Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-09-09
THE PLATFORM.

The Democratic party. in National Couven'
ton assembled. reposing its trust in the intelli
gence patriotism and discrimin atiDg justice o.
the people; standing upon the Constitution a,
the foundation and limitation of the powers q
the Goytrnment. and the guarantee of the lib
critics Of the citizen and recognising the ques'
tions of slavery and secession as having beer
voluntary action Of the Southern States II
Constitutional Conventions assembled. and
never TO be renewed or reagitated do. with thu
return Of peace, demand,
L Immediate restoration of all the States tt
their rights in the Union under the Consti tu'
tion and civil government of the American
2. Amnesty for all past political offenses, and
the regulation Of. the elective franchise in the
States by their ci izens. and the payment of the
public debt of the United States as rapidly as
3. All money Drawn from the people by tax
alton. except SO much as is requisite for the ne
m;nistered, should be honestly applied to such
payment, and where the obligations Of the Gov
ernment do not expre sly state upon their face,
not provide that they shall be paid II cein. they
ought, in right and Justice, be paid in the law
full money Of the United States.
4. EQUAL taxation of every species of property
to its res naSs
5. Ono currency for the Government and the
peopie, the labOrer and the officeholder, the
pensioner and the soldier. the producer and
The boudholder.
6. Economy in the administration Of the
Government; the. reduction Of the standing
army and navy; the abolishment of the ireed-
mems bureau, and all political Instrumental
tiles designed to secure negro, supremacy; sim
plification of the system and the di, continuance
Of inquisitorial boards for assessing, and col
lectipg internal revenue, 80 that the burden OF
taxation may be equalized and Iessened the
credit of the Government and the currency
aIn d.. NJ n
enrolling the State militia into National forces
in time Of peace a tarif for revenue upon
foreign imports, and such. equal taxation under
the internal revenue laws as VIII anord incl
and ms will. without impairing the revenue,
impose the least burden upon and best promote
and encourage the great industrial interests Of
: \. Reform of abuses in the Adminis tratiou.
the exclusion of .ertunt men from offices. the
abroRaton of useless offices. the restoration OF
rightful authority to, and the independence. of
the Executive and Judicial departments q the
TO the civil power to tho end that the usurpa-
tions of Congress and the despotism OF tho
sword may cease. -
lied and native-born citizens at home and
abrc ad an assertion OF American nationality,
which shall command the respect Of forei IN
powers and furnish an example and encourage
ment to people struggling for natena, ln,eg,
riRhts. and the maintenance OF tho rights oil
naturalized citizens against the obsolete doc
trine of immutable allegiance. and the claims
Of foreign powers to punish them ior alleged
crime committed beyond their jurisdiction.
In demanding these measures and reforms
we arraign the Radical party for its disregard
of riRht, and the unparalleled oppression and
tyranny which have marked its ea,eer. after
the most solemn and unanimous pledge OF beth
Houses Of Congress TO prosecute the war ex-
clusively for the maintenance Of the govern
ment and the preservation of tho Union under
IL has repeatedly violated that most sacred
pledge under which was rallied that noble vol
unteer army. which carried our flag to victory.
Instead Of restoring the Union. it has, 50 lar
as In its power, dissolved 1t. and subjected ten
States In time of peace to military despotism
II has nulliied there the right of trial by jury.
Ii has abolished the habeas corpus, that
most sacred writ of liberty.
LIT TT has oyerthrown the freedom Of speech and
II has substituted arbitrary seizures and
arrests. and military trials and secret Star
Chamber inquisitions, fer constitutional tn
Il has disregardsd in time of peace the, right
Of the people 10 be free from search and seis-
ures.
and even the private rooms Of Individuals.
and seized their. private papers sad letters
without any specification or notice OF an davit,
as required by the organic law.
1t has converted the American capitol into
bastile.
q has established a system Of spies and off,
cial espionage to which no constitutional mon
archy Of Europe would now dare to resort.
II has abolished the right Of appeal on I'M
poStant constitutional questions 10 the su-
preme judiciary tribunal, and threatens TO
curtail or destroy Its original jurisdiction,
which is irrevocably vested by the Constitu-
ton. while the LEARNED Chief Justice has been
an M acted to the most atrocious calumnies.
merely because he would net prostitute his
high of &c % the support Of the false and par
tisan charges preferred AGAINST the President.
Its corruption and sx!!rASxaeance :! have O. e1- x
frauds and monopohes IL has nearly doubled
the burden OF debt created during the war
II has stripped the President Of his coustitu-
tional power Of appointment, even Of bis own
cabinet.
vUndsr its repeated assaults the pillars Of the
Gogernment are rocking on their base, and
should Il succeed in November next and inan-
raraie its President We will meet AZ subject
and conquered people amid the runs Of ho-
erty and the scattered fragments Of the Constr
tuition: aud We do declare ani resolve that
ever since the people Of the United States
threw on eli fuhiection % the British crown
lonred 20 the several States. and have been
granted. rerul latcd. and controlled exclusively
By the political power n each Stale speci-
lively, and any attempt BY Congress. on any
rirht, OF interfere With this ezerciIe. 4 IA
rrant usurpation Of rover which can ind no
warrant In the Consultation. ard. II sanctioned
b. the people, win subysrt our fern Of eo,-
ired. consolidated foysrnment in which the
1eparnte existence of The states will Be entirely
ahsorbcd. and a. ungahiifed deErctism Be
ssishlished in place Of IsisrI Union of
That ~e regard the reconstructira scis Of
Cors-sss, so-cailed. a. .ufurpaticns, unconGti-