The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-10-20
Adopted July 2, 1903.

..sar,hIsS yeno-iue its trust in the intelligence,
patriotism and discriminating justice OF the peo
zIe standing upon the Constitution a. the founda
lion and limitation of the powers of the govern
ment, and the guarantee Of the liberty Of the cit
gen. and Recognizing the questions of slavery and
secession 90 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 reagitated
do, with the return of peace, demand:
First-lmmedlate restoration OF all the Statec 70
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.
Third-Psymento the public debt of the United
States as rapidly as practicable, all money drawn
from the people by taxation, except 30 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,
p or where the Law under which they were issued
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-0ne currency for the government and
The people, the laborer and the Office holder. the
pensioner and the soldier. the producer and the
bondholder.
Sixth Economy in the administration Of the
government; the reduction OF the standing army
and navy; the abolition OF the freedmens
bureau and all political instrumentalities de-
signed to secure negro supremacy; simplihca-
fop of the system and discontinuance OF linguistic
rial modes Of assessing and collecting the internal
revenue, so that the burden OF taxation may De
eQualized and lessened; the credit Oh the govern.
ment and the currency made good; the repeal OF
all epactmen,s for enrolling the State militia into
national forces in time Of peace and tarin Tor
revenue upon foreign imports, and such equal TAX.
alton under the internal revenue laws as Will
afford incidental protection to domestic manufac-
fures; and as will, without impairing the revenue,
impose the least burden upon. and best promote
and encourage the great industrial interest OF the
country.
Seyenth-Reform of abuses In the administra.
tiop the expulsion of corrupt men from office, the
A, abroQation 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 usurpauons oil
Congress and the despotism OF the sword may
cease.
rallied 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-
agement to people struggling for national integ.
rity, constitutional liberty and individual rights |,
and the maintenance Of the rights OF naturalized
citizens against ahr absolute doctrine Of immu.
table allegiance and the claims of foreign powers
60 punish them for. alleged crimes committed be-
yond their jurisdiction.
In demanding these measures and reforms, we
arraign 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. IL 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 Union,
1t has, so far as is its power it, and sub
jected ten States in time Of profound peace, to
military despotism and negro supremacy. Ii has
nullifed the right Of trial by jury; it has abol
ished the habeas corpus. that most sacred writ oil
liberty il has overthrow the freedom of speech
and press; IL has substituted arbitrary seizures
and arrests, and military trials and secret star
chamber inquisitiops for constitutional tribunals
1t has disregarded in times of peace the right oil
the people TO be fee from searches and seizures;
Ii has entered the post and telegraph othces, and
even the private rooms OF individuals, and seizeo
their private papers and letters without any spec
fication or notice of affidavit as required by the
organic law; IL has converted the American CAPT
col into bsstile; II has established system ol
spies and official espionage to which no constitu
tional monarchy Of Europe would dare to resort
il has abolished the right OF appeal on i'm
portant constitutional questions to the su
preme judicial tribunals. and threatens &c
ourtail or destroy its original jurisdiction
which is irrevocably vested by the Con
stitution while the learned chief justice has been
subjected to greatRnd atrocious csumnies, merely
because he would hot prostitute his high Office tt
the support of the false and partisan charges pre-
ferred against the president. Its corruption and
extraygance have exceeded anything known il
history and by it, frauds and monopolies IL hal
nearly doubled the burden Of the debt created
during the war. 1t has stripped the president Of
his constitutional power of appointment, even oil
his own cabinet; under its repeated assaults the
pillars of the government are rocking on theil
base, and should IL succeed in November next
and inaugurate its president, we will meet II as q
- ME- Tim I'M
of liberty and the scattered fragments of the
Constitution. Aud we do declare and resolve
that ever since the people OF the United states
threw of all subjugation TO the British crown the
privilege and trust of suffrage have belonged "a
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
60 deprive any State of this right, or interfere
with this exercise. is fragrant usurpation oil
power, which can find no warrant In the Constitu
zion, and IL sanctioned by the people will subver'
our form OF government, and can only end In Z
single, centralized, consolidated government, In
which the separate existence OF the States will bt
entirely absorbed, and an unqualified despotsn
be established in place of federal Union o.
equal States; that we regard the reconstruction
acts of Congress, so-called, as usurpstions
unconstitutional. revolutionary and void; tina
our soldiers and sailors who carried the flag o
our country 10 victory against most gal
liant and determined foe must ever be CRATE
FULLY remembered, dno Ill the guarantees gwen ii
their favor must be faithfully carried into execu
ton; that the public lands should be distribute,
among the people, and should be disposed o
either under the presumption Of homestead laws
or sold in reasonable quantities, and to none bu
actual occupants. AT the minimum price estat
lshed by the government; when grants of tn
public lands may be allowed necessarily for tn
encouragements of important public improve
ments, the proceeds Of the sale Of such lands. an
not the lands themselves, should be 80 applied
That the president of the United States, Andre'
johnson, In exercising the power OF his high offic
In resisting the aggressions of Congress on tn
constitutional rights of the States and the people
Is entitled TO the gratitude of the Who'll
American people; and on behalf Of the Demo
cratic party we tender him our thanks for his pa
triotic efforts In that regard.
Upon this platform the Democratic party sppei
20 every patriot. including all the conservative
element, and all who desire to support the Const
tuition and restore the Union, forgetting all pa
differences of opinion, to unite with rs In q
present great struggle for the liberties OF the PEI
pie, and that to all such, to whatever party the
may have heretofore belonged, We extend u
right hand of Fellowship, and hail all such @
operating with US as friends and brothers.