The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1868-07-22
Platform Of the Democracy Of the United

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The Democratic party, in National Convention asseu
bed, reposng its trust in the intelligence patriotisl
and discriminating justice of the people, standing upo
the Constitution the foundation and limitation OF tn
powers OF the Government, and the guarantee of th
liberties of the citizen and recognising the question
of slavery and secession as having been settled for
time to come by the war the voluntary action @
the Southern States in Constitutional Convention as
sembled and never to be renewed or reagtated, dc
with the return of peace,
DEMAND,
FSrst-Imnedate restoration Of all the States t
their rights in the Union under the Constitution an
of civil government to the American people,
Second-Amnesty for all past political ofenses, AM
the regulation of the elective franchise in the State
by their own citizens.
IAira-Payment of the public debt Of the Untet
States rapidly practicable-al money drawn from
the people by taxation, except much is requisite
for tie necessities of the Government economically
administered, being applied to such payment; ane
where the obligations Of the Government do not ex
pressly state upon their face where the law under
which they issued does not provide that they
shall be paid in con they ought in right and in justice
to be paid in the lawful money of the United States
[Thunders of applause -..... "
Fourth-Equal taxation Of every species of proper
ty according to its real value, including Government
bonds and other public securities Renewed cheer
ing, and cries of Read it again."] -
Fgf1A-One currency for the Government and the
people, the laborer and the holder the pensoner
and the soldier, the producer and the bondhod
[Great cheering, and cries Of &C Read it again. !"
The fifth resolution was again read and again
cheered. -z .-t .".
Sirth-Economy in the administration of the Gov
ernment the reduction of the standing army and ma
w the abolition of the Freedmen's Bureau [great
+,
secure negro supremacy simpifcaton of the system
and discontnuance Of inqustoria modes of assessing
and collecting internal revenue that the burden of
taxation may be enualsed and essened the credit of
the Government and the currency made good the re-
peal of all enactments for enrolling the State militia
into National forces in time OF peace and tariff Tor
upon foreign imports and such equal taxation
under the internal laws will afford incden
tai protection to domestic manufactures and we'll
without imparng the revenue, impose the least bur-
den upon and best promote and encourage the great
industrial interests of the country
SerenM-Reform of abuses in the administration,
the expulsion of corrupt men from Office the abroga
ton of useless Offices, the restoration of rghtful
thorty to and the independence of the Executive and
Judicial Departments of the Government The sub
ordination of the military to the civil power to the
end that the usurpatons of Congress and the despot
ism OF the sword may cease.
EaghM-Equal rights and protection for naturalised
and nativeborn citizens at home and abroad the as
sertion of American nationality which shall command
the respect foreign powers and furnish example
and encouragement to people struggling for national
integrity, constitutional liberty and individual rights
and the maintenance of the ghts of naturased cit
against the absolute doctrine of nmutable allie
glance and the claims of foreign powers to punish
them for alleged crime committed beyond their juris
dicton. Applause.
THE BILL OF INDICTMENT AGAINST TIE RADICAL PARTY.
In demanding these measures and reforms,
raign the Radical party for its disregard of right and
the unparalleled oppression and tyranny which have
marked its after the solemn and unanimous
pledge of both Houses of Congress to prosecute the
war exclusively for the maintenance of the Govern
ment and the preservation of the Union and the Con-
1t has repeatedly violated that most sacred pledge
under which rallied that noble volunteer army
which carried our flag to victory. Instead of
ing the Union it has, far in its power dissolved
it, and subjected ten States, in times of profound
peace to military despotsm and negro supremacy.
1t has nullifed the right of trial by jury.
1t has abolished the writ Of habeas corpus that most
sacred writ of liberty.
1t has overthrown the freedom Of speech and press
It has substituted arbitrary seizures and arrests and
military trials and secret star chamber inqustion for
Constitutional tribunals
1t has disregarded in time of peace the right Of the
people to be free from searches and seizures.
1t has entered the post and telegraph offices, and
even the private rooms of individuals, and seized
their private papers and letters without any specca
ton Or notice of affidavit, required by the organic
law.
1t has converted the American Capitol into base.
1t has established system of spies and official
ponage to which no constitutional monarchy of Eu-
rope would dare to resort
1t has abolished the right of appeal, on important
Constitutional questions to the supreme judicial trbu
mails, and threatens to curta destroy its original
Jurisdiction which is rrevocably vested by the Consti
Ah.
ected to great and atrocous caumnes merely because
he would not prostitute his high Office to the support
of the false and partisan charges preferred against the
President
Its corruption and extravaganza have exceeded any
thing known in history, and by its frauds and monop-
oies it has doubled the burden of the debt Gre
ated during the war.
1t has stripped the President of his constitutional
power of appointment, of his own Cabinet.
Under its repeated assaults the pillars of the Gov
ernment rocking their base, and should it
ceed in November next and naugurate its President,
we will meet it as subjected and conquered people,
amid the ruins of liberty and the scattered fragments
Of the Constitution.
FURTHER DECLARATIONS.
44nd do declare and resolye, That since the
people of the United States threw off all subiugation
the British Crown the privilege and trust of suf
frage have belonged to the several States and have
been granted, regulated 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 interfere with this
exercise, is fragrant usurpation of power, which
find no warrant in the Constitution and if sanctioned
by the people, will subvert form of Government,
and can only end in SINGLE centralised 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-
socaed as usurpatons, unconstitutional, revolution
ary and void.
That our soldiers and sailors who carried the flag of
country to victory against most gallant and de-
termined foe, must ever be gratefully remembered,
and all the guarantees given in their favor must be
faithfully carried into execution.
That the public lands should be distributed widely
among the people, and should be disposed of either
under the preemption of homestead lands, and sold in
quantities, and to none but actual
pants, at the minimum price, as established by the
Government and that when grants of the public lands
may be allowed, necessary for the encouragement of
important public improvements, 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 constu
tional rights of the States and the people, is entitled
10 the gratitude of the whole American people, and
behalf Of the Democratic party we tender him our
thanks for his patriotic efforts in that regard Great
applause