Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1868-08-13
For. Vice President,
FRANK P. BLAIR,
TIE PLATFORM.
OF MISSOURI.


The Democratic party in National Convention
assembled rcposing It's trust in the Intelligence.
patriotism and discriminating justice Of tho
people. standing upon the Constitution as the
foundation and Limitation OF the powers Of the
government. and the guaranty Of the liberties of
the citizen, and recognizing the questions of
slavery and secession rs having been settled for
all time 10 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-
mand
Immediate restoration Of all the States 10 their
rights in the Union. under the Constitution. and
Of civil government 70 tho American people.
Second Amnesty for all past political offsnBes
and the regulation of the elective franchise in
the States by their citizens.
Third Payment Of the public debt Of the
United States rapidly ~ practicable, all
moneys drawn from the people by taxation. eX-
cept 10 much a. Is requisite Tor tho necesstios Of
the government economically administered, be-
ing honestly applied 70 such. payment. and.
where the obligations Of the government do not
expressly state upon their face, or the law un-
der which they were issued does not provide
that they shall DO paid IN coin, they ought in
right and in Justice, be paid in the lawful money
Fourth Equal taxation Of every species Of
property according 10 is real value, including
government bonds and other public securities.
fUfh One currency Tor the government and
the people. the labOrer and the oflice-holder,
the Pensioner and the soldier. the producer and
the bondholder.
government. the reduction Of the standing army
and navy, the abolition Of the Frcedmen's ih
reau. and all political instrumentalities
designed 30 secure negro supremacy; SIM
plifcation Of the system and discontinue
nnce Of inquisitOrial modes Of assessing and col
lecting internal revenue, so that The burden Of
taxation may be oqualized and lessencd, the
credit Of thegovernment and the currency made
good, the repeal Of all cnactments for enrolling
the state militia into national forces in time Of
peace and a tariff for revenue upon foreign i'm
md eua Ia a ar hp m
revenue laws as will afford incidental protection
10 domestic manufactures and as will. without
'mpairing the revenue. impose tho least burden
upon and best promote and encourage the crest
industrial interests Of tho country.
ScDeHh Reform Of abuses in the administra-
ton, tho expulsion of corrupt men from Office.
the abr0gatiOn Of useless Offices, the restoration
Of rightful authority to and the Independence Of
the Executive aad Judicial Departments Of the
government. the subordlnation Of the military
20 the civil power, 10 the end that the usurpa-
tons Of Congress and the dcspotism Of the sword
may cease.
Ei0hih Equal rights and protection for natu-
rallied and native born citizens at homo and
abroad, tho assertion Of American nationality
which shall command the respect Of foreign
powers, and furnish ep example and encourage
mcnt 10 people struggling for national integrity,
constitutional liberty and industrial rights and
the maintenance Of the rights Of naturalized
citizens against the absolute doctrine Of immu'
table allegiance and-the claims of foreign powers
to punish them for alleged crime committed be-.
yond their Jurisdiction.
In demanding these measures and reforms wp
Rrraign the Radical party for its disregard OF
right and tho unparalleled oppression and
tyranny which have marked its career. After
the most solemn and unanimous pledge Of both
houses Of Congress 20 prosecute tho war exclu-
svely for tho maintenance Of the government
and the preservation Of the Union under the
Constitution, It has repeatedly violated the
most sacred pledge under which alOno was raj
lied that noble volunteer army which carried
our flag 10 victory. Instead Of restoring the
Union. . has, so far asln rs power. dissolved It,
and subjected ten States In timo of profound
peace 10 military dcsnotiSm and negro suprem-
acy. Ii has nullifcd there the right OF trial by
jury IL has abolished tho lhabcas corpus that
most sacred writ of liberty it has overt brown
the freedom of speech and the press; IL has sub
stituted arbitrary seizures and arrests, and mill
itary trials. and secret star chamber inquisi-
tiOns for the constitutional tribunals il has
disregardcd in time Of peace the right Of the |
people TO be tree from searches snd seizures; IL
has entered the post and telegraph Offices. and
even the private rooms OF individuals, and |
seized their private papers and letteus without |
any specific charge or notice Of affidavit, as re-
CURED by the organic law IL has converted the |
American Capitol into Bastiie; il has estab- |
lishod system OF spies and espionage 90 which |
no constitutional monarchy Of Europe would now |
dare TO resort IL has abolished the right of ap-
peal on important constitutional questions TO |
the supreme judicial tribunals. and threatens to
curtail or destroy its original jurisdiction which
Is rrevocably vested by the Constitution while 4
the learned Chief ustice has been subjected to
the most atr0ci0us calumnios merely because he n
would not prostitute his high Office 10 the sup H
port Of the false and partisan charges preferred /
against the President. Its corruption and ex-
travagancc have exceeded anything known IN
history; ard by its frauds and moROP9lies il has
nearly doubled the burden OF tho debt created
by the var. II has stripped the President Of
his constitutional power of appointment. even
of his own Cabinet. Under its repeated assaults
the pillars Of the government are rocking on
their base, and should Il succeed in November
next and inaugurato its President, we will meet |
rs subject and conquered people amid the
ruins of liberty and the shattered fragments Of
the Constitution.
And we do declare and resolve that ever since
the people of the United States threw OF All
subsection 90 the British Crown the privilege |
and trust Of suffrage have belonged 10 the sew
eral states, and have been srantod. regulated
and controlled exclusively by the political pow
or OF each State respectively, and that any at |
tempt by Congress, on any preteNt whatever. To |
deprive any State Of this right OF interfere with
It's exercise, Is fragrant uRurpatiou Of power |
which can find no warrant In the Constitution: |
and, If sanctioned by the people will subvert |
our form OF goNemment, and can only end in a |
single oentrallzed and consolidated government |
which the separate existence OF the States will |
be entirely absorbed. and an unqualifed des- !
pottsm be established m place Of Federal |
Union OF coequn states; and that we regard |
the reconstruction acts ESQ called of Congress |
rs such usurpations and unconstitutional |
and VOID.
That our soldiers and sailors who carried tho
Gag of our country % victory against n most |
gallant and determined foe must ever be grate- |
fully remembered and all the guarantees given
scution.
That the public lands should be distributed
as widely rs possible among the people. and
should be disposed Of either under the pre-
smptiop or homestead laws, and sold in reason |
able quantities. and 90 none bat actual occu-
Dants. at tho minimum price established by the
government. 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, aud not the
ands themselves. should be so applied.
That the President Of the United States, An |
lrew johnson, In exercising tho power Of has |
ligh office in resisting the aggressi0ns Of Con-
yross upon the constitutional rights of the States
md the people, is entitled 10 the gratitude of
he whole American people. ana ia behalf Of the
Democratic party We tender him oRr thanks fer
lis patriotic efforts in that regard.
Upon this platform the Democratic party ap-
zeal 60 every patriot. including all the conscrva-
i've element. and all who desire 70 support the
Constitution and restore the UnieR. forgetting |
N past differences Of opinion. 60 unite with us
u the present great struggle Tor the liberties Of
he people. and that TO all such, 60 whatever | ,
'Rrty they may have heretofore belonged. we
Ntend the right hand Of fellowship. aad hail |
II such cooperating with us as friends and |
rcthren,