The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-09-18

example and announcement to people struggling ior
national integrity, constitutional liberty. and indl-
vidual rights; and the maintenance OF the rights Oh
naturazed citizens against the obsolete doctrine OF
immutable allegiance, and the claims Of foreign pow
ers to punish them for alleged crime mmitted be-
yond their Jurisdiction.
In demanding these measures and re orms we or.
ragn the Radical party for Its disregard Of right and
the unparalleled oppression and tyranny which have
marked It's career.
After the most solemn and unanimous pledge OF
both Houses of Congress to prosecute the war tI.
clusvely for the maintenance Of the government and
the preservation OF the Union under the consttu-
ton, 1t has repeatedly violated that most sacred
pledge under which alone was rallied that noble
volunteer army which carried our flag to victory.
Instead Of restoring the Union 1t has, so far as isin
Its power dissolved It, and subjected ten States In
time of profound peace to military despotism and
negro supremacy; It has nulifed there the right OF
trial by jury; 1t has abolished the habeas corpus,
that most sacred writ of liberty; 1t has overthrowi
the freedom Of speech and the press; 1t has subsd
tuted arbitrary seizures, and arrests, and military
trials, and secret star chamber inqUaiions Tor the
constitutional tribunals; 1t has dsregarded IN time Of
peace the right of the people to be free from searches
and seizures; It has entered the post and tee raph
Offices and even the private rooms Of individuals,
and seized their private papers and letters, without
any specific charge OF notice Of affidavit required
by the organic law; 1t has converted the Ameri-
capitol intoa Basle; it has established System
of spies and official espionage to which no cohsiu-
tona monarchy of Europe would now dare TO resort;
1t hns abolished the right Of appeal on important
constitutional questions to the supreme judicial tri'
bunal, and threatens to curta or destroy its origi-
nal jurisdiction, which Is rrevocsby vested by the
constitution while the learned Chief Justice has been
subjected to the mot atrocious calumnies, merely
because he would not prostitute his high Office to the
support OF the false and partisan charges preferred
against the President; Its corruption aud eItrava-
gance have exceeded anything known n history,
and by its frauds and monopphes 1t has nearly
doubled the bucden of the debt created by the war;
has stripped the President Of bis constitutional power
Of appointment, oven OF his own Cabinet. Uhder
its repeated assaults the pillars Of the govern
ment are rocking on their base, and should 1t suo-
ceed In November next and inaugurate tts President
we will meet as q subjected and conquered p ople
amid the ruins ofliberty andthe scattered fragments
OF the constitution; and We do declare and resolve
that ever since the people Of the United States threw
of oil subsection to the British Crown the privilege
and trust Of suffrage have belonged to the several
States, and have been granted, regulated and con-
trolled exclusively by the political power Of eaon
State respectively and that any attempt by Congress-
on any preteIt Whatever to deprive any State OF this
right or interfere with Its exercise s fragrant usur-
patton OF power which con find no warrant In the
constitution, and II sanctioned by the peo
pie will subyert our form of government and can
only end in single centralized and consolidated gov
ernmen in which the separate existence OF the States
will be entirely absorbed, and an unqualified despot
ism be established In place Of Federal Union OF CO.
equal States and that we regard the Reconstruction
acts socalled) Of Congress as usurpatons. and IN
constitutional revolutionary and void; that our SOL
diers and Sailors who carried the flag OF our country
20 7ctoiy against most gallant Ind determined foe,
must ever be gratefully remembered, and oil the
guarantees given IN their favor must be faithfully
carried into execution.
That the public lands should bc distributed az
widely as possible among the people, ard should pc
disposed Of either under the presumption OF home
stead lands sold In reasonable quanttee, ana 10
none but actual occupants. at the minimum price
established by the government When grants OF the
public RI ds NAV be allowed, necessary for the en-
souragement ofimportant public improvements, the
proceeds of the sale OF such land and not the lands
themselves should be 80 applied.
.Thlt the President of the United States, Andrew
johnson, in exercising the power OF his high ohce In
resisting the ag yressons Of Congress upon the con-
salutoHal rights II the States and the people, is en-
titlei to the gra itude of the whole American peo
pe and in behalf OF the Democratic party we tender
him our thanbs fos his patriotic efforts In that re-
gard.
Upon this platform the Democratic party appeal to
every patriot, including all the conservative ele-
ent and all who d. sire to sup oor the constitution
of opinion, to unite with us in the present great
struggle for the liberties Of the people; and that to
all su b. 10 whs ever party they may have heretofore
belonged, we .rtend the right hand Of fellowship,
and haul all such cooperating with us as friends and
brethren.