Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-09-24
THE PLATFORM.

The Democratic party, In National! Convex
tion assembled repo,ing it, trust IN tho intelii-
The people: standing upon the Constitution a.
the foundation and limitation Of the powers -
the Gov rnment. and the gnarant,e Of the I'D
critics OF the citizen and recognizing the qucs.
s" S" Ied for ali time 10 come by the war or the
voluntary action OF the Southern states IN
Constitutional Conventions assembled; epd
never 20 be renewed or reasitated; do. with the
r'i'I Inv eSia,e restoration Of all the State. to
their riehts in the Unlsn under the Consutu
tion and civil sovem"snt Of tho Ame''0.n
p:,' Amnesty for all past po itical oaenses, and
the regulation Of the elective franchise ~ the
States Nv ,heir al izens. and The payment o. the
public debt Of the United statos AZ rapidly as
g. All money drawn from the people BY tax
alton. except so much as lie requisite for the me-
cessities Of the Government, ecnnomieaiiy ad-
m;nistered, should be honestly hpphed 70 sucn
payment. and where the Obligations OF the Gov
eminent do NOT exnre sly state upon their face.
ar Inc law under which they were issued does
not provide that they shall DO paid !. coin. they
OUGHT, In rig I and ju tice, be paid In the law
fuI mos Of tho United States.
Fousl taxstion Of every species ofrropsrty
according to Its real value, .includ ng govern
ment bonds and other public securitiea
5. lne currency for the Government snd the
peop'e, he iaberer and the. ofiiceholder, The
'ns Economy in the administration Of the
Governu emit; the reduction OF The standus
army and navy: fheahoishmento OF tho reed
mems bureau. and al political Instrumental
tiles designed n = cure NJ gro supremacy; SIM
pifcafion If .he system and the d. Continuance
OF inquisitorial boards for assessing, ana coz
lecfirg internal revenue, o thar the burnen OF
taxation may be equaIized and lsssened the
credit of the Government and the currency
made good; the repeal Of al snaetmsnts ior
enrolling the State militia into National forces
in time of peace tsrif for revenue unon
foreign imports, and such equal taxation under |
the internal revenue laws as will AFFORD Incl
dental pr lection TO domesti, manufactures'
and as will. without impairing me revesue,
imp SO the least burden upon and best promote
and encourage the great industrial interests oil
\. Reform of abuses in the Adnini.tration.
the exclusion of or upt men from emee;; ,ns
riehtful suthority to, and the independence Of
the Executive and Judicial departments Of the
Gov rnment. the subordination OF the militf ~
to the civil power to TIE ena snas tne us9' r.
tons OF Congress and the oespousm Oh INC
s Eoua rights and protection for natural;
lied aud native-born ci'izens at home and
abr I'D an assertion q hmer,can na ~ gors;,,
row ers n nd furnish an example ana ENCOURAGE
ment to people struggling for national, in,eg,
Tity, con titutonai liberty and indi,lduai
IA 4
citizens against the obsolete doc
t,ine Of INN utable allegialce and the claims
Of foreign powers to punish them for alleged |
CRIME committed beyond Their jurisdiction.
We arrairn the Radical party for its di'regard
IF sbt, snd the unparalleled. oppression and
tyranny which have msrked its ea,eer, after
he most olemn and unanimous pledge Of beth
Houses Of Congress TO prosecute the war ex-
far the maintenapce Of the govern
nent and the preservation ofthe Union under
he Constitution. Il
Ii has repeatedly violated that most sacred
,nteer ARM. which car led our flag TO victory.
Instead of restoring the Union, II has. SO lar
s Ia its power. dissolved it. and subjected ten
,tates in time of peace TO military despotism
n hss nuIIi6ed the e the risht Of trial byjury.
II hiss abolished the habeas corpus, that
most sacred writ Of liberty
II has overthrow the freedom OF speech and
Il hss substituted arbitrary seizures and
rrests. and military trials and secret star
hamber inQuisiticns. fer constitutional tn
uusls.
T the people to be free from search and seif-
Ii has entered the rost and telegraph Offices,
I'd even the private rooms Of indiyir uals,
ithout a-y specification or notice Of af5 dsvit,
] required by the organic Law.
1t has converted the American capitol into
asttle.
al espionage to which no constitutional mon
rcby Of Europe would now dare to resort
1t has abolished the right Of appeal on i'm
Drtant constitutional questions to the SUI
RENE Judiciary tribunal, and threatens to
irtsil or destroy its original jurisdcticn,
hich Is irrevocably vested BY the Constitu
on. while the learn d Chief Justice has been
objected TO the most strocious calumnies,
oee sa The sspp"qt the s and
san charges preferred AGAINST the President. A
Its corruption and extravagance have ex-
seded anything known in history. and by its
~ ' burden Of I'D debt created during the war.
II has stripped tn President OF his conetitu-
onal power Of ppointupnt, even OF his own
ibinet.
overnment are rocking on their base, and
nouId il succeed ia November next and inau-
urate its President we will meet IS a subject
nd conquered people amid the ru ms of lib
ntion ard we do declare AMI resolve that 7
yer since the people Of the United States
brew of all subjection 70 the British Crown e
be privilege and trust o. suffrage. have, be- 4
rae ed. regu' ated, and controlled exclusively
y the political power { each State respect .
Vsly, and any attempt BY Congress, on any !
retext whatever, TO deprive any State OF this ,
ikDt, OF lDltIlFIc WITH inns SAtict7es - |
rant usurpatiou 81 power which can find no
1arrant in the Constitution. ard, II Sanction ed
y the people, win subvert our form Of gov
rnment, and can only end in a single Ger tral.
led, consolidated government, in which the
eparste ext tence Of the States will be entirely
bsorbed. and an unqualified despotiem be
established in place Of Federal Union of
DUAL States. Ift
That We regard the reconstructltn acts Of 4
congress. so-called. az usurpations. u1consti- \
utionai. revolutionary and void, and that our
oldiers and ga Tors who carried the Gag Of our 4
ountry to victory against a most gallant and
etermined foe. NUT ever be gratefully re-
mem bered, and all the guarantees given in | D
heir favor must be faithfully carried into exe-
u'iop.
That the public lands should be distributed
ridely among the peonle, and should be dis
,os.d Of either under the pre-emption or home
tead laws, and sold in reasonable quantities |
md 10 none but actual occupants at the miri
mum price as established by the Governmspi
When grants Of the public lands may ba al
owed, n cessary for the announcement OF i'm
,ortant public improvements, the proceed Of
he sale Of such lands and not the lands them
elves should be so applied.
Upon th 9 pla form the Democratic partv |
ppeal to every Tatriot. including all the con-
sFvatise element and AL Who desire TO support
he Constitution sDd rest 70 the Union. for
citing al past diherer ces Of opinion 10 unite
With us In the resent great struaeIe for NE
liberties Of the people. and q at 70 all such. 10
Ehste, er party they q ny have heretefore he-
oneed. we extend be right hand OF feIlowsh',n
nd hail all fuch cooper ating with US n
riends and brothers.