The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1868-07-17
THE PLATFORM,
Upon Which Every Honest Man
i'm the Land Can Stand.

ton at New York:
The National Democratic party, in
National Convention assembled, repos-
ing its trust in the intelligence, patriot
ism and discriminating justice Of the
people, standing upon the Constitution
as the foundation and limitation of the
powers of the Government and the
guarantee of the liberties of the citi-
liens, and recognizing the question 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 never to be renewed
or agitated, do, with the return of
peace, demand
1st. The immediate restoration of all
the States to their rights i'll the Union
under the Constitution, and of civil
government to the American people.
Cd. Amnesty for all past political Of
lenses, and the regulation of the cleo
tive franchise in the States by the citi-
zens, and the payment of the public
debt of the United States as rapidly as
practicable.
3D.. All money drawn from the peo-
pie by taxation, except so much as is re-
uulSllc lOI tIC llCCtSSlllCS VI tilC WV
eminent economically administered to
be honestly applied to such payment,
and, where the obligations of the Gov
eminent dc moi 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 to be paid in the law
full money of the United States. (Thun-
dcrs of applause.)
4th. Equal taxation of every species
of property, according to its real value,
including Government bonds and other
public securities. (Renewed cheering,
and cries Of 'Rcad it again.")
9TH. One currency for the Govern
ment and the people, the laborer and
the otiic holder, the pensioner and the
soldier, the producer and the bond
holder. Great cheering, and cries Of
read it again.)
The fifth resolution was again read
and again checrcd.
9th. Economy in the administration
of the government; the reduction of
the standing army and navy; the abol-
ishment of the Freedmens Bureau,
(great chcers) and all political instru-
mcntalities designed to secure negro
supremacy the simplitication Of the
system and discontinuance of the in
Quisitoral modes of assessing and COL
Letting internal revenue, so that the
burden of taxation may be equalized
and lessencd, the credit of the Govern
ment and the currency made good. the
repeat of all ennctments for enrolling
the State militia into national forces in
time of peace, and 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 burden upon, and best promote
and encourage the great industrial in
terests of the country.
18th. The reform of abuses in the adj
ministration, the expulsion of corrupt
men from Office, the abrogatiOn of use
less offices, the restoration of rightful
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 usurpations Of Con-
gross and the despotism Of the sword
may cease.
Sth. Equal rights and protection for
naturaliZed and native-bOrn citizens at
home and abroad. The assertion OF
American nationality, which shall COM
mand the respect of foreign powers,
furnish an example and encouragement
to people struggling for national integ-
rity, constitutional liberty and indi-
vidual rights, and the maintenance of
the rights of naturaliZed citizens
against the absolute doctrines of i'm
mutable allegiance, and the claim of
foreign powers to punish them for al
legged crime committed beyond their
Jurisdiction. (Applause.)
In demanding these measures and re-
forms we arraign the Radical party for
the disregard Of right, and the unpar-
allelcd oppression and tyranny which
have marked its career.
After the most solemn and unani-
nous pledge of both Houses of Con-
gress to prosecute the war exclusively
for the maintenance of the Govern.
mcnt and the preservation of the Union
under the Constitution, it has repeated.
} ly violated that most sacred pledge un.
der which was rallied that noble volun.
teer army which carried our flag tC
victory.
Instead of restoring the Union, it has
so far as was in its power, dissolved it
and subjected ten States in time OF
profound peace to military despotisn
and negro supremacy.
1t has nullified the right of trial by
: jury.
1t has abolished the writ of habeas
corpus-that most sacred writ of liberty
IT has overthrown the freedom OF
speech and of the press.
1t has substituted arbitrary seizures
and arrests and military trials and Sc,
, cret star-chamber inQuisitions for con.
stitutional tribunals.
+ 1t has disregarded in time of peace
4 the right of the people to be free from
G search and seizure.
: 1t has entered the post and telegraph
offices, and even the private rooms o.
individuals, and seized their private pa
S pers and letters, without any specitica
= ton or notice or affidavit, as required
by the organic law.
1t has converted the American CAPT
tol into bastile.
1t has established a system of spies
and official espionage to which no con
stitutional monarchy of Europe WoulC