Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1868-07-24
For vice rrcsldent.
FRANK P. BLAIR,
or MISSOURI.


THE PLATFORM.
The Democratic party 10 National Convention
asscmLIed rep0siuR IT, trust in the intelligence,
patriotism and discriminating Justice OF the
peopIc standing upon the Constitution as the
iou1daiian and limitation OF the powers Of the
government, and the guaranty Of the Liberties Of
the citizen. aud recognizing the questions OF
sIavory aud secession ~ having been settled for
an time tn come by the var. or the voluntary
action Of the southern States in constitutional
conventions assembled. and nevert 90 be renewed
or re-agitated, do with the return OF peace de-
Immediate restoration Of all the States 10 their
rights IN the Ini0n, under the Constitution, and
Of rivil government 70 the American people.
Ssrnaf Amnesty Tor all past political Otenses
and the regulation Of the elective franchise in
the States by their citizens.
THIRD Z Payment Of the public debt Of the
United States ~ rapidly ~ practicable, all
moneys drawn from the people BY taxation. eX-
cept 30 mach Is requisite for the necessities Of
the government economically administered. be-
INK honestly applied 10 such payment, and.
where the obligations Of the government do not
expressly state upon their face. OF che law un-
der which they were issued does not prov ide
that they shall be pad NJ cola, they ought. In
right and ga justice. be paid in the lawful money
at the United States.
Fourth Equal taxation Of every species Of
property according TO its real value, including
government bonds and other public securities
FtUh One currency for the government and
the people. tho laboreT and the oihce-holder,
the pensiOner and the soldier. the producer and
the bOndhuldcT.
CrtL Economy in the administration Of the
government, the reduction Of the standing army
and navy, the abolition OF the Freedmeu's BU-
Teau, and all political InstTumentahties
designed 20 secure negro supremacy: SIM
phGcation Of. the pystem and discontinu-
ancs of inquIsitOTd modes Of ASSESSING aud col
IertipF internal revenue 80 that me nrden of
taxation may be equalized and tessened. the
credit Of the government and the currency made
good the repeal Of all onactments Tor enrolling
the state militia into national forces IN time Of
peace, and a tnrih Tor revenue upon foreign i'm
ports, and such equal taXation under the internal
revenue laws a. will afford incidental protection
60 domestic manufactures, and rs wall, without
ImpnITing the revenue. impose the least burden
upou and best promote and encourage the great
industrial interests Of the country.
Sepsnfhs Reform of abuses in the administra-
ton. the expulsion Of corrupt men lEom Office.
the abrOgatiOn Of useless Offices tho regtOTatiun
Of rightful authority 30 and the indie pen ionce Of
the Executive aad Judicial Departments Of the
government, the sub0rdinatlon Of the military
20 the civil power, 20 the end that the usurpa-
uons Of Congress and the despotism Of the sword
may cease.
rallied aud native born citizens at home and
abroad, the assertion Of American nationality
which shall command the respect Of foreign
p0Wers. aud furnish an example and encourage
meut b. people struggling for national integrity,
. constitutional liberty and industrial rights, and
the maintenance Of the rights Of naturalized
citizens against the absolute doctrine Of immu-
Go punish them for alleged crime committed be
yuud their jurisdiction.
Ia demanding these measures and reforms We
urIuigu the Radical party for its disregard Of
night and the unparalleled oppression and
tyranny which have marked its career. Alter
She most solemn aud unanimous pledge Of both
houses Of Congress 90 prosecute the war eXclu-
snc ely TOR the maintenance OF the government
aud the preservation Of the Union under the
Constitution, 10 has repeatedly violated the
most sacred pledge under which alone was raj
..f 4
our nag 90 victory. Instead of restoring the
Union, @ has SO far as IN IT, power dissolved IT,
and subjected ton States ia tune of profound
peace to military dcspotism and negro suprcm-
ury. 10 has nullifcd there the right Of trial by
jury Il has abolished the shabeds corpus that
most sacred writ Of liberty u has overthrow
Jhe freedom - speech aud the press il has sab
sututod arbitrary seizures aud arrests. and mil
Itary trials. and secret star chamber inquisi-
lions Tor the constitutional tribunals IL has
dlsrCgaTdCd IN time Of peace the right of the
people Go be tree from searches aud seizures; It
has entered the post aud telegraph Offices, and
even the private rooms OF individuals. and
seized their private papers and letters without
any specific charge or notice of affidavit, as re-
auircd ny the organic law II has converted the
American Capitol into 70 Bastle; t has esiab-
hshod n systom of spies and espionage TO which
90 constitutional monarchy uf Europe would now
dare 20 resort IA has abolished the right of APP
peal on important constitutional questions 10
The supreme judicial tribunals aud threatens 10
ourtall or destroy lts original jurisdiction which
Is i3rCyocably vested by the Constitution while
the learned Chief Ju-tico has been subjected 20
the most atrocI0us calumnies merely because he
would not prostitute has high office 20 the sup
port OF the false and partisan charges preferred
against the President. It's corruption and eN-
traNagance have exceeded anything known in
history and by its frauds aud monopoiies il has
nearly doubled the burden Of the debt created
by the var. IL has stripped the President of
has constitutional power uf appointment even
IT his own Cabinet Under its repeated assaults
the pillars of the government are rocking on
their base, aud should u succeed in November
next and inRugurate Its Presidout We will meet
as a subject and conquered people amid the
ruins Of liberty aud tho shattered fragments Of
the Consultation.
And We do declare and resolve. that ever since
the people Of tho United States threw cd AN
subsection 70 the British Crown the privilege
aud Trust OF suffrage have belonged 20 the sew
eral states, aud have been Erantod, regulated
er Of each State respectively. and that any at
tempt By Congress, ON any preteNt whatever To
deprive any State Of this right or interfere with
as exercise, isa hagrant usurpation OF power
which can ind ne warrant ln The Consultation
and II saBctianed by the people. HilI suhyert
our form ~ government aud can only end in a
single centralized and consolidated government
which the separate existence Of the States will
ho entirely absorbed, and an unqualtfed dos
potism be established in place OF "a Federal
Union oi cocquh STATES; aud that We regard
the reconstruction acts $50 called) 81 Cansress
such are usurpatluBs aud unconstitutional
revolutionary aud YOld.
That our soldiers and sailors who sarricd the
"A
gallant and determined Zoe, Iaust ever be CRATE
fully remembered aud an tAc guarantees gwen
VA their favor must he faithfully carried into cN-
ccutIuu.
Ikat tke puhlis hands should he distributed
~ WILDLY a. possible among the people and
should he dlsposcd of either under toe pro
CmptIou coz homestead laws and sold in reason
able quantities. aud 60 none bat actual oceu-
pants, az the minimum price established by the
government. When grants of the public lands
may be allowed necessary Cor tho encourage
mcut ct important public improvements, the
proceeds Of the sale 81 such lands and not the
lands themselves, should be so applied
That the President " tho United States, An
drew johnson, IN exercising the power of bis
hish uthre IN resisting tile aggressions Of Con
grvss upon the constitutional rights Of the States
sUd the people. h entitled O. the gratitude OF
he whole American people ana IA behalf Of tao /
Democrats party We tender him our thanks fsF
has patriotic efforts IN that regard.
Upon thls platform the Democratic par' an
peal o. every patriot. including all tho -
Ave element. and al who desire g. .5',rt ne
Constitution and restore the IL 80 lI,,,,D-
an past differences of ppiuir ,'lNn, si :, ~ ~
ma the present. great strues' "a, 20 Nntt' 49, VI
the people and mai -Ie teT the liberties OF
party they may he. 60 all suchl w. NnaieNtl
extend the ria I'D heretofore belonged. We
al such COO uand OF fellowship, ana han
brffhrpn ,fFratinr with uE a. fncnds ana