Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1868-07-23
FOTHViee President.
FRANK P. BLAIR,
5lfdwOF MISSOURI -.u
THE PLATFORM.

The Democratic party in National Convention
assembled. reposine a. trust u the iutelligenee
patriotism and discFiminatinc Justice of tht
people. standing upon the ConstitutiDn Jas the
foundation and Limitation Of the powers Of the
government, and the ruarantyO i the liberties n
the citizen. and recognizing tho questlnns OF
slavery and secession ~ having been settled foI
all time o. come by the war, or the voluntary
action Of the Southern States in constitutional
conventions assembled. and never 10 be renewed
OF re-agitated, do with tho return Of peace de-
mana
Immediate restoration Of 81 The States TO Their
rights I'D tho Union, under the Constitution and
Of civil government 70 the American people
Second Amnesty FOR ALI past political ufIenses
aud the regulation 81 the elective franchise in
the States by their citizens.
THIRD Payment Of the public debt Of the
United states ~ rapidly az practicable, all
moneys drawn from the people by taxation, eK-
cept 20 much as IS requisite for the necessities Of
the government economically administered be
ing honestly applied % such payment, and
where the obligations Of tho government do not
expressly state upon their face, or the Law un-
der which they were issued does not provide
that thoy shall be paid an coin, they ought in
right and Ia Justice, be paid in the lawful money
Of tho United States.
Fourth Equal taxation Of every species Of
property according 10 is real value, including
government bonds and other public securities
FtGh one currency for the government and
the people the lahorer and the Oihce-hoidcT,
the pensoner and tho soldier, tho producer and
the bOndhOher.
S,tb. ECONOMY in tho administration Of the
government. the reduction Of the standing army
and navy. the abolition Of the FreedmeD'g Bu-
roau. and all political instrumentalities
designed % secure negro supremacy; sim
phhcatiOn Of the system and discOntinu-
ance OF luquisItnrial modes Of assessing and col
lectnR internal revenue, 20 that ne burden Of
taxation may be equaiZed aud lessoned, the
credit Of the government and the currency made
good, the repeal Of all onactments for enrolling
the state militia into national forces in time OF
peace, and "a tariff for revenue upon foreign i'm
ports, and such equal taxation underthe internal
revenue laws "a will afford incidental protection
20 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.
Ncrcnh. Reform Of abuses in the administra-
ton. the expulsion Of corrupt men from Office,
the abroEation Of useless Offices, the restoration
Of rightiul authority 10 and the indepcDdcuce If
the Executive aad Judicial Departments Of the
government, the subordiuation Of the military
20 the civil power. o. the end that the usurpa-
tons Of Congress and the dcspOtism of the sword
NAV cease.
Eighh Equal rights and protection for main
rallzed anu native born citizens at home ami
abroad, the assertion Of American nationality
which shall command tho respect of foreisn
powers and furnish an example and encourage
ment 60 people struggling for national integrity
constitutional liberty and industrial rights and
the maintenance OF the rights of natuTalized
rltizenS against tho absolute doctrine Of mmu-
table allegiance and the claims Of foreign powefs
90 punish them for alleged crime committed he
yOnd their jurisdiction.
In demanding these measures and reforms we
arralgn the Radical party for lis DISREGARD Of
right aud the unparalleled oppression ami
tyranny which have marked its career. After
The most SOLEMN and unanimous pledge Of both
houses " Congress % prosecute the war eyclu-
siyely for the maintenance Of the government
aud the preservation Of the Union under the |
Constitution, Il has repeatedly violated the
most sacred pledge under which alone was raj
he'd that noble volunteer army which carried |
our flag 20 victory. Instead Of restoring The |
Union, y has 30 Tar ASH its power, dissolved IT,
and subjected ten states m time of profound |
peace 90 military dcaRohsm and negro suprem-
acy. II has nullifcd there the right of IRA by
Jury u has abolished the ibute1s csrpuR that
most sacred writ Of liberty II has oyerthrowu |
the freedom Of speech and the press; Il has sub
sututod arbitrary seizures and arrests, and mil
itaTY trials, and secret star chamber inouiG-
lons Tor the constitutional tribunals il has i
tlsrcgarded ia time Of peace the right Of tbe i
people 20 be tree from searches and seizures. II
has entered the post and telegraph Offices. and Il
even the private rooms OF individuals, and i
ietEed thcir private papers and letters without i
any specific charge or notice Of affidavit. ms re-
CURED by the organic law Il has converted the
american Capitol into Bastilo; it has esrab-
ished system Of spies and espionage 10 which
20 constitutional monarchy Of Europe would nnyV
iare 60 resort Il has abolished the right Of an
PEAL on important constitutional questions Ia |
ne supreme Judicial tribunals and Threatens a. |
urtail or destroy ITS original jurisdiction which
{ irroyocably vested by the Constitution while |
he learned Chief Justice has been Subjected Ia |
Do most Htroelous calnnnies merely because be
would not prostitute his high Office 10 the sun |
'ort Of the false and partisan charges preferred |
galnst the President. is corruptiOn and ey
ravagance have exceeded anything known In
lst0ry; and by its frauds and monoDolies IN las |
carly doubled tho burden Of the debt crrstei |
y the war, IL has stripped the President of |
IS constitutional power Of appointment even |
ms l;T 4Hh CahineI Under IFS repeated assaults
le piilars OF the government are rocking on ! I
lelr base, and should u succeed in Novetnber /
ext and inaugurato ats President we will unest / ,
a s1nlect ana conquered people amid the |
10 Constitution "
And we do declare and resolve. that ever since 8
e people ot the United States threw OF an |
IWeCh0n 60 the British Crown the nriyiicgo | I
ID trust % suffrage have belonged TO tbe ssv | ,
az States and have been granted, regulated | {
~ controlled exclusively by the political now | r
e ~, staIe respectively. and that any at
- " congress on any preteXt whatever to 1 u
pFlNe any state of this right or iBterferc with /
exercise, IS a hagrant usurpation of pavrr | n
- eau nnu no warrant IN the Constitution: | /
~ ~ sAhehuned by the people, will suhveft | -
y form OF government aud can only end IN 7. / IA
lFie centralized and consolidated poyern1,snf =
-. ny s'phalo existence Of the States will / a
ehhISil absorbed, and an unguali6cd a.
usm be established iu place nj a EeAs1 / cl
Aoh OF cocQuu States. and that 49,, r,.,-i /
lotkoust' uCloh nets geo called Of CONGRESS y
-oIni, 80, '''eps ana unconstitutional o.
That our soldiers and sailors who carri.a ~,
4 on our country % victory e.ainst athe
,lant ana determined foe .,uste yor a most
~ remembered aud -, ne mar be Erstc |
hair sFfl Alft kAtAi |
Ition. - Ve lalln'ulN Arried into cN- | q
Wijsi public lands shf .uld be distributed
~ q, a. possible nu, ,inR the peopls. and | c
Id DO disposed OF either under the pre- | 1
anton or homestead laws, and sold la reason \
Ic quantities. and 90 none hut actual occu-
nts az the minimum price established by the | :
,yerument. When grants Of the public lands | q
Az be allowed necessary Tor the encourage | 4,
emf Of important public improvements, tho | :
oceods Of the sale Of such lands. and not the | a
nd- thomsolves, should be 80 applied. d
That the President of the United States An ! ,
ew johnson, m exercising the power Of has | 3
ga Office an resisting the aggressions OF Con v
oss upon the constitutional rights of the States a
"a the people Is entitled % the gratitude OF | %
q whole American people, ana Iu behalf Of the | :
amocratic party we tender him our thanks tsT | u
patriotic efforts in thar regard. tl
L Iuu Jnis platform the Democratic party ap- | ii
al 20 every patriot, including all the conserve -
re element and all who desire 60 support the I
and restore tho Union, forgetting /,
past differences of opinion. % unite with a. | q,
the present great struggle for the liberties 81 | :
e people and that % all such, 70 whatever | &
ry they may have heretofore belonged We | n
tend the nght hand of fellowship, and hail |
such cooperating with us a. friends and a.
ethreu.