Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1868-08-14
FRANK P. BLAIR,
OF MISSOURI.


THE FhAIFOhM.
The Democratic party in National Convention
assembled. TepOsing its trust in the intelligence,
patriotism and discriminating Justice Of the
people. standing upon the Constitution as the
foundation aud Limitation OF the powers Of the
government, and the guaranty OF the liberties OF
the citizen. and recognizing the questions Of
slavery and secession NJ having been settled for
ell time b. come by tho war, OF the voluntary
action Of the Southern States in constitutional
conventions assembled. and never 10 be renewed
OF re-agitatod. do with the return Of peace de-
mand
rights in the Union under the Constitution, and
Of civil government 90 the American people.
Second Amnesty for all past political ofTenses
and the regulation Of the elective franchise in
the states by their citizens.
Third Payment Of tho public debt Of tho
United States rs rapidly as practicable, all
moneys drawn from the people by taxation, ex-
cept much rs il requisite for tho necessities Of
the government economically administered be-
ing honestly applied 10 such payment and
where the obligations Of the government do not
expressly state upon their face or the law I'M
der which they were issued docs not provide
that they shall be paid in coin, they ought in
right and in Justice. be paid In the lawful money
Of the United States.
Fourth Equal taxation uf every species of
property according 10 its real value, including
government bonds and other public securities
fUth: One currency for the government and
the people, the labOrer and the ofice-hOlder
the pensi0ner and the soldier. abe producer and
the bondholder.
Sirth. Economy in tho administration Of the
government. the reduction Of the standing army
and navy, the abolition OF the Freedmen's Fal-
reau, and all political instrumentalities
designed 20 secure negro supremacy; sim
piibcAton OF the system and discOntinu-
ance Of inquisitorial modes Of assessing and col
lecting internal revenue. so that The burden Of
taxation may bo cqualiZed and lessened, the
credit Of thegoyernmont and the currency made
good. the repeal Of ali enactments for enrolling
the state militia into national forces in time Of
peace, ana thrih Tor revenue upon foreign inn
ports, and such equal taxation under the internal
revenue laws ~ viii afford incidental protection
10 domestic manufactures, and as will. without
'mpairing the revenue. impose the least burden
upon and host promote and encourage the great
industrial interests Of the country.
SeDenfh. Reform Of abuses in the ndminstra-
ti0n, the expulsion Of corrupt mon from Office,
the abrOgation Of useless Offices, the restoration
of rightful authority to and the independence of
the Executive aad Judicial Departments of tho
government, the sub0rdinatiOn Of the military
30 the civil power. 10 the end that the usurpa-
tions Of Congress and the dcspotism of the sword
Eighth Equal rights and protection for natu-
rallied and native born citizens at home and
abroad. the assertion Of American nationality
which shall command tho respect Of foreign
powers. and furnish an example and encourage
mcnt To people struggling for national integrity,
constitutional liberty and industrial rights, and
the maintenance Of tho rights Of naturalzed
citizens against the absolute doctrine Of immu-
table allegiance and the claims Of foreign powers
20 punish them for alleged crime committed be-
y0nd their jurisdiction.
In demanding these measures and reforms We
arrRign the Radical party for its disregard of
right and tho unparalleled oppression and
tyranny which have marke its career After
the most solemn and unanimous pledge Of both
houses Of Congress 10 prosecute tho war eXelu-
sively for tho maintenance Of the government
and the preservation Of the Union under the
Constitution, it has repeatedly violated the
most sacred pledge under which alone was raj
lied that noble volunteer army which carried
our Gag 20 victory. Instead of restoring the
NJ = lNaHf
and subjected ten States in timo Of profound
peace 20 military despotiSm and negro suprcm-
acy. II has nulihed there the right of trial by
jury IL has abolished the thabcas corpus that
most sacred writ of liberty IL has overthrow
the freedom Of speech and the press; il has sub
stituted arbitrary seizures and arrests aud mil
itary trials, and secret star chamber inquisi- |
tons for the constitutional tribunals il has |
digregardcd In time Of peace the right of the
people 90 Doc tree from searches and seizures; il
has entered the post and telegraph Offices, and |
even the private rooms of individuals, and |
seized their private papers and letters without |
any specific charge or notice Of affidavit ms re- |
CURED by the organic law ID has converted the /
American Capitol into "A llastle; 10 has egtab- |
lishcd "a system of spies and espionage 10 which /
no constitutional monarchy Of Europe would now /
dare to resort it has abolished the right Of nm
peal ON important constitutional questions 10 /
the supreme judicial tribunals and threatens TO /
cultail or destroy its original jurisdiction which
IS irrcyocably vested by the Constitution while
the learned ChicfJustico has been subjected TO
the most ntrOciOus calumnies merely because he
would not prostitute his high Office 10 the sup
port of the false and partisan charges preferred
against the President. lis corruption and OK
trayaganco have exceeded anything known in
history: and by its frauds and monopol es il has |
nearly doubled the burden Of the debt created
by the war. 10 has stripped the President of
his constitutional power Of appointment even |
lf his own Cabinet. Under its repeated assaults |
The pillars Of tho government are rocking on /
heir base. and should 10 succeed in November |
next and naugurate its President we will meet
~ n subject and conquered people amid the |
ruins Of liberty and the shattered fragments of
he Constitution.
And we do declare and resolve, that ever since
he people Of the United States threw OF an |
objection 20 the British Crown tho privilege !
'rhl States, and have been granted. regulated
md controlled exclusively by the political pow
" OF each state respectively, and that any at
empt by Congress, on any protext whatcvcr. 10 | I
lepriys any State Of this right or interfere with
e exercise, IS a fragrant usurpatiou of power ,
'hleh can hnd no warrant In the Constitution. !
md ~ sanctioned oy tho people. " IA subvert
ur torm OF goveHmont, and can only end in n / {
ingle centralized and consolidated Government. ,
which the separate existence of the States will
q entirely absorbed aud an unqualified des- s
otism Dc established in place of a Federal
lnion of coequal States; and that We regard ,
be reconstruction acts ESQ called Of Congress-
3 such are usurpahons and Unconstitutional
evolutionary and void.
That our soldiers and sailors who carried tho
az of cur country 20 victory against "A most | .
allant and determined foe, must ever be CRATE I
their favor must be faithfully carried into OK
sutton.
That the public lands should be distributed
widely rs possible among the people. and {
lould be disposed ~ either under the pre- I
nption OF homestead laws, and sold in reason 1
bio quantities and 10 none but actual occu- =
ants. nj the minimum price established by the q
When grants Of the public lands | Z
ay be allowed necessary for the encourage | J.
cnt Of important public improvements. the | q
rocoods Of the sale Of such lands and not the | q
nds themselves, should be 50 applied. n
That the President Of the United States An :
ew johnson, m exercising the power Of hiss e
gh Office IN resisting the aggressions of Con b
ess upon the constitutional rights Of the States :,
"a the people. Is entitled 20 the gratitude of =
e whole American people. and ian behalf Of The | y
omocrntic party VIC tondcr Hmm our thanks for | Il
2 patriotic efforts in that regard. =
Upon this platform the Democratic party ap- =
al 90 every patriot. including all the consurVu- q
re element and all who desire 20 support the | N
and restore the Union, forgetting | :,
past differences of opinion. o. unite with us -
the present great struggle Tor the liberties AZ | %
q people: and that 60 all such, GO whatever Il
riy they may have heretofore belonged, We | q
tend the right hand of fellowship, ard hail -
gurh cn-opcratinE with as us friends and | OF