Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-07-16
THE PLATFORM.


The Democratic party. in National Conven-
tion assembled reposing its trust in the intelli
cence, patriotism and discriminatin justice OF
The people; standing upon the Constitution as
the foundation and limitation OF the powers IL
the Government. and the guarantee Of the lib
critics of the citizen and recognizing the ques-
tions of slavery and secession as having been
settled for all time TO come by the war or the
voluntary action of the Southern States in
Constitutional Conventions assembled. and
return of peace, demand,
/. Immediate restoration Of all the States to
their rights in the Union under the Constitu-
tion and civil government Of the American
people. =,
2. Amnesty for all past political offenses, and
the regulation Of the elective franchise in the
States by their citizens. and tho payment Of the
public debt of the United States as rapidly as
practicable.
8. All money Drawn from the people by tax
alton, except so much as Is requisite for the ne
cessites of the Government, economically ad-
mnistered, should be honestly applied to such
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 in coin, they
ought, in right and justice, be paid in the law
ful money Of the United States. ~
4. Equal taxation ofevery 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 labcrer and the oifceholder, the
pensioner and the soldier. the producer and
&. Economy in the administration of the
Government; the reduction of the standing
army and navy; the aboishment of the freed
mems bureau, and all political instrumental
tiles designed to secure negro supremacy; SIM
plfication of the system aud the discontinuance
of inquisitorial boards for assessing. and col
lectiDg internal revenue, so that the burden OF
taxation may be equalized and lessencd; the
credit of the Government and the currency
made good the repeal of all enactnents Tor
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 best promote
and encourage the great industrial interests OF
the country.
Z. Reform of abuses in the Administration,
the expulsion of cerfupt men from Offices. the
abrogation of useless Offices, the restoration of
righttul authority to. and the independence OF
the Executive and Judicial departments Of the
Government. the subordination OF the military
to the civil power TO the end that the usufpa-
tions of Congress and the despOtism of the
sword may cease.
ized and native-born citizens at home and
abroad: an assertion of American nationality.
which shall command the respect oil foreixn
powers and furnish an example and encourage
rity. constitutional liberty and individual
riP hts, and tho maintenance of the rights of
naturalzed citizens against the absolute 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 and
tyranny which have msrked its career, after
the most solemn and unanimous pledge OF beth
Houses of Congress to prosecute the war ex-
clusively for the maintenance OF the govern
ment and the preservation OF the Union under
the Constitution.
1t has repeatedly violated that most sacred
pledge under which was rallied that noble vol
unteer army, which carried our nag to victory.
Instead Of restoring the Union. 1t has, SO far
as in its power. dissolved it. and subjected ten
States in time of peace to military despotism
and negro supremacy.
ii has nullified here 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
II has substituted arbitrary seizures and
arrests. and military trials and secret Star
Chamber inquisitions, for constitutional tn
it has dsregarded in time of peace the. right
Of the people to be free from search and seiz-
ures.
Il has entered the post and telegraph Offices,
and even the private rooms Of indiyiouals,
and seized their private papers and letters,
without any specification OF notice oil aihdavlt,
as required by the organic law.
1t has converted the American capitol into
bastile.
II has established a system of spies and Off
cial espionage TO which no constitutional moh-
archy Of Europe wonld now dare to resort.
II has abolished the right Of appeal on I'M
portant constitutional questions to the su-
preme judiciary tribunal, and threatens to
curtail or destroy its original iurisdicuon,
which Is irrevocably vested BY the Constitu'
ton. while the LEARNED Chief Justice has been
subjected 70 the most atrocious calumnies,
merely because he would not prostitute his
high office 10 the support Of the false and par
tisan charges preferred against the President.
Its corruption and extravagance have ex-
ceeded anything known in history. and by its
frauds and monopolies il has nearly doubled
the burden Of debt created during the war.
II has stripped tn President Of his eonstitu-
tional power Of appointment, even Of bis own
Under its repeated assaults the pillars Of the
Government are rocking on their base, and
should Il succeed in November next and inau. /.
gurate its President We viii meet as subject
and conquered people amid the ruins Of lib
eriy and the scattered fragments Of the Consti-
tuition and We do declare and resolve that
ever since the people Of the United states
threw of all subsection q the British Crown
the privilege and trust OF suffrage have be-
longtd % the several States. and have been
rranied. regulated. and controlled exclusively
" the political power Il each State respcci-
lively, and any attempt by tonfretss On .n9
rretcrt whatever. to deprive any State cf this
rirht. or interfere with this exercise. i a IA
rrant usurpation of power which can find no
warra-f in the Constitution. and. II sanctioned
- re people. will subrcrt our form Of Gov
e-rmrnf. and can only end IN q single central
iscd- consolidated Eoyernmcut, in which the
srrrrsie existence of the states vii be entirely
Ii--I.-s anil an unqualified despotism be
ss,shiis6sS in place Of q Federal Union Of
eSfh.s eSfrih - r,rard The reosnrtrss.sa acts of