Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1868-08-05
For vice President.
FRANK P. BLAIR,
THE PLATFORm.

THE PLATFORM.
The democratic party in National Convention
assembled. rcpusiug IT, 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 guarantyOt the Liberties Of
the citizen. and recognizing the questions OF
slavery and secession having been settled for
all time 81 come by tho WAT, or the voluntary
action of the Southern States IN constitutional
conventions assembled. and never 20 be renewed
or re -agitated, DO with the return Of peace de-
Immediate restoration Of all the States to their
rights in the Union, undcr the Constitution, and
of civil government 20 tho American people
N~rnHd Amnesty fUT al past political offences
ami the regulation Of the elective franchise in
the States by their citizcns.
ThirR Payment Of tho public debt of the
Uuitei States as rapidly as practicable, all
moneys drawn from the people by taxation. eX-
ecpt much Il requisite for the necessities Of
the government economically administered, be-
ing honestly applied 20 such payment. and.
where the obligations Of the government DO not
expressly state upon their face, OF the law nm
der which they we're issued docs not provide
that they shall be paid IN coin, they ought. in
right and iniustice, be paid In the lawful money
Of the United States.
Fourth Equal taxation Of every species of
property according 30 its real value, including
government bonds and other public securities.
fi6h One currency for the government and
the people, the lahorer and the ofice-holder.
the pensioncr and tho soldier the producer and
tho bondholdcr.
Siri6 Economy in the administration of the
government. the reduction Of the standing army
and navy, the abolition of the Frccdmon's Blu
reau. and all political instrumentalites
designed 90 secure negro supremacy: sim-
pliGcation of the system and discontinu-
ancC Of iHquIsItOrial modes Of assessing and col
lecting internal revenue, So that the burden of
taxation maF DO equalzed and lessened the
credit % the government and the currency made
good, the repeal Of all enactmonts for enrolling
the State militia into national forces in time Of
peace. and "a tarih Tor revenue upon foreign inn
ports. and such equal taxation underline intcrnm
revenue laws Hs will afford incidental protection
10 domestic manufactures, and as WILL without
impHiriug the revenue. impose the least burden
upon aud best promote and encourage the great
ind ustrial interests Of the country.
ScUcHh Reform Of abuses in the administra-
ton, the expulsion of corrupt mon from Office
the abrDgation Of useless Offices. the restoration
of nghtiul authority to and the Independence of
the Executive ald Judicial Departments Of this
government, the subordlnatIon of the military
60 the civil power 10 the end that the usurpi-
;inns Of Congress and the despotsm Of the sword
may cease.
EigLth Equal rights and protection for natu-
rallied and native born cltiZCns at home and
abroad, the assertion Of American nationality
which shall command the respect of foreign
powers, and furnish an example and encourage
mcnt 20 people struggling for national integrity
constitutional liberty and industrial rights, and
the maintenance Of the rights Of naturalized
citizens against tho absolute doctrine Of immu-
Table allegiance ana the Chains 81 foreign
q punish them for alleged crime committed be-
yOnd their jurisdiction
In dcmaading thesc measures and reforms We
Arraign the Radical party for its disregard Of
right and the unparalleled oppression and
tyranny which have marked its career Amor
the most SOLEMN and unanimous pledge of both
houses OF Congress TO prosecute tho war cNcu-
EiYCiy for the maintenance Of tho government
aud the preservation of the Union under the
C0nstitutton, h has repeatedly violated the
most sacred pledge under which alone was rail-
lied that mobile volunteer army which carried
our Rag to victory. Instead of restoring the
Union II has 50 far as IN ITS pOwor. dissolved 10.
aud subjected ten States in timc of profound
peace 60 military dcFuotism and negro suprcm-
acy. II has uulhied there the right of trial by
Jury 10 has abolished tho sh0b,uy corpus. that
most sacred writ of liberty; 10 has Uycrthrown
the freedom of speech and the press; Il has SUBJ
stttutcd arbitrary seizures and arrests and mil-
rtary trlale, and secret star chamber inquisi-
tons for the constitutional tribunals; Il has
disrcEardcd in time of peace the right Of the
people TO be Tree from searches and seizures II
has entered the post aud telegraph offices and
even the private rooms of individuals. and
seized their private papers and letters without
any specific charge or notice Of affidavit. as re-
CURED by the organic law 10 has Converted the
American Capitol into a Bastile; IL has cstab-
hshed n system Of spies aud espionage TO which
- constitutional monarchy of Europe would now
dare 60 resort 10 has abolished the right of an
peal on important constitutional questions TO
the supreme Judicial tribunals. and threatens to
curtaIl or destroy ITS original jurisdiction which
~ rfeN ocahly vested by the Constitution while
tho learned Chiet Justice has been subjected TO
the most atrociouS calumnies merely because he
would not prostitute his high Office 10 the sun
port Of the false aud partisan charges preferred
against the President IFS corruption and cN-
trayagaBce have exceeded anything known IN |
history; and by IT'S frauds and mOnopohes il has
nearly doubled the burden Of the debt created |
by the war. 10 has stripped the President Of |
Mss constitutional power of appointments oven
OF hls own Cabinet. Under its repeated assaults
The pillars OF tho government are rocking on |
their base, and should it succeed in November
next aud lnauEuratC lts President we will meet
as "A subject and conquered people amid tho |
runs oi liberty and the shattered fragments of |
the Constitution.
And we do declare and resolve that ever since !
the people of the United States threw OF ali /
subsection 60 the British Crown the privilege
aud trust OF suffrage have belonged 10 the sew
cral states, and have boon granted. regulated
and controlled exclusively by the political pow
cr OF each state respectively, and that any at
temprby Congress, on any pretcNt whatever, 10 |
deprive any state OF this right, or interfere with
its exercise, u Migrant temptation Of power
which can find no warrant IN the Constitution
and. ii sanctioned 10y tho people, will subyert
our form oi government and can only end in a |
single centralized and consolidated Government
which the separate existence Of the States will |
10 entirely absorbed, aud an uugualilied dcs-
pohsm he established IN place ef a Federal |
Union OF rocQual states and that we regard !
the rccoustructiun acts ESQ called Of CONGRESS
rs such are u'urpauuus and unconstitutional
revolutionary and void.
flag Of our country 90 victory against "a most
gallant and determined foe suust ever be CRATE
fully remembered and an the guarantees given
la their favor must be- faithfully carried into cN-
ooudoR.
That the public lands should be- distributed
rs widely as possible among the people. and
should be disposed of either under the pro-
smpnon or homestead laws and sold IN reason
able quantities. and 90 none but actual occu-
pants. nj the minimum price established by the |
government. Whom grants OF tho public lands |
may he allowed necessary Tor tho encourage |
mont oi important public improvements, tho |
proceeds ui the sale oi such lands, and not the |
auds themselves. should hc So applied.
That the President of tho United States. An
lrcw johnson, IN exercising che power ui his /
lgh office iu resisting the aEgressions OF Con
srcss upuu the constitutional rights of the States
and the people. Is entitled 10 the gratitude of /
ho whole American people. ana IN behalf Of tho /
party We tender him our thanks Ter /
lis patriotic efforts IN that regard.
Upon tins platform the Democratic party ap-
zeal To- every patriot INCLUDING all the conscrNa-
i've clement. and all who desire 90 support the
Constitution and restore the Union, forgetting /
~ past differences Of opinion. 90 unite with as
q the present great struggle for the liberties of
he people; and that Co all such. 90 whatever i
iarN they may have heretofore hclungcA we
Ntend the right hand of fellowship. as,d hail /
VI such cooperating with as as iri,ais aud