The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-09-30
Adopted July a, 1858.

The Democratic party, In national convention
assembled, reposing its trust in the intelligence,
patriotism and discrimiL atng justice Of the peo-
pie, standing upon the Constitution the founda-
ton and limitation Of the powers of the govern
ment, and the guarantee of the liberty of the citi-
zen, and recognizing the questions Of slavery 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 as
sembled, and never to be renewed or regulated,
do, with the return of peace, demand
First-lmmediate restoration of all the Slater to
their rights in the Union under the Constitution,
and Of civil government to the American people.
Second-Amnesty for all the past political
ofenses, and the regulation Of the elective fran
chise in the States by their citizens. ss
Third-Paymento OF the public debt of the United
States "a rapidly practicable, all money drawn
from the people by taxation, except so much as
is requisite for the necessities of the government,
economically administered, being applied to such
payment and where the obligations of the gov
| eminent do not expressly state, upen their face
does not provide that they shall be- paid in coin.
they ought in right and in justice be paid in the
lawful money of the United States. ~
Fourth-Equal taxation of every species Of
| property according to its real value, including
| government bonds and other public securities.
Fifth-One currency for the government and
the people the laborer and the Office holder, the
pensioner and the soldier. the producer and the
| bondholder. - t
Sixth Economy in the administration Of the
| government; the reduction of the standing army
| and navy; the abolition of the freedmen's
bureau and all political instrumentalities de-
| signed to secure negro supremacy; simpli6ca-
ton of the system and dscontinuance OF inquistO-
rial modes of assessing and collecting the internal
| revenue, so that the burden Of taxation may be
equalized and lessened; the credit of the govern
| ment and the currency made good the repeal of
all enactmens for enrolling the State militia into
national forces in time of peace and tariff for
revenue upon foreign imports, and such equal tax
otsnr rnIa tho fntar lar ill
afford incidental protection to domestic manufac-
lures; and will, without mpairing the revenue,
| impose the least burden upon, and best promote
and encourage the great industrial interest Of the
| country.
seventh-Reform of abuses in the adminstra-
ton, the expulsion of corrupt men from office, tho
abrogation of useless Offices, the restoration of
rightful authority TO and the independence of the
executive and judicial departments OF the govern.
ment; the subordination Of the military to the
civil power, to the end that the usurpahons of
Congress and the despotism of the sword may
cease.
Eighth Equal rights and protection for natu.
ralized and native born citizens at home and
abroad, the assertion of American nationality,
which shall command the respect Of for
eign powers and furnish an example and encour-
sgement to people struggling for national integ-
rty, constitutional liberty and individual rightss
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 EN- for alleged crimes committed be-
yond their jurisdiction. ~.
In demanding these measures and reforms, we
arragn the radical party for its disregard of right
and the unparalleled oppression andtyranny which
have marked its career, after the most solemn and
unanimous pledge of both houses Of Congress to
prosecute the war exclusively for the maintenance
| Of the government and the preservation of the
Union and Constitution. 1t has repeatedly vio-
lated that most sacred pledge, under which was
rallied that noble volunteer army which carried
our flag TO victory instead OF restoring the Unions
- - r. -. 1a.A
jecied ten States, in time OF profound peace, to
nullified the right of trial by jury; it has abo-
ished the habeas corpus. that most sacred writ OF
liberty; il has overthrow the freedom of speech
and press; it has substituted arbitrary seizures
and arrests, and military trials and secret star
chamber inquisitions for constitutional tribunals
II has disregarded in times of peace the right Of
the people to be free from searches and seizures
it has entered the post and telegraph Offices, and
even the private rooms of individuals, and seized
their private papers and letters without any speci.
fcailon or notice of affidavit as required by the
organic law; it has converted the American capt.
tol into bsstile; it has established q system Of
spies and official espionage to which no constitu.
| toDal monarchy of Europe would dare to resort
| it has abolished the right of appeal on i'm
| portant constitutional questions to the su-
| preme judicial tribunals, and threatens to
| curtail or destroy its original Jurisdiction,
| which is irrevocably vested by the Con-
sttution, while the learned chief justice has been
subjected to great and atrocous caumnies, merely
because be wonld not prostitute his high Office to
the support of the false and partisan charges pre-
| ferred against the president. Its corruption and
| extravgance have exceeded anything known in
history, and by its frauds and monopolies IL has
nearly doubled the burden Of the debt created
during the war. 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 it succeed in. November next.
and inaugurate its president, we will meet it as
| subjected and conquered people, amid the ruins
| of liberty and the scattered fragments Of the
Constitution. And we do declare and resolve,
| that ever since the people Of the United States
threw off all subjugstion to the British crown the
| privilege and trust of suffrage have belonged to
| the several States, and have been granted, regu
lated and controlled exclusively by the political
power of each State, respectively; and any
| attempt by Congress, on any pretext whatever,
to deprive any State of this right, or interfere
| with this exercise. is fragrant usurpaton Of
power, which can find no warrant in the Constitu
tion and il sanctioned by the people will subvert
| our form Of government, and can only end In
| snge, centralized, consolidated government, in
which the separate existence Of the States will be
| entirely absorbed, and an unqualified despotism
| be established in place OF federal Union OF
| equal States; that we regard the reconstruction
| acts Of Congress, so-called, usurpations,
unconstitutional. revolutionary and void; that
4 our soldiers and sailors who carried the flag OF
| our country to victory against most gal
| liant and determined foe must ever be CRATE
fully remembered, and all the guarantees given in
their favor must be faithfully carried into execu-
ton; that the public lands should be distributed
among the people, and should be disposed OF
either. under the redemption Of homestead laws,
or sold In reasonable quantities. and to none but
actual occupants. at the minimum price as estab-
lished by the government; when grants Of the
| public lands may be allowed necessarily for the
encoursgements of important public improve
ments the proceeds of the sale Of such lands, and
not the lands themselves, should be so applied.
| That the president of the United States, Andrew
johnson, in exercising the power Of his high office
In resisting the aggressions of Congress on the
constitutional rights of the States and the people,
! is entitled TO the gratitude of the whole
American people; and on behalf Of the Demo-
| cratic party we tender him our thanks for his pa
1 triotic efforts In that regard.
| Upon this platform the Democratic party appeal
| 10 every patriot including all the conservative
element, and all who desire to support the COnsti-
| tuition and restore the Union, forgetting all past
| differences of opinion, to unite with rs in the
present great struggle for the liberties of the peo
pie, and that 10 all such, to whatever party they
Il IL Aw1 10