The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1868-09-04
THE PLATFORM.


cence patriotism and discriminating justice Of the
De0ple standing upon the Constitution the foun
daton and Limitation Of the powers Of the Govern
ment and the guarantee Of the liberties Of the citi
zen, and recognizing the questions Of slavery and
secession having been settled for all time to come
by the war or the voluntary action OF the southern
States in Constitutional Conventions assembled, and
never to be renewed regulated, do, with the re-
turn Of peace, demand,
1st The immediate restoration of all the States to
their rights in the Union under the Constitution,
and of civil government to the American people.
ID. Amnesty for all past political ofienses, and
the regulation Of the elective franchise II tine States
by the citizens and the payment Of the public debt
Of the United States as rapidly sPracticable.
Sd. All the money drawn from the people by tax
alton except so much is required for the necess-
ties of the Government economically ad 9lnIstered,
to be honestly applied to such payment, and, where
the obligations ofthe Government do not express
ly 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 to be
paid in tie lawful money Of the United States
plumbers of applause.
4th Equal taxation Of every species of property,
according to its real value including Government
b. end other securities. Renewed cheering and
q Read it again.'l
he currency for the Government and the
peo7e the laborer and the oice-holder, the pen
sioner and the soldier the producer and the bond
holder. [Great cheering, and cries Of "Road At
The fifth resolution was again read and again
6Cb- Economy in the administration Of the Gov
ornmeut the reduction Of the standing army and
navy the adjustment OF the Frcedmens Bureau,
[great cheers and all political instrumentaEues de-
signed to secure negro supremacy the sImPIlhea-
ton of the system and the discontinuanee Of the in
quisitoria boards OF assessing ana coecuhg inter
nal revenues so that the burden OF taXatlon may De
equalized and lessened, the credit Of the Govern
ment and the currency made good the repeal OF all
enactments for enrolling the state militia INTO ma
tonal forces in time Of peace, and tariff for
| nue. upon foreign imports and such equal taxation
uuder the internal revenue laws as will afford Incl
oidental protection to domestic manufactures, and
as viii witht ut i'm pairing the revenue, impose the
least burden upon and best promote and encourage
! - I -E- -4 4I71r rrr7sr
18th. The reform Of abuses in the administration,
the expulsion of corrupt men from office, the abro-
CATION useless offices, the restoration of Tightul
authority to and the independence Of the EXecu-
tive and Judicial Department Of the Government,
the subordination Of the military to the civil power,
to the end that the usurPatlons OF Congress and the
! despotisn of the sword my cease.
SJh. Equal rights and protection for naturalized
and native born citizens at home and abroad. The
assertion of American nationality, which shall com
mand the respect Of foreign powers furnish an eX-
ample and encoura cement to people struggling for
national integrity, constitutional liberty and lndI-
vdual rights, and the maintenance OF the rights Of
naturazed citizens against the absolute doctrine Of
/ immutable allegiance, and the CLAIMS OF foreign
powers to punish them for alleged crime committed
/ beyond their jurisdiction. Applause.
/ In demanding these measures and reforms We ar
ragn the radical party Tor It's disregard OF nghG
and the unparalleled oppression and tyranny which
! have marked its career.
/ After the most solemn and unanimous pledge Of
both Houses of Congress to prosecute the eXclu-
slvely for the maintenance of the Government and
the preservation Of the Union under the Constitu-
/ ll.l IL
/ pledge under which rallied that noble volunteer
| army which carried our lag to victory.
Instead Of restoring the Union, 1t has, so far as
was in its power, dissolved it, and subjected ten
States in time Of profound peace to military des-
! potsm and negro supremacy.
It has nulliied there the right Of trial by jury
! It has abolished the writ Of habees oorPus-that
| most sacred writ of liberty.
1t has overthrow the freedom Of speech and Of
! the press.
1t has substituted arbitrary seizures and arrests
and military trials ana secret amber inquisi-
! lions for constitutional tribunals.
1t has disregarded in time of peace the right of
the people to be free from search and seizure.
1t has entered the post and telegraph offices, and
| even the private rooms of individuals aud seized
their private papers and letters without any speoi
feation notice affidavit, req ired by the or
| ganic law.
| tile.
1t has established system o. spies and official es
/ pionage to which 10 constitutional monarchy OF
! Europe would now dare to resort.
1t has abolished the right of appeal on important
constitutional questions to the supreme Judicial r-
bunal, and threatens TO curta or destroy us olgl
nal jurisdiction, which is irTevocably vested by the
Constitution, lille the learned Chief Justice has
/ been subjected TO great ana aJroclous caiumnles
merely because he would not prostitute his high
Office to the support ofthe false and Partizan char
! ges prefer red against the President.
/ Its corruption and extravaganza have exceeded
any thing known IL history, and by its frauds and
/ m0nopolies it has nearly doubled the burdens Of
! debt created during the war. 1t has stripped the
President of is constitutional power Of appoint
ment even Of his own cabinet.
/
/ eminent are TOckiEgOn their base, and, should 1t
succeed in November next, and inaugurate its Pres
ident, win meet subject and conquered PEG
pie amid the ruins OF noerty ana Ahe scatter nag
ments of the Constitution and do declare and
resolve, that, ever since the people Of the United
States threw of all subsection to the British Crown
the privilege and trust of suffrage have belonged to
the several States, and have been granted regulat
ed, and controlled exclusively by the political pow
! d of each State, and any attempt by Congress- on
any prcteXt whatever, TO deprive any State of this
right or interfere wi tn this exercise is a fragrant
T4 0t rrrgf4 y 4nC in
the Constitution, and if sanctioned by the people,
VIII subvert our form Of Government, and can only
end in single, centralized. consolidated Govern
ment IN which the separate existence Of the States
viii be entirely absorbed and an unqualified des-
potism be established in place OF Federal Union
That we regard the reconstruction acts Of Con-
gress, sOcalled, as usuTpations, Unconstitutional,
That our soldiers and sailors, who carried the
fec of our country to victory against most gallant
and determined foe, must ever be gratefully reulca-
bered, and all the guarantees given in thcr favor
must be faithfully carried into execution.
That the public land should be distributed as
widely among the people as possible and should be
disposed Of either under the presumption or the
homestead law, and sold ia reasonable quantities,
and to none but actual occupants, and at minimum
prices as established by the Government. When
grants of public lands may be deemed necessary for
the encouV ageuneEt of important public improve
ments, the proceeds OF the sales q such IaHs ana
not the lands themselves. should be so applied.
That the President Of the United States Andrew
johnson, In exercising the power OF Els hgh once
in resisting the aggrions OF Congress on the constl-
tutonal rights of the states and the people Is en-
titled 70 the gratitude Of the whole American peo-
pie. and behalf of the Democratic party VIC ten
der him our thanks for his patriotic efforts in tSat
regard. Great applause
Cpon this platform, the Democratic party appeal
to every patriot. including ali tie conservative eio
mcUt and al who desire 70 support te Constitution
ard restore tho Union, forgetting all past differences
of opinion To unite with Us in tic present great
struggle for tie liberties Of the people and that 10
an srgh to whatever arty they may have hereto
torc belonged. extend the right hand = fellow
-lip. auI l.fl all such c--cI Grating Nl-A ~ =.
friends and brother.