American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1868-08-08
PLA II FORM
OF THE
NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY

The Democratic Iarty, IN NalOna
Convention assembled, reposing its trus'
in the intelligence, patriotism and dis
eliminating justice Of the people, stand
ing upon the Constitution AS the ioundA
ton and limitation of The powers Of the
government, and the guarantee of the
liberties of the citizen, and recognizing
the questions of slavery and secession as
having been settled for all time 10 come
by The war or the voluntary action of the
Southern States in constitutional coryen-
lions assembled, and never to- be renewed
or reagltated. do, with the return OF
peace, demand:
FIRsT-Inmediate restoration of all
the States to their rights in the Union
under the Constitution, and of civil gov
ernment to the American people.
SECoND-Amnesty for all past political
otfenses, and the regulation of the elect
i've franchise in the States by their citi
zens.
THrRD-Payment Of the public debt
OF the United States as rapidly as prac
ticable. all money drawn from he people
hg taxation except SO much as is requis-
tie for the necessities of the government,
economically administered, being applied
TO such payment; and where the obliga,
lions Of the government do not expressly
state upon their face, or where the law
under which they issued does not pro
vide, that they shall be paid in coin,
they ought, in right and in justice, to be
paid in the lawful money Of the United
States.
FouRrH-Equal taxation Of every spe
cies of properly according to its real
value, including government bonds and
other public securities.
FIFTH-One currency for the govern.
nent and the people, the laborer and
Office holder, the pensioner and the sol
der, the producer and the bond holder.
SIXTH Economy in the administration
Of the government; the reduction Of the
standing army and navy; the abolition
of the Freedmen'S Bureau aud all poi.i-
cal instrumentali.i.s designed to secure
negro supremacy ; simpliication Of tie
system and discontinuance Of linguistic.
rial modes of assessing and collecting
internal revenue, SO that the burthen Of
taxation may be equaIized and essened
the credit Of the government and the
currency made good ; the repeal Of all
enac,ments for enrolling State militia into
national forces, in Time of peace n tariff
for revenue upon foreign imports, and
such equal taxation under the internal
revenue laws as will afford incidental
protection to domestic manufactures, and
as will, without impairing the revenue,
impose the least burthen upon. and best
promote and encourage, the great indus.
trial interests Of the country.
E,ENrH-Reform OF abuse in The ad
ministrauon; The expulsion OF Corrup'
men from office the a5rogation Of use,
less Offices; the restoration OF rightfu.
authority to, and the independence Of
the Executive and Judicial department,
Of the government; the subordinarion Of
the military to the civil power, to the
end that the usurpations of Congress and
the despotism Of the sword may cease.
ErGHTH-Equal rights and protection
for naturalized aud native born citizens.
at home and abroad the assertion OF
American nationality, which shall com
mand the respect Of foreign powers, and
furnish an example aad encouragement
to people struggling for national integri.
ty, constitutional liberty and individual
rights, and the maintenance of the rights
of natHralised citizens against the abso.
mte doctrine of immutabIe allegiance and
the claims Of foreign powers to punish
them for alleged crimes committed be-
You'd their jurisdiction.
In demanding these measures and re
forms, we arralgn the Radical party for
hts disregard of right and the unparalleIl-
ed oppressi n and tyranny which have
marked its career, after the most solemn
and unanimous pledge of both houses Of
Congress to prosecute the war exclusive
ly for the maintenance Of the govern
ment and the preservation of Inc Union
and the Constitution. 1t has repeatedly
violated that most sacred pledge, under
which was rallied that noble volunteer
army which carried our flag to victory
Instead Of restoring the Union, it has, SO
tar as in its power. dissolved it, and sub
rcted ten States, in times of profound
peace, to military despotism aud negro
supremacy. 1t has nullfed thu frght of
Trial BY jury; it has abolished the kdjeas
corpus, that most sacred writ Of liberty
II has overthrow the freedom of speech .
and press ; it has substituted arbitrary |
seizures and arrests, and military trials, /
and secret s,ar>ehamber inquisitions for .
constitutional tribunals it has disregard
el, in time Of peace, lac right Of the peo-
pie to be free from searches and seizures;
i has entered the post and telegraph .
Offices, and even the private rooms Of in
dlyiduals, and seized their private papers
and letters, without any specification OF
notice of affidavit as required by the or
ganlc law; it has converted the Ameri-
can Capitol into bastie it has eslsb-
ished system Of spies and oEicial espi-
onage to which no constitutional monarchy
Of Europe would dare to resort i! has
abolished the right Of appeal on import
ant constitutional questions to the su-
preme judicial tribunal. and threatens to
cnriail or destroy its original Jurisdiction,
which is irrevocably vested by the Con.
the learned Chief Justice .
has been subjected to great and slrocious .
merely because be would not /
4 4 L