Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-08-11
THE PLATFORM.

tion assembled, reposing its trust in the intelli
eence. patriotism and discriminating Justice OF
| the people: standing upon the Constitution as
the foundation and Limitation Oh tne % poWheis; NE s;h
critics of the citizen and recognizing the ques-
| tions of slavery and secession as having been
| settled for all time 70 come by the war or the
| voluntary action of the Southern, States IN
| Constitutional Conventions assembled. and
| never TO be renewed or reagitated; do. with the
return of peace, demand.
1. Impediate restoration OF all the states 70
| their rights in the Union under the Constitu-
| ton and civil government OF the American
people. -.
the regulation Of the elective franchise IN q ne
public debt of the United States as rapidly as
| practicable.
). All money drawn from the people BY tax
| alton. except so much as is requisite for the me-
cessities Of the Government, economically ad-
| m;nistered, should be honestly applied to such
payment, and whore the obligations OF the GOV
ernment do not 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. be paid in the law
| full money of the United States.
4. Equal taxation Of feyery species Of property
| according to its real value, including Govern
| ment bonds, and other public securities.
S. One currency for the Government and the
| people, the laborer and the ofliceholder, the
pensioner and the soldier. the producer and
| the bondholder.
| 6. 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 secure negro supremacy; sim
plification of the system and the discontinuance
| Of inquisitorial boards for assessing and COL
| Letting internal revenue, so that the burden OF
taxation may be equalized and iessened the
credit of the Government and the currency
| made good; the repeal of all enactments for
enrolling the State militia into National forces
in time. of peace tarltt for revenue upon aa
| 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 pest promotee oe
I. Reform of abuses in the Administration,
| the expulsion of corrupt men from ofiices. the
abrogation 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 usqrpna- pa
| tions of Congress and tho despotism of the
| sword may cease.
s. Equal rights and protection for natural:
| lied and natiye-born citizens at home and
| abroad; an assertion of American nationality,
| which shall command the respect Of foreisn
powers ,and furnish an example and encourage
ment to people struggling for nationa, integ,
rity, constitutional liberty and indiyidual
rights, and the maintenance OF the rights OF
naturalized citizens against the absolute doc
trinc of immutablc allegiance and the claims
| of foreign powers to punish them for alleged
| crimo 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 oil 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:
pledge under which was rallied that noble vol
| unteer army, which carried our flag to victory.
Instead Of restoring the Union. il has, SO Tar
| as in its power, dissolved it, and subjected ten
| States in time of peace to military despotism
It has nuIIiied there the right Of trial by jury.
| 1t has abolished the habeas corpus, that
| most sacred writ of liberty. :,
II has overthrown the freedom of speech and
Ii has substituted arbitrary seizures and
| arrests. and military trials and secret Star
| Chamber inquisitions. for constitutional tri-
II has disregarded in time okpeace the. right
| Of the people to be free from search ana seiz-
| ures.
| Ii has entered the post and telegraph Offices.
| and even the private rooms Of individuals.
| and seized their private papers and letters
without any specification or notice oil afpaavit'
| as required by the organic law.
1t has converted the American capitol into
/ bastile.
| IL has established a system OF spies and ON
oial espionage to which no constitoti0nn. , mon
archy OF Europe would now dare 70 resort.
1t has abolished the right Of appeal on I'M
| portant constitutional questions TO the su-
preme judiciary tribunal, and threatens to
/ curtail or destroy its original turlsdictlon'
| which is irreyocably vested by the Consttu
tion. while the LEARNED Chief Justice has been
subjected to the most atrocious calumnies,
merely because he would not prostitute his
Il high Office 20 the support Of the false and par
tisan charges preferred against the President.
Its corruption and extravagance have ex-
ceeded anything known IN history, and oy it,
frauds and monopolies IL has nearly doubled
| the burden of debt created during the war.
II has stripped the President Of his constitu-
tional power Of app ointment, even Of his own
i cabinet
Under It's repeated assaults the pillars Of the
Government are rocking on their base, and
| should Il succeed in November next and inau-
| rurafe iis President We viii meet as a subject
| and conquered people amid the ruins Of lib
i erty and the scattered fragments Of the Constr
| tuition; ard We De declare and resolve that
ever since the people Of the United states
| threw od al suhieciion 10 the British Crown
i the privilege and trust OF suffrage have be-
/ lonrfd TO the several States. and have been
granted. regulated. and controlled exclusively
~ the political power q each State respect
! lively, and any attempt By Congress, on any
rretext Whatever. 90 derive any State Of this
rirht. or interfere with this exercise. y ha-
I rranf usurpation q power uhtch can md no
warrant in the Constitution. and. II sanctioned
hy the people. viii Fubvsrt our form Of soy
1 erument, and can only end In a gingle Ger tral-
! irrd. consolidated eovernment. In which the
serarnfe existcncs Of the States viii be entirely
i aisrrhr1. and an unqualified desrotism be
established In place Of lederEl Union Of
fs.i @e rerard the rceonssrsc;iea acts Of
! conrsss. so-called. as iuEurfations. unoonfti-