation Of power which can End no /
warrant h the Constitution. ard, II sanctioned /
BY the t.rple, will subvert our form Of gov /
| ernmept,and can only end in a single ccptral- /
| iTed. cotolidated government, in which the /
separstek xistence Of the States will be entirely
| Absorbed and an unqualified despotism be /
estabiisi,d in place Of IedcTal Union Of
Tbst !, regard the reconstructltn acts Of |
ConRresi so-cailed. as fusuruations. unconsti-
| tutionallrerolutiOnary and void. and that our
soldier Ind sailors who carried the hna of our
county, b victory against most gallant and
determined foe. must ever be Fraternity re-
member3i. and ell the arantees given IN
their fadbr must be faithfully carried into ere
That he sublie lands should be Distributed
widely afrsaE the people. and should b dii-
posed Of ei her under the pre-empiion OF home
stead lara and sold in reasonable QUANTITIES.
and 10 uois but srtuai occupants II the mini
MN rricfrs established ~ the Government
When ersuts Of the public lan3s =.y - al
iowei hlsary for tae encouraremenf OF i'm.
portanf n lie improvements. the urooeedsof
ne eaie n 1uch lands and not the lands them
reire1 fhtlId b % applied
Upon - platform the Democratic parJ
.--f - rarrw rnfrfnt fmrIunImn Az the rnn-