Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1868-08-07
FRANK P. BLAIR,
or mTSsOURI.
THE PLATFORM.

THE BtaAIfOhm.
The Democratic party in National Convention
Assem- blod reposinE its trust in the Intelligence,
patriotism aud discriminating justice Of the
pcpplc, standing upun the Constitution the
foundation and Limitation Of the powers Of the
government. and tho guaranty ot the Liberties Of
tho citizen, and recognizing the questions OF
slavery and secession ~ having been settled for
an time b. come by the war. or the voluntary
action Of the Southern States in constitutional
conventions assembled, and never 10 be renewed
or re-agitatod, do with the return Of peace de-
nand
Immediate restoration Of all tho States TO their
rights in the Union, under the Constitution, and
of civil government 10 the American people.
NscoHd Amnesty for all past political oiIonses
and the regulation Of the elective franchise in
the States by their citizens.
THIRD Payment Of tho public debt OF the
United States as rapidly as practicable, all
moneys drawn from thcpooplc by taxation, cX-
cept much as Is requisite for the necessities Of
tho government economically administered, be-
ing honestly applied 90 such payment, and.
where tho obligations Of the government do not
expressly state upon their face, or the law I'M
der which they were issued does not provide
that they shall be paid in coin, they ought in
right and in Justice, be paid In the lawful money
Of the United States.
Fourth Equal taxation Of every species Of
property according 90 It's real value. including
government bonds and other public securities.
Fjfh One currency for the government and
the people, the laborCr and the Ofice-holdor
the pensioner and tho soldier, the producer and
tho bOndhOd-r.
Nirth Economy in the administration Of tho
r0Nernmcnt the reduction Of the standing Amy
and navy, the abolition Of the Frcedmen's Bn-
roau, and all political instrumentalities
designed 90 secure negro supremacy: sim
plthcutIUu Of the system and dlscUnttnu-
anco uf inqusitOrial modes of assessing and col
lectug internal revenue 80 that The burden Of
taxation may be Cqualized and lessened, the
credit 0f the government and the currency made
good, the repeal of all enactmonts for enrolling
She State militia into national forces in time of
peace and o. tariff for revenue upon foreign inn
ports, and such equal taxation under the internal
revenue laws a. viii afford incidental protection
Go domestic manufactures. and as will. without
'mpaIrung the revenue, impose the least burden
upon and hest promote and encourage the great
industrial interests Of the country.
N,rrgh Reform of abuses in the administra-
ton. the expulsion of corrupt men from Office
tho abrogation of useless Offices the restoration
Of rightful authority % and the independence of
the Executive aad Judicial Departments of the
government, the Euhurdinatluu Of the military
Go the civil power. 90 the end that tho usurpa-
uonsoi Congress and the despotisIn Of the sword
may cease.
Eighh Equal rights and protection for nrtu-
rallied and native born citizens at home and
abroad, the assertion of American nationality
which shall command tho respect of foreign
powers, and furnish an example and encourage
mcnt To people Struggling ornational integrity
constitutional liberty and industrial rights, and
the maintenance Of the rights of naturalizcd
citizens against tho absolute doctrine Of immu-
table allegiance and the claims Of foreign powers
90 punish them for alleged crime committed be
youd their jurisdiction.
In demanding these measures and reforms We
HrTaiCn tho Radical party for its disregard Of
right aud the unparalleled oppression and
tyranny which have marked its career After
the most solemn and unanimous pledge Of both
houses of Congress 10 prosecute the war eXclu-
Hivrly for the maintenance Of the government
and tho preservation Of tho Union under the
Constitution, Il has repeatedly violated tho
most sacred pledge under which alone was raj
lied that noble volunteer army which carried
our flag Go victory Instead of restoring the
Union 81 has, SO far rs IN its power dissolved IT,
and subjected ten States in time Of profound
peace 90 military dCspotism aud negro supreui-
aCy. II has nullIhcd there the right OF trial by
Jury ID has abolished the thubeus corpus that
most sacred writ of liberty; a has oYerthrOwn
the freedom of speech and the press, it has sub
sttutcd arbitrary seizures and arrests, and mil
Inry trials, and secret star chamber inqusi-
uons for tho constitutional tribunals il has
disrcCurded IN time Of peace the right Of the
people % hc Tree from searches and seizures; u
has entered the post and telegraph Oficc and
oven the private rooms of individuals and
soIzed their private papers and letters without
any SPECIFIC charge or notice of affidavit. as re
CURED by the organic law; II has converted the
American Capitol into a BaStile; Il has estab-
hshCd a system ot spies and espionage TO which
no constitutional monarchy of Europe would now
dare 20 resort Il has abolished the right of an
peal on important constitutional questions 20
the supreme judicial tribunals, and threatens 20
curtaIl or destroy its original jurisdiction which
as irrUyocahly vested by the Constitution while
tho learned Chief usuce has been subjected 20
the most atrOclous calumnies merely because he
would not prostitute his high Office 20 the sup
port Of the false and partisan charges preferred
against the President Its corruption and OK
trayagance have exceeded anything known i'm
history; and 10y ITS frauds and monopolieS IL has
nearly doubled the burden of the debt creatpd
by the war. lt has stripped the President of
his constitutional power of appointment even
Of his own Cabinet. Under its repeated assaults
the pillars 90 the government are rocking on
their base. aud should IL succeed IN November |
next and lnauguratc its President we will meet |
as q suhlc and conquered people amid tho /
ruins of liberty and the shattered fragments of |
the Constitution.
And We do declare and resolve. that ever since |
the people of the United States throw OF all /
subsection 90 tho British Crown the privilege /
and trust pi suffrage have belonged to the seN- |
eral states, and have been granted, regulated /
and controlled exclusively by the political now
cr OF each State respectively, and that any at /
tempt by Congress, ON any prctoNt whatever 40
deprive any State Of this right or interfere with
ITS exercise, Is a fragrant usurpation of power
which can lind no warrant in the Constitution:
and. n sanctioned 10y the people, will subyert |
our form Of government and can only end ia n |
single centralized and consolidated government |
which the separate existence Of the States will |
be entirely absorbed and an unqualified des-
notsm be established m place Of Federal /
mon of c0equa States; and that we regard /
he reconstruction acts $50 called of Congress
is sach are usurpauous and unconstitutional, /
evolutionary and void.
That our soldiers and sailors who carried tho /
Lax OF our country Go victory against a most i
rHllaut aud determined Zoe, must ever be CRATE
ally remembered and all the guarantees given |
"a their favor must be faithfully carried into OK (
'yutluH.
That tho public lands should be distributed
Is widely as possible among the people, and
huuld ho disposed oi either under the pre-
'mpuon or homestead laws, and sold IN reason
.hlc quantities. and 90 none but actual oCru-
'ant5 at tho minimum price established by the |
government When grants Of the public lands
nay DO allowed necessary for the encourage 1
uvut 90 important public improvements. tho |
'rocccds of tho sale of such lands, and not the
Iuds themselves should he 80 applied.
That the President Of the United States, An
rev johnson, n exercising the power Of his |
lCh Office m resisting the aggrcSsions ct Con |
rCss upon the constitutional rights of the States
nd the people, b. entitled to the gratitude OF !
ho whole American people and IN behalf of tho |
Democratic party VIC tUadcr him our thanks for |
Is patriotic efforts m that regard.
Upon tins platform the Dcmocratic party ap- |
cal Co every patriot, including all tho consCrVa-
We element, and all who desire 90 support the |
constitution aud restore tho Union, forgetting |
u past differences OF opinion, to unite with Us |
q the present great struggle Tor the liberties of !
lc people aud that Go all such, 90 whatever | (
urtN they may have heretofore belonged, We |
Ntend the right hand ui fellowship and hail |
u such cooperating with as friends and |
rctsfen.