Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-07-31
THE PLATFORM.

The Democratic party. in National Conven-
tion assembled. repo.ing its trust in the inteli
the people: standing upon the Constitution as
the foundation and limitation of the powers 81
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
never to be renewed or reagtated; do. with the
l. Imnediate RESTORATION Of all the States to
their rights in the Union under the Constitu-
ton 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 the payment Of the
public debt Of the United States as rapidly as
practicable
3. All money crawn from the people by tax
alton, except much as is requisite for the me-
cessities of the Government. economically ad-
m;nistered, 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 wore issued does
not provide that they shall be paid IL coin. they
ought in rsat tts and g,tscs BE- paid in the law
4. Equal taxation of every species ofrroperty
according to its real value, including Govera-
ment bonds. and other public securities.
5. One currency for the Government and the
people, the Iaborer and the oficebolder, the
pensioner and the soldier, the producer and
The bondholder.
s. Economy in the administration of the
Government; the reduction of the standing
army and navy the abolishment of the freed
mems bureau, and all political instrumental
tiles designed to sc cure negro supremacy; sim
plifcation Of the system and the di.continuance
Of inqusitorial boards for assessing and COL
lectipg internal revenue, so that the burden of
taxation may be equalized and lossened the
credit of the Government and the currency
made good the repeal of all enactments for
IN m National forces
in time of peace n tariff for revenue upon
foreign imports. and such equal taxation under
the internal revenue laws as viii afford incl
dental protection to domestic manufactures,
and as will, without impairing the revenue,
impose the least burden upon and bestpromote
and encourage the great industrial interests of
the country. ~ l.EH
4. Reform Of abuses in the Administration,
the expulsion of .errupt men from offices the
abropation of useless 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 usurpa-
tions of Congress and the despotism of the
sword may cease.
lied and native-b born citizens Mt home and
abroad an assertion OF American nationality,
which shall command the respect of foreisn
powers and furnish an example p ana encpqrase ;ss
rity, constitutional liberty and indi ividual
rights, and the maintenance of the rights of
naturalized 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 arrsign the Radical party for its disregard
of rieht, 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 of the Union under
the Constitution.
1t has repeatedly violated that most sacred
pledge under which was allied that noble vol
unteer army. which carried our flag to victory.
Instead Of restoring the Union. 1t has, SO far
as in its power. dissolved 1t, and subjected ten
States In time of peace to military despotism
IL has nullifed there 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
bunals. =.
of the people to be free from search and seis-
ures.
and even the private rooms ot and Isttsrs
without any specification or notice OF aihdaVit'
as required By the organic law.
It has converted the American capitol into
bastile.
IL has established system Of spies and OFF,
cial espionage to which no constitutional moH-
archy Of Europe would now dare to resort
It has abolished the right Of appeal on i'm
portant constitutional questions TO the su-
preme Judiciary tribunal. and threatens 70
curtail or destroy its original jurisdiction,
which Is irrevocably vested by the Constitu
| ton. while the learn,d a Chief Justice has been
subjected TO the most atrocious calumnies,
merely because he would not prostitute his
high Office 70 the support Of the islss and par
tisan charges preferred against the President.
Its corruption and extravagance have ex-
cecded anything known in history, and by rs
| frauds and monopolies Il has nearly doubled
| the burden Of debt created during the war.
II has stripped tn President Of his constitu-
tional power Of app ointment. even Of his own
Undsr its repeated assaults the pillars Of the
| Govcrnment are rocking on their baee, and
should Il succeed in November next and inau-
eurate its President We will meet as a subject
| and conQuere people amid the ruins Of lib
/ erty and the scattered fragments OF the Consti-
| tuition: and We De declare and resolve that
ever since the people OF the United States
threw Of all subiection . The Britsh crovn
| longcd 70 the several States. and have been
| granted. reguiated. and controlled exclusively
\ b the poliiical power Cf each STATE respect-
| lively. and any attempt By CONGRESS. on any
ssls s.rsT: sh aIss ,, s s2.SSs sss. i "a
| rrant usurpation of JoEer which can tnd n
| warrant in the ConEtitntion. ara. II sanctioned
| hy the people. VIII zubFert our form Of Eor-
srnmoni, and can only end IN sinfle eer tral-
9erarais sxiIisnos of he States viii be gnfirsly
/ AFFORDED. and an urquAhfed dofrQtism be
sstablishsd in place 81 fsdcrsi Vnion q
kss 'i- We rsrrrd ths resonstrsctits sets Of
| conErtst, so-caled. as iuEurpstons, 1noonfti-