The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-10-02

Adopted July q, 1865.
The Democratic party, in national convention
assembled, reposing It's trust in the intelligence,
patriotism and discrimir aiing justice Of the peo-
pie, standing upon the Constitution the founda-
ton and Limitation of the powers Of the govern
ment, and the guarantee Of the liberty Of the ci-
Ss1ns esn for
come by the war or the voluntary action Of the
Southern States in constitutional conventions as
sembled, and never TO be renewed or regulated,
do, with the return of peace. demand: o
their rights in the Union under the Consultation,
and Of civil government to the American people.
Second-Amnesty for all the past political
onenses, and the regulation Of the elective fran
chise in the States by their citizens.
Thrd-Psymento Of the public debt of the United
States as rapidly 90 practicable, ell money drawn
from the people by taxation, except so much az
economically administered, being applied to such
payment and where the obligations of the gov
eminent do not expressly state, upon their face
or where the law under which they were issued
they ought In right and in justice be paid In the
lawful money Of the Omitted States. y tal
Fourth--Equal taxation of every species OF
property according to its real value, Including
government bonds and other public securities.
Fifth-One currency for the government and
the people, the laborer and the Office holder. the
pensioner and the soldier. the producer and the
bondhoder. af To-. u. ~ rrf
sixth-Economy in the administration of the
government; the reduction Of the standing army
and navy; the abolition of the freedmen's
bureau and all political instrumentalties de-
ton of the system and dscontnuance of inquisito-
rial modes of assessing and collecting the internal
revenue, so that the burden Of taxation may be
equalized and lessened; the credit Of the govern
"a L. -
all enactments for enrolling the State militia into
national forces in time of peace and tarin for
revenue upon foreign imports, and such equal tax
atior under the internal revenue laws as will
afford incidental protection to domestic manufac-
lures and as will, without imparing the revenue,
impose the least burden upon. and best promote
and encourage the great industrial interest of the
country. H1
ton, the expulsion of corrupt men from Office, the
abrogation of useless Offices, the restoration Of
rightful authority to and the independence OF the
executive and judicial departments OF the govern
ment; the subordination of the military to the
civil power, to the end that the usurps,ions of
Congress and the despotism of the sword may
cease. crl..l r-r.t ea.f ...e 3D. .llla 30 q
Eighth-Equsl rights and protection for natu.
ralized and native born citizens at home and
abroad, the assertion of American nationality,
which shall command the respect Of for
eign powers and furnish an example and encour-
agement to people struggling for national integ-
and the maintenance Of the rights of naturalized
citizens against the absolute doctrine Of immu-
table allegiance and the claims of foreign powers
to punish them for alleged crimes committed be-
yond their jurisdiction. .-Hl- aH,ll1l
In demanding these measures and reforms, We
arraign the radical party for its disregard OF right
and the unparalleled oppression sndtyranny which
have marked its career, after the most solemn and
unanimous pledge of both houses of Congress to
prosecute the war exclusively for the maintenance
of the government and the preservation of the
Union and Constitution. Ii has repeatedly vio-
lated that most sacred pledge, under which was
rallied that noble volunteer army which carried
our flag to victory instead of restoring the Union,
il has far Is in its power. dissolved It, and sub
jected ten States, in time Of profound peace, TO
military despotism and negro supremacy. IL has
nullifed the right of trial by jury; 1t has abol-
ished the habeas corpus. that most sacred writ Of
liberty; il has overthrow the freedom of speech
and press; it has substituted arbitrary seizures
and arrests, and military trials and secret star
chamOer inquisitions for constitutional tribunals
il has disregsrded in times Of peace the right OF
the people 20 be free from searches and seizures
IL has entered the post and telegraph offices, and
even the private rooms OF individuals, and seized
their private papers and letters without any spec
fcation or notice of affidavit as required by the
organic law il has converted the American capi-
toll into q bastie; il has established system OF
spies and official espionage to which no constitu.
tiopal monarchy of Europe would dare to resort !;
it has abolished the right of appeal on inn
portant constitutional questions to the SIT
preme judicial tribunals, and threatens 70
curtail or destroy its original jurisdiction,
which is irrevocably vested by the Con-
stitution. while the learned chief justice has been
subjected to great and atrocous calumnies, merely
because he would not prostitute his high Office to
the support Of the false and partisan charges pre-
ferTed against the president. Its corruption and
extravaganza have exceeded anything known in
history, and by its frauds and monopolies it has
nearly doubled the burden of the debt created
during the war. 1t has striped the president Of
Lta s,tntfo of At mn nf
his own cabinet; under its repeated assaults the
pillars Of the government are rocking on theif
base, and should 1t succeed In November next
and inaugurate its president, we will meet 1t as o
subjected and conquered people, amid the ruins
of liberty and the scattered fragments of the
Constitution. And we do declare and resolve,
that ever since the people OF the United States
threw of all subjugation to the British crown, the
privilege and trust of suffrage have belonged to
the several States, and have been granted, regu1
lated and controlled exclusively BY the political
power OF each State, respectively; and any
attempt by Congress-, on any pretext whatever
TO deprive any State of this right, or interfere
with this exercise, is fragrant usurpation Of
power, which can find no warrant in the Consttu-
ton, and If sanctioned by the people will subyert
our form Of government, and can only end In q
single, centralized, consolidated government, In
which the separate existence OF the States will be
entirely absorbed, and an unqualified despotsm
be established in place OF federal Union OF
equal States; that We regard the reconstruction
unconstitutional. revolutionary and void; that
our soldiers and sailors who carried the flag OF
our country to victory against Q most gall
liant and determined foe must ever be CRATE
fully remembered, and all the guarantees given In
their favor must be faithfully carried into execu-
ton; that the public lands should be distributed
among the people, and should be disposed OF
either under the presumption OF homestead laws
or sold in reasonable quantities. and to none but
actual occupants. at the minimum price as estab-
shed by the government; when grants Of the
public lands may be allowed necessarily for the
epcouragements of important public improve-
ments the proceeds of the sale of such lands. and
not the lands themselves. should be 80 applied
That the president Of the United States. Andrew
johnson. in exercising the power Of his high Office
in resisting the aggressions Of Congress ON the
constitutional rights of the States and the people.
Is entitled to the gratitude of the whole
American people; and on behalf Of the Demo-
cratic party we tender him our thanks for his pa
triotic efforts in that regard. i !.
Upon this platform the Democratic party appeal
to every patriot, including all the conservative
elemenf and all Who desire TO support the Consti-