Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1868-08-21
For Vice President,
FRANK P. BLAIR,
or MISsOURI.:
THE PLATFOKM.


Tho Democrats party ia Nali5nkl Convention
assembled reposing IL trust in the intelligence,
patriotism and discriminating justice OF the
people. standing upon tho Constitution as the
foundation and Limitation OF the powers Of the
government aud the guaranty Of The liberties Of
the citizen, aud recognizing the questions Of
slavery ard secession as having been settled for
all time % como by the war. or the voluntary
action Of the Southern States in constitutional
CONVENTIONS assembled. and never 10 be renewed
or re agitatod. do with the return Of peace de-
mandi
Immediate restoration Of all the States 10 their
rights in the Union. under the Constitution, and
ofeiyil government 20 the American people
Second Amnesty for all past political oaenses
and the regulation Of the elective franchise in
the states BY their citizens.
THIRD Payment Of the public debt II tho
United States rs rapidly rs practicable, all
moneys drawn from tho people by taxation. ex-
cept 20 much as i requisite for the necessities Of
the government economically administered. be-
ing boa stly applied 81 such payment, and,
where the obligations Of the government do not
expressly state upon their face, or the law un-
der which they were issued does not provide
that they shah be paid in coin. they ought, in
right and in justice. be paid IN the lawful money
81 the United States
fourth Equal taxation Of every species Of
property according 70 its real value. including
government bonds and other public securities.
fUth' One currency for the government and
the people. the iabOrer and the Oflice-hOlder,
the pensioner and the soldier. the producer and
the bondhOider.
Sirfl Economy IN the administratisn Of tho
government. tho reduction Of the standing army
and navy, tho abolition Of the Freedmens I'M
reau. and all political instrunentalities
de .gned TO secure negro supremacy; SIM
pi6catiOn Of the system and GiscOntinu-
ance Of inquisitorial modes Of assessing and col
Letting internal revenue, 20 that the burden Of
taxation may be oquaiized and lessened, the
credit Of 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 tard Tor revenue upon Foreign ina
ports and such equal taxation under the internal
revenue laws ~ will Afford incidental protection
to domestic manufactures and rs Wilt without
impairing the revenue. impose the least burden
upon aud best promote and encourage the great
industrial interests Of the country.
Scpcnh Reform Of abuses in the administra-
ton. the expulsion Of corrupt men from Office.
the abrogati0n Of useless Offices. the restoration
of rghtful authority 10 and the Independence Of
the Executive aad Judicial Departments Of the
government the subOrdinati0u Of tho military
60 the civil power. 10 the end that the asurpa-
tons Of Congress and the dospOtism Of the sword
Eigkih Equal rights and protection for natu-
rallied 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 to people struggling for national integrity
constitutional liberty and industrial rights, and
the maintenance Of the rights Of naturaliEed
citizens against the absolute doctrine of immu-
table allegiance and the claims Of foreign powers
TO punish them for alleged crime committed be-
Pend their jurisdiction. H...
In demanding these measures and reforms we
arraign the Radical party for lis disregard Of
right ami the unparalleled oppression and
tyranny which have marked its career After
the most solemn and unanimous pledge Of both
houses of Congress- 10 prosecute the war eXclu-
sYely for tho maintenance of the government
and the preservation Of The Union under the
Constitution. u has repeatedly violated the
mott sacred pledge under which alono WAS rail-
lied that noble volunteer army which carried
our hag 20 victory. Instead OF restoring the
Nfftfa l. Ia In "a u
and subjected ten States in time of profound
peace 10 military despotism and negro supTem-
ncG. u has nuliihod thore the right OF trial by
jury IL has abolished the hdbeds corpus, that
most sacred writ OF liberty Il has overthrow ]
thh freedom Of speech and the press: u has sub
sti5utod arbitrary seizures and arrests. and mil
itaTy trials, aud secret star chamber inquisi-
tiOns for the constitutional tribunals II has
disregarded in time of peace the right Of the
people TO be free from searches and seizures: IL
bRs entered the post and telegraph Offices, and
oven the private rooms of individuals. aud
seiEed their private papers and iesteus without |
any spccihc charge or notice Of affidavit. as re- |
quired by the organic law II has converted the |
American Capitol into "a Bastile; il has estab |
lished D. system Of spies and espionage 20 which i
no constitutional monarchy Of Europe would now /
dare taFesort IL has abolished the right Of APP /
peel " important constitutional questions 10 /
the supreme judicial tribunals and threatens 20 /
oUrlail destroy its original Jurisdiction which
is i'revoosby vested by the Constitution while 1
She learaod Chiei Justice has bsen subjected 90 4
this most atrOcious oalumhies merely because no /
would not prostitute his high Office to the sup
port OF the false and partisan charges preferred
against the President. Its corruption and ex-
travagance have exceeded Rnythiag known in
history and by its frauds and monopolies il has
nearly doubled the burden Of the debt created
by tho war. tt has stripped the President of
his constitutional power Of appointment. even
Of his own Cabinet. Under its repeated assaults
the pillars Of the government are rocking on |
their base. and should IL succeed in November
next and inaugurate its President, We will meet
as a subject and conquered people amid the |
ruins Of liberty and tho shattered fragments Of
tho Constitution.
And we do declare and resolve that ever since |
the people Of toe United States threw OF an
suhiecti0n 20 tae British Crown the privilege |
aud trust OF suffrage have belonged 10 the Sow
oral States, and have been granted. regulated
aud controlled exclusively by the political pow
er Of each state respectively, and that any at
tempt by Congress, on any preteXt whatever. 20
deprive any Staieot this right, oriuteriere with
its exercise. 10 4 Hagraut usurpation OF power
" hich can find no warrant Ia the Constitution. !
and. If sanctioned by the people. will subvort
our form Of government. and can only end in a
single centralized and consolidated government |
which the separate existence of the States will |
DO entirely absorbed. aud an uuqualihed des-
potism he established ia place Of a Federal
Union Of coeQual States; and that we regard
the reconstruction acts $50 called Of Congress
rs such are usurpations and unconstitutional,
That our soldiers and sailors who carried the
\ az Of our country 81 victory against most
gallant and determined foe, must ever be grate-
n their favor must be faithfully carried into ex-
,eutiOn.
That the public lands should bo distributed
Is widely as possible among the people, and
hould be disposed of either under the pre-
,mptiOn or homestead laws. and sold in reason
lblo quantities. and 10 none but actual oceu-
,Gnts. at the minimum price established by the /
When grants 81 the public lands
nay be allowed necessary for the encourage
nent of important public Improvements, the
proceeds of tho sale of such lands, aud not the |
ands themselves, should be 50 applied. 4
That The President Of The United States, An
rev Johnson. in exercising the power of his
igh % Ce IA resisting the sgErcssi0ns of Con
ress upon the constitutional rights of the States
nd the people. Is entitled 90 the gratitude OF |
be whole American people, snd an behalf % che
Democratic party We tender han our thanks fer ,
l. patriotic efforts in that regard.
Upon this platform the Democrats party ap- i
cal Ia every patriot. including allthe conserta-
We element. and all who desire 10 support tho I
enstitutOn and restore the Union. f0rrctting l
u past dit erenccs Of opinion. 60 unite with n
the present great struggle tor the liberties Of ,
lo people; and that 10 all such, % whatever /
arty they may have heretofore belonged. We I y
Ktend the right hand of fellowship. and hail
Il such Cooperating with as as Friends and {