Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-08-24
THE PLATFORM.

The fLaTrUnMs
The Democratic party, in National Conven-
tion assembled. repo.ing its trust IN the intelli
| the people: standing upon the Constitution as
| the foundation and Limitation OF the powers 81
| the Cow ytrnment and tho guarantee OF the lib
critics Of the citizen and recognizing the 9ues-
| tions Of sIavery and secession as having been
settled for all time to come by the war or tne
voluntary action Of the Southern, States in
Constitutional Conventions assembled. d., ana ani
never to be renewed or reagitated; do' win tne
| return of peace, demand,
l. INN ediate restoration Of all the States to
| their rights in the Union under the Consti tu-
| tion and civil government OF the American
2. Amnesty for all past political offenses. and
| the regulation Of the elective franchise in the
States by their citizens. and the payment OF tho
public debt Of the United States as rapidly as
3. All money drawn from the people by tax
ation except so much as is requisite for the me-
| cessities of the Government. economically ad-
| m;nistered, should be honestly applied to such
payment, and where the obligations Of the Gov
ernment do not EXPIRE sly state upon their face.
| or the law under which they were. issued does
provide that they be paid Il 3ba a% insy
| full m0nsy of the United States.
4. Equal taxation of every species OF property
| according to its real value. including Govern
ment bonds and other @ Pu1c securs,e and tho
~
| people, the laborer and the ofiiceholder. the
pensioner and the soldier. the producer and
| the bondholder. =,
| Government; the reduction of the standing
| army and navy; the abolishment OF the freed
mems bureau, and all political instrumental
tiles designed to secure negro supremacy; SIM
plfcation of the system and the dis continuance
| of inquisitorial boards for assessing and COL
lecting internal revenue, so that tho burden of
taxation may be equalized and lessened the
credit of the, Government ana the currency
made good the repeal Of al eractments for
| enrolling the State militia into National forces
| in time of peace !. a tarif for revenue upon
| foreign imports, and such equal taxation under
| dental protection TO domestic manufactures,
| and as will, without impairing the revenue,
| impose the least burden upon and best promote
aud encourage the great industrial interests OF
| the country.
7. Reform of abuses in the Adminis istration,
| the expulsion of or upt men from omees. the
abropation of useless offices. the restoration OF
riehtful authority to, and the independence , OF
| Gov rnment the subordination OF the milit9ry
| 10 the civil power to the end that the usurpa-
| tions of Congress and the despotism Of the
s. Equal rights and protection for natural;
| ized and native-born ci'izens at home and
abr ad an assertion OF American nationality,
which shall command the respect Of foreiln
powers and furnish an example and encourage
rity. constitutionaI liberty and indi idual
riehts, and the maintenance. of the rights OF
naturalized citizens against the absolute doc
time of immutable allegiance. and the claims
of foreign powers to punish them for alleged
crime committed beyond their jurisdiction.
In demanding these measures and reforms
we arraign the Radical party for its disregard
of right, and the unparalleled oppression and
| tyranny which have msrked its career, after
| the most solemn and unanimous pledge oil both
Houses of Congress to prosecute tne war ex-
Al, for ma nj
ment and the preservation ofthe Union under
| the Constitution.
it has repeatedly violated that most sacred
pledge under which was rallied that noble vol
upteer army. which carried our flag to victory.
Instead Of restoring the Union. it bas. SO far
as in its power. dissolved it, and subjected ten
States in time of peace to military despotism
It has nullifed there the right Of trial byjnry:
1t has abolished the habeas corpus, that
most sacred writ of liberty.
1t has overthrown the freedom OF speech and
II has substituted arbitrary seizures and
| arrests, and military trials and secret Star
Chamber inquisitions. for constitutional tri-
Il has disregarded in time of peace the, right
of the people to be free from search and seiz-
ures.
| and even the private rooms Of iudividuals.
and seized their. private papers and letters
without any specification or notice OF AFFIDAVIT,
| as required by the organic law.
II has converted the American capitol into
Il has established system of spies and Off
| cial espionage to which no constitutional moh-
archy Of Europe would now dare to resort.
1t has abolished the right Of appeal on I'M
p0rtant constitutional questions to the su-
preme judiciary tribunal. and threatens TO
curtail or destroy. its original lurisdlction,
ton, while the Iearn,d Chief Justice has been
| subjected TO the most atrocious calumnie:,
merely because he would not prostitute MS
high Office 10 the support OF the false ana par
| tisan charges preferred against the fresldent.
Its corruption and extravagance have ex-
ceeded anything known in history. and by its
frauds and monopolies il has nearly doubled
1 the burden of debt created during the war.
II has stripped the President Of his constitu-
tional 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 inau-
/ gurate its President We will meet as a subject
and conquered people amid the ruins Of lib
i erty and the scattered fragments Of the Consti-
| tuition; and we do declare and resolve that
i ever since the people Of the United States
| threw of all fuhjection 70 the British Crown
the privilege and trust 81 sunrsse have be
/ rranted. regulated. and controlled exclusively
/ ~ The political power cf each State respect
lively. and any attempt ey Congress, on any
i rirht, or interfere with this exercise. is ia
rrnnt ururration Of power which can End no
i warrant IN the Contribution. and. u sanctioned
/ hv the people, will subTert our form Of Gov
] ernmerf, and can only end IN a single central
1 ircd, confolidated government. IN which the
/ feparate existence Of The States will be entirely
absorbed. and an unquahhed de,re,lsm ee
/ established In place Of . letcral Union OF
/ equal States.
Thaf We regard the reconstractiin acts Of
Corrress. so-cailed. 80 fusurrafions. unconsti-
i futi9rsl revolutionary and void, and that our
Il soiiiers and sailors who carried the eag of cur
! country 20 victory AGAINST a most rallaut and
I determined foe. mutt ever Be graieiully re-