Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-09-14
THE PLATFORM

gsnce. patriotism and discrimin 9 ting Justice o
The people; standipg upon tho e %GCR.ti.ution a
the Government. and the guarantee Of the lib
/ critics of the citizen and recognising the ques
| tons Of slavery and secession as having beef
for all nn time sG come By tho war T.
Constitutional Conventions ass embed. ant
never 70 be renewed or reagitated. do. with thu
return of peace demand. o.h.sAa
| l. Imne ediate restoration Of all the States Il
their rights in the Union under the Constitu-
tion and civil government Of the American
p:spi Amnesty for all past po,iec cal offenses, and
| States by their citizens. and the payment of thu
public debt Of the United States as rapidly al
). All money drawn from the people by tax
alton. except so much as is requisite for the pc.
| cessities of tho Government, economically ad.
| m:nistered, should be honestly applied to such
payment, and where the obligations Of the GOV
or The law under which they were issued doe.
not provide that they shall be paid in coin, they
ought. in right and justice. be paid in the law
| full money of the United States. .T9- 0TW
according to its real value, including Govern
ment bonds and other public securities.
8. One currency for the Government and the
people. the lsbsrer and the oficeholder, ths
6. Economy in the. administration of the
Government; the. reduction Of the standing
mems bureau, and all political instrumental
tiles designed to secIre ne gro supremacy; SIM
plifcation Of the system snd the d, con tinuance
Of inquisitorial boards for assessing, and col
taxation may be equalized and lessened the
credit of the Governplent and the currency
made good; the repeal of all enactments for
enrolling the State militia into National forces
f,~x fsrSxA xxf IA II fnr rrr.ttA
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.
I. Reform of abuses in the Adminis tratiou,
Ps esss S osss the S %
riahtfuI authority to, and the independence Of
the Executive and Judicial departments Of the
Government, the subordination of the militsry
to the civil power to the end that the usurpa-
tions Of Congress and the despotism of the
sword may cease.
s.. Equal rights and protection for natural:
ized and natiye.bo ci'izeps at hon. home an, and
which shall command the respect Of forei IN
powers .and furnish an example and encourage
ment to people struggling for national integ-
rity. constitutional liberty and individual
riphts. and the maintenance of the rights of
naturaliged citizens sgaipst the obsolete doc
trine of immutab 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 marked 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 ofthe Union under
the Constitution.
II has repeatedly violated that most sacred
pledge under which was rallied that noble vol
unteer army, which carried our flag to victory.
Instead Of restoring the Union, 1t has. 50 far
States in time Of peace to military despotism
and negro supremacy. 80
It has nullf6ed here the right of trial by jury.
It has abolished the .habeas corpus. that
It has overthrown the freedom of speech and
the press.
It has substituted arbitrary seizures and
arrests. and military trials and secret Star
Chamber inquisitions. fer constitutional tri-
bunals.
II has disregarded in time of peace the right
Of the people to be free from search and seiz-
1t has entered the post and telegraph Offices.
and even the private rooms of individuals,
and seized their. private papers and letters,
as required by the organic law.
1t has converted the American capitol into
: e has established system Of spies and OFF,
archy Of Europe would now dare TO resort.
1t has abolished the right Of appeal on inn
portant constitutional questions to the su-
preme judiciary tribunal, and threatens to
curtail or destroy its original jurisdiction,
which is irrevocably vested by the Constitu-l
ton. while the learn, d Chief Justice has been
subjected TO the most atrocious calumnies,
merely because he would not prostitute his
high office to the support Of the false and par
tisan charges preferred against the President.
Its corruption and extrayagance 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,
tional power Of appointment. even Of his own
Under its repeated assaults the pillars Of the
Government are rocking on their base, and
guraie its President we will meet as ssuhiect
ard conquered people amid the ruins af lib
erty and The scattered fragments Of the Consti-
tuition and We do declare aud resolve that
nss % II iAs gsSRs g ~ ne the BI 5.d
the privilege and trust Of sufrage have be- !
longed 70 the several States, and have been |
granted. regulated. and controlled exclusively |
By the political power q each state respect
rretext whatever, 10 deprive any State Of this |
right, or interfere with this exercise. Y na-
grant ufurpation of power which can nnd no /
warrant in The Constit1tion. and, u sanci,ored
ernment, and can only end In single certrsl-
ined, coufolidated goverDmeut, In which The Il
separate existence % the STATES viz Be entirely
absorbed. aud an unqualiled cesretism b |
estaehshea In place OF feecrsl Union of
Tbaivs resnrd the resons,rurtI,h acts Of /
Conrrels. 90 called. as usurustiona. u7cuuEfi-
tuheunl reFol olgtionaly and Foid, and that eur
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