Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-09-03
THE PLATFORM.

tion assembled. repOlng lts trust IN ING intehi
gence. patriotism and discrimn ating justice Of
the people: standing upon the Constitution as
the foundation and limitation OF the powers 81
the Goytrnment, and the guarantee of the lib
critics Of the citizen and recogniIiSng S tne ques,
settled for all time to come by the war or the
voluntary action Of the Southern, States in
Constitutional Conventions assembled, and
never to be renewed or reagtated; do, with the
return of peace, demand,
1. Immediate restorst ton Of all the States to
their rights in the Union under the Constit tu-
tion and civil government OF the American
?. Amnesty for all past political offenses, and
the regulation of the elective franchise IN the
States by their citizens. and the payment Of the
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 ne
cassities Of the Government, economically ad-
payment, and where the obligations of the Gov
ernment do not expressly state upon their face,
or the law under which they were issued does
not provide that they shall be paid II coin, they
ought, in right and justice, be paid in the law
ful money Of the United States.
4. Equal taxation of every species OF property
according to its real value, including Govern
ment bonds. and other public securities. =,
5. One currency for the Government and the
people, the laborer and the ofceholder, the
pensioner and the soldier. the producer and
the bondholder.
q. Economy IN the aum1ulsIrdIiOu VI
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
plifcation of the system and the discontinuance
Of inquisitorial boards for assessing, and coli
lectipg internal revenue, so that the burden OF
taxation may be equalised and lessened the
credit of the Government and the currency
made good the repeal of all enactments for
enrolling the-State militia into National forces
in time of peace a tariff for revenue upon
foreign imports, and such equal taxation under
the internal revenue laws as will afford incl
dental protection TO domestic manufactures,
and as will, without impairing the revenue,
impose the least burden upon and hest promote
aud encourage the great industrial interests OF
7. Reform of abuses in the Administration,
the expulsion of .erfupt men from oiiiees. the
abroeation of useless offices, the restoration OF
rigbtful authority to, and the independence OF
the Executive and Judicial deparsments ~ .ne
to the civil power to the end that the usurpa-
tions of Congress and the despotism OF the
sword may cease.
lied and native-born citizens at home and
abro ad ; an assertion of American nationality,
which shall command the respect oil iorelsn
powers .and furnish an example and encourage
ment to people struggling for nationa, integ,
rity, constitutional liberty and indir iridual
rights. and the maintenance of the rights OF
naturalized citizens against the obsolete doc
trine 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 ana
tyranny which have marked its career, after
the most solemn and unanimous pledge OF betn
Houses of Congress TO prosecute the war ex-
clusively for the maintenance OF the govern
ment and the preservation ofthe Union under
II has repeatedly violated that most sacred
pledge under which was rallied that noble vol
unteer arms. which carried our flag to victory.
Instead Of restoring the Union. it has. SO far
as in its power. dissolved it. and subjected ten
States in time of peace to military despotlsm
and negro supremacy.
II has nullifed there the right of trial byjury.
1t has abolished the habeas corpus, that
most sacred writ of liberty.
1t has overthrown the freedom of speech and
the press.
arrests, and military trials and secret Star
Chamber inquisitions, for constitutional tn
II has disregarded in time of peace the, right
of the people to be free from search and seiz-
II has entered tho most and telegraph offices.
and even the private rooms OF indiylouals.
and seized their. private papers and letters
without any specification or notice OF aiDdavlt,
as required by the organic law.
1t has converted the American capitol into
bastile.
:
cial espionage TO which no constitutional moh-
archy Of Europe would now dareto resort.
1t has abolished the right OF appeal on I'M
portant constitutional questions 10 the su-
preme Judiciary tribunal, and threatens 10
curtail or destroy its original iurisdiction,
which IL irrovocably vested by the Constitu
ton. while the learned Chief Justice has been
subjected to the most strocious caumnies,
merely because he would not prostitute his
high Office to the support Of the false and par
tisan charges preferred against the President.
Its corruption and extravagance have ex-
ceedsd anything known in history, ana oS iti
the burden OF debt created during the war.
II has stripped the President of his constitu-
tional power Of app ointment. even OF his own
Under its repeated assaults the pillars Of the
Government are rocking on their base, and
should IL succeed in November next and inau-
qurate its President We will meet as subject
and conquered people amid the ruins Of lib
erty and the scattered fragments Of the Consti-
fuiion. and We do declare and resolve that
ever since the people OF the United States
threw of all subsection 20 the British Crown
the privilege and trust OF suffrage have be-
lopred 10 the several States. and have been
granted, regulated. and controlled exclusively
hy the political power a each state respect-
lively. and any attempt BY CongIess, on .hy any
pretext whatevcr. 10 deprive any state OF THIS
right or interfere with this exercise. = na-
grant usurration Of power which can hnd no
warrant in the Constitution. and, u sanctioned
By the people. will subTert our form OF Foy-
eminent, and can only end in q single certral-
ircd. consolidated rQvernmcut. N whtcn tne
separate cxistencs OF the States viii be entireiy
absorbed. and an unqualifed de.retism oe
sstahlishea IN place Of feaerai Union o.
That We rseard the rccunstructlta acts Of
Congress. so-called- as fusurpatlons. rnconsu-
s,iss ssors .ss sosa ~ M II our our
country to victory arainEt most rE.lant and
determined foe, must ever Be gratefully re-