Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 186?-1872, 1868-07-10
DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM.


and discriminating justice of the peo-
pie; standing upon the Constitution
as the foundation and limitation of
the powers of the Government and
the guarantee of tho liberties of the
citizen; and recognizing the questions
of slavery and secession as having
been settled for all time to come by
the war or the revolutionary action
of the Southern States in Constitu-
tional Conventions assembled and
never to be renewed or reagitated; do,
with the return of peace, demand,
i. Immediate restoration of all the
States to their rights in the Union
under the Constitution and civil gov
ernment of the American people.
9. Amnesty for all past political Of
fenses and the regulation of the cleo
tive franchise in the States by their
citizens, and payment of the public
debt of the United States rs rapidly as
practicable.
8. All money drawn from the peo-
pie by taxation except so much as is
requisite for the necessities of the
Government, economically admins
tered, should be honestly applied to
such payment, and where the obliga-
tons of the Government do not eX-
pressly state upon their face, or the
law under which they were issued
does not provide, that they shall be
paid in coin, they ought in right and
Justice be paid in the lawful money of
the United States. [Thunders of APP
plausc.
4. Equal taxation of every species
of property according to its real value,
including Government bonds and
other public securities. Renewed
cheering, and cries of "Read itagain."1
5. One currency for the government
and the people, the laborer and the
of1ice-holder, the pensioner and the
bond-holder. [Great cheering, and
cries of "Read it again."1
The fifth resolution was again and
again cheered.
6. Economy in the administration
of the Government; the reduction of
the standing army and navy; the alb
olishment of the freedmen's bureau
[great cheers and all political instru-
mentalities designed to secure negro
supremacy; simplification of the sys-
tenn and the discontinuance of inquis-
itorial boards for assessing and collect
ing internal revenue, SO that the bur-
den of taxation may be equaliZed and
lcsscned; the credit of the Govern
ment and the currency made good;
the repeal of all enactments for en-
actments for enrolling the State mil
tia into National forces in time Of
peace; tariff for revenue upon for
cign imports, and such equal taxation
under the internal revenue laws as
will afford incidental protection to
domestic manufacturers, and as the
least burden upon and best promote
and encourage the great industrial in
tcrests of the country.
7. Reform of abuses in the Admin
istration, the expulsion of corrupt men
from offices, the abrogation of useless
offices, the restoration of rightful au-
thority to, and the independence of
the Executive and Judicial depart
mcnts of the Government, the subor-
dination of the military to the civil
power to the end that the usurpations
of Congress and the despotism of the
sword may cease.
8. Equal rights and protection for
naturalized and native-born citizens
at home and abroad; an assertion of
American nationality, which shall
command the respect Of foreign pow
ers, and furnish an example and en-
enlargement to people struggling for
national integrity, constitutional lib
erty and individual rights, and the
maintenance of the rights ofncw tral-
lied citizens againstthe absolute doc
trine of imminitable allegiance, and
the claims of foreign powers to pun
ish them for alleged crime committed
beyond their jurisdiction. Applause.
In demanding these measures and
reforms we arraign the Radical party
for its disregard of right, and the UNI
PARALLEL oppression and tyranny
which have marked its career, after
the most solemn and unanimous
pledge of both houses of Congress to
prosecute the war exclusively for the
maintenance of the government and
the preservation of the Union under
the Constitution.
1t has repeatedly violated that most
sacred pledge under which was rallied
that noble volunteer army which car
ricd our flag to victory.
Instead of restoring the Union, il
has so far as in its power dissolved il,
and subjected ten States in time of
peace to military despotism and ne
gro supremacy.
1t has nullitied there the right of
trial by jury.
1t has abolished the habeas corpus,
that most sacred writ of liberty.
1t has overthrown the freedom of
speech and the press.
1t has substituted arbitrary seizures
and arrests, and military trials and
secret Star Chamber inqusitions, for
constitutional tribunals.
1t has disrcgarded in time of peace
the right of the people to be free from
search and seizures.
1t has entered the post and tcle-
graph offices, and even the private
rooms of individuals, and seized their
private papers and letters, without
;, any specification or notice of ailiida-
Wit, rs required by the organic law.
1t has converted the American cap
itol into n Bastile.
1t has established system of spies
and official espionage to which no
constitutional monarch of Europe
would now dare to resort.
IL has abolished the right of appeal
on important constitutional questions
to the supreme Judiciary tribunal,
and threatcns, TO cIUtail or destroy it,
original Jurisdiction, which is irrcv-
ocably vested by the Constitution,
while the learned Chief Justice has
been subjected 10 the most atroci-
Gus calumnies, merely because he
would not prostitute his high Office to
the support of the false and partisan
charges preferred against the Presi-
dent.
Its corruption and extravaganza
have exceeded anything known i'm
history, and by its frauds and mono
poles il has nearly doubled the bur-