Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1868-08-14
National Democratic PlaUornl--

CONSTITUTION as the tOundatlOn and nmitA-
ton Of the powers of the Government, and
the guarantee Of the liberties Of the citizen,
and recognizing the questions of slavery
and secession as having been settled for oil
time to come by the var, or the voluntary
action OF the Southern States in constitu-
tional conventions assembled and never to
be renewed or eagitat@d, do, with the re-
turn of peace, demand:
First. Immediate restoration OF sll the
States to their rights in tho Union under
the Constitution, and Of civil government to
the American people.
Second. Amnesty for all past political
offences and the regulation OF the elective
franchise in the States by their citizens.
Third. Payment of the public debt of the
United States rs rapidly as practicable; all
moneys drawn from the people by taxation,
except so much as is requisite for the ne
cessities OF the Government economically
admins ere I, being honestly applied to such
payment; cad where the obligations of the
Government do not expressly state upon
their face, or the law under which they
we've issued does not provide that they
shall be paid in coin, they ought, In right
and justice, to be paid in the lawful money
Of tbs United States.
Fourth. Equal taxation Of every species
of property according to its real value, in
Guiding 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.
Sixth. Economy in tho administration of
the Government tho reduction of the
standing army and navy; the abolition Of
~ tba Eraa6poauis nuraau aud oil ,,clfttce1
instrumentalties designed to secure negro
supremacy; simplifcation of the system,
and discontinuanoe of the inquisitorisl
modes Ct assessing and collecting internal
revenue, so that the burden of taxation
may be equ .lized and lessened; the credit
OF the Government and the currency made
good; the repeal of all enactments for en-
rolling the State militia into national forces
in time of peace and tariff for revenue
upon foreign Imports, and such equal taxa
ton under tho internal revenue laws as will
afford Incidental protection to domestic
manufactures, and as will, without impair
ing tho revenue, impose tho least burden
upon and best promote and encourage the
great industrial interests of tho couatry.
Seventh. Reform of abuses in the admin
| istration, the expulsion of corrupt mon
| from Office, tho abrogstion Of useless offices,
the restoration of rightful authority, and
| the independence OF, the executive and
| judicial departing nts OF tho Government,
| the subordination of the military TO the
civil power, to the end that the usurpations
of Congress and the despotism of tho sword
may cease.
Eighth. Equal rights and protection for
naturalized and native born citizens OF home
and abroad, the assertion of American ma
! tionality which shall command the respeo,
| of foreign powers and furnish and example
and encouragement to people struggling
for national integrity, constitutional liberty
and individual rights and the maintenance
Of the rights of naturSl7od citizens against
the absolute doctrine OF immutable aliegi-
apce, and the claims Of foreign powers 10
! punish them for alleged crimes committed
beyond their jurisdiction.
Iu demanding these measures and reforms
we arreign the Radical party for it's disre-
gard of right and tho unparalleled oppres-
siou and tyranny which have marked its
career. After n most solemn and unani.
moua pledge of both houses Of Congress 10
prosecute the war exclusively for tne main
tenance of tho Government and the pres
ervation OF the Union under the COnstitu-
ton, it ihas repeatedly violated that most
sacred pledge, under which alone was raj
|
ried our hsg TO victory instead of restoring
the Union 1t has, so far as in It's power, dis
solved it, aud subjected ten States, in tim
of profound peace, to military despotisnl
and negro supremacy; 1t has nullifed them
the right Of trial by jury; IL has abolished
tho habeGS corpus, that most sacred writ Di
liberty IL has oyerthrowu the freedom of
speech aud the press; IL has substituted
arbitrary seizures and arrests, and imilitgy
trials, md secret star-chamber inquisitinls
Ion tho constitutional tribunals; 1t nGs oIs-
regarded in time OF peace tho right of tie
people 10 be free from searches and seizures;
1t has entered the post and telegraph Offices,
and even the pril ate rooms Of indiyiduaR
and seized their private papers and letlds
without any specific charge or notice bf
shdsyt, IS required by the organic lay
} II has converted the American Capitol I'M o
a bSstile; il has established a system 'Df
spies and Official espionage to which DO
; constitutional monarch of Europe would
now dare 10 resort; IL hiss abolished ne
rigll. Of appeal on important constitutional
Qu'siiors % the supreme judicial tribanll,
and threatens to curlail or destroy re orit'-
nal jurisdiction, which is i-revocably vestld
by tho Constitution, while the learned Chbf
Justice has beon subjected TO the mot
stroci0us calumnies, merely because 10
would not prostitute his high office TO tic
support Of tho false and partisan charges
preferred against the President. It's CO.
ruptiOn and extrayagance have exceeded
anything known In history, and by its fra uts
aud mpnopolies Il has nearly doubled the
burdel OF the debt created by the war. u
has stripped the President Of his constlil-
tional power Of appointment, even Of las
own Cabinet. Under its repeated assaults
the pillars Of tho Government are rocking
on their base, and should it succeed ln
November next and inaugurate its Pres-
dent, We will meet as subiugated ald
conquered people amid the ruins Of liberty
and tue scattered frHgmonis Of the OOnsh-
tuition.
And we do declare and resolve that ever
stree tho people Of the United States throw
OF all subjocton 10 tho British Crown, the
privilege and trust OF suffrage bayo belonged
TO Lba several States, aud have boen granted
regulated tnd controlled exclusively by the
political power Of each State respectively,
and that any attempt 10y Congress, or any
pretext whatever, to deprive any State OF
this right, or interfere with rs exercise, Is
Migrant uaurptliru Of power which eau
lnd no wairapt In the Constitution, ana
II sanctioned hs the p-oMe viii subvert
our form Of Government, ald can only
end in single orntralizud aud oorsolidaIrd
government IN which the separate existence
OF tie States will be entirely absorbed, and
an unqualified despotism be established In
place Of a Federal Union Of ooeqlal States
And thar Wa regard The reconstruction
acts, (so-calleol u Congress, as such, -
GsnrpAtious 0ud unconstitutional, rcyoln-
llonaiy and void.