Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1868-07-14
HORATIO SEYMOUR,
FRANK p. BLAIR.
TIE pIATEORM.


assembled, TepGsing its trust IN the intelligence,
patriotism and discriminating justice Of the
people. standing upon the Constitution as the
foundation and Limitation OF the powers of the
government, and the guaranty OF the liberties Of
the citizen, and recognizing the questions Of
slavery and secession as having been settled for
all time b. come bv the war or the voluntary
action Of the Southern States IN constitutional
Conventions assembled. aud neYertO be renewed
or re-aFituted, do with the return Of peace de-
mand
Immediate restoration Of all the States TO their
rights in the Union, under the COnstitut on, and
Of civil government to the American people
Nscoud Amnesty for all past political Ohenses
End the rceulatien 0f 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 rom the people by taxation, cN .
cept much i requisite for the necessities Of
'he government economically administered be-
iuR honestly applied 10 such payment. and
where the obligations Of the government do not
expressly state npon their face or the law un-
der which they woe issued does not provide
that they shah bic paid in coin. they ought, in
right and IN Justice, be paid IN the lawful money
Fourth Equal taxation Of every species Of
properly according 10 lis real value, including
government bonds and other public securities.
fgh One currency for the government and
the people. the labOrcT and the Olhcc-hOldeT,
the pensioner and the soldier. the producer and
the bondh0ldcT. IA -
Siyfh EcOuOmy In the administration Of the
government the reduction Of the standing army
aud navy. the abolition Of the Freedmen's Blu
rcau. and all political instrumentalties
designed 10 secure negro supremacy: sim
pif6catipn Of the system and discontinu-
auce Of lnqulsitOTialmodes Of assessing and col
locuEg internal revenue, 50 that the burden Of
taxation may be eQuaiized and lcssened the
credit Of thegOyerument and the currency made
good, the repeal Of all enactments for enrolling
the State militia hitO national forces 10 time oi
peace, and lariE Tor revenue upon foreign inn
ports aud sach equal taXatI on under the internal
revenue laws AZ viii afford incidental protection
60 domestic manufactures aud as will without
ImParng the revenue, impose the least burden
upon aud best promote and encourage the great
industrial Interests Ot the country.
NrUeHfh Reform Of abuses in the administra
ton, the expulsion 81 corrupt men islm Office
the abrogatiOn Of useless Offices the restoration
Of ughtiul authority g. and the Independence of
the Executive aad Judicial Departments of the
government. the sub0T iinati0D Of the military
20 the civil power, 90 the end that the ugurpa-
tons Of Congress and ths desp0tism of the sword
may cease.
EigLih. Equal rights and protection for natu-
rallZed and native born citizens at home and
abroad, the assertion Of American nationality
which shall command the respect of foreign
powers, and furnish an example and encourage
ment 10 people struggling tOrnatiOnAl integrity
constitutional liberty and industrial rights and
the maintenance Of tho rights Of naturalizcd
citizens against the absolute doctrine Of immu-
table allegiance and the claims ef foreign powers
20 punish them Cor alleged crime committed be
yond their jurisdiction. CO #.ea
In demanding these 'Ineasures and reforms we
arraign the Radical party for its DISREGARD of
right end the unparalleled oppression and
tyranny which have marked its career After
the most solemn and unanimous pledge of both
houses of Congress 20 prosecute the war exclu-
sIycly for the maintenance of the government
and the preservation Cf the Onion under the
Constituiion, il has repentedlv Violated .tbe
most sacred pledge under which alone was raj
lied that noble volunteer army which carried
our Tag @ victory lHstead Of restoring the
and subjected ten States IA time of profound
peace 30 military deSputism and negro suprem-
aCy. u has untitled there The right Of trial by
Jury II has abolished The lLu5,ay corpus. that
most sacred wit OF liberty II has uycrthrGwn
she freedom Of speech and the press; IL has sub
stituted arbitrary seizures and arrests and nil
ltaTy trials. aud secret star chamber iuguisi-
tons for the constitutional tribunals. II has
dlsrcgaTdcd IA time of peace the right Of the /
people 90 be tree from searches and seizures; Il
has entered the post and telegraph offices, and
even the private rooms Of Individuals. and |
seized thor private papers and letters without
any specific charge OF notice of affidavit, rs re-
CURED by the organic law; il has converted the |
American Capitol into Bastile II has estab- |
hshed n system Of spies and espionage to which |
no constitutional monarchy Of Europe would now
dare 10 resort Il has abolished the right Of hp- |
peal on important constitutional questions 10 |
the supreme judicial tribunals aud threatens 10 |
curial or destroy ats original jurisdiction which /
Is lrreyocahy vested by the Constitution while |
the learned Chief Justice has been subjected to |
the most atrocious calumuies merely because he !
would not prostitute his high Office 10 the sup |
port of the false and partisan charges preferred |
against the President Its corruption and ex- |
trayagauce have exceeded anything known in |
history ard 10y It's frauds and monnpolies Il has |
nearly doubled the burden 81 the debt created |
by the var. u has stripped the President Of |
has constitutional power Of appointment even
Of his own Cabinet. Under its repeated assaults
the pillars of the government arc rocking on \
their base and should il succeed in November |
next and lnaugurate its President we will meet |
as subject aud conquered people amid the /
ruins of liberty and the shattered fragments of /
the Constitution.
And we dodeclare and resolve that ever siDrc |
the people of the United States threw OF mn |
subiectiOn 10 the British Crown the privilege /
and trust OF suffrage have belonged 10 the stv-
eral States and have been granted. regulated |
and controlled exclusively by the political DOW
eT 81 each State respectively. and that any al
tempt by Congress, on any prCteNt whatever, 4.
deprive any Staieef this right, or Interfere with
its EXERCISE BE- 4 haFraut usurpation % power
which can find no warrant In the Constitution. |
and, II sanctioned by the people. will subvert |
our form Of government, aud can only end in |
single centralized aud consolidated government |
which the separate existence of the States will /
be entirely absorbed. and an unqualified dos
potlsm be established IN place Of a Federal
mon OF cocqual States aud that we regard |
The reconstruction acts lso called of Congress. |
AS such are usurpatlons and unconstitutional |
evolutionary aud void.
That our soldiers and sailors who carried the !
.ag of our country 10 victory against most |
gallant ami determined foe must ever be crate |
ully remembered aud an the guarantees Given |
'Cutiuu. Il
That the public lands should be distributed
~ widely as possible among tho peolie, and
,huuld be disposal ot either under tue RE- |
'mpiIuu cor homestead laws aud soli In reason
able quantities and Ca none but actual nccu- |
pant. az thc mlnlnnR rance established by the
government, When grants ot the public lands !
gay be allowed necessary for the encourage
uvDt oi lmiouaut public improvements. The
Irurcpds 81 the sale at such lands ana not thc |
ands thcmsolycs, shoUld be 50 applied.
That thC President of the United States Al |
rev JohusOu, IA exercising the power Of has
liEh office ~ rcsisting the IMPRESSIONS of Con |
.r7ss upon the coustHutinuairights Of the States |
ui the people, Is entitled 70 the gratitude of |
be whole American people, aud IN behalf Of the |
party We tender him our thanks TO- |
is patriotic edOrts IN that regard.
Upon thts platform The Democratic party ap- |
cal o. every patriot, lHclnding All the c0nseTya-
i've element, aud al Tho desire 10 support the |
Institution aud restore tho Union, forgetting I
u past differences of opinion, 90 unite lth us |
/ the present great struggle Tor the liberties OF
he people aud that Co all such, 90 whatever /
ary they may have heretofore belonged, we
Ntcui The ught hand ct fellowship. and hail
u such co-uperHtlIr, WAth us az friends ANA
rethrCu.