Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-07-20
THE PLATFORM.

| tiOn assembled, reposng its trust IN the intell1
| gence, patriotism and discrimin ting justice o.
| ihe people: standing upon the Constitution as
| the foundation and limitation of the powers -
| the Gov, rnment. and the guarantee Of the lib
critics of the citizen and recognizing the qucs'
| tions of slavery and secession as having beer
settled for all time to come by the war or The
voluntary action of the Southern States in
| Constitutional Conventions assembled. and
never 70 be renewed or reagitated do. with the
return Of peace, demand,
| LINN cdiate restoration efyHll the States Ia
their RIGHTS in the Union under the Consti tu-
| tion and civil government OF the Americi IN
| people.
| the regulation Of the elective franchise in the
States by their citizens. and the payment of the
public debt Of the United States as rapidly as
| practicable.
3. All money frawn from the people by tax
alton. except so much as is requisite for the me-
cessities of the Government. economically adj
| mnistered, should be honestly applied to such
| payment, and where the obligations Of the Gov
DO not state upon tnes isos
not provide that they shall be paid IN coin, they
ought, in right and JUSTICE be paid in the law
ful money of the United States.
Equa taEstsn spsSss Of
ment bonds. and other public securities.
s. One currency for the Government and the
people, the laborer and the officeholder, the
pensioner and the soldier, the producer and
tho bondholder.
6. Economy in the. administration of the
Government; the reduction of the standing g
army and navy: the abolishment of the freed
mems bureau. and all political instrumental
ities designed to secure negro supremacy; SIM
plifcation of the system aud the discontinuance
of iDquisitorial boards for assessing and COL
lecting internal revenue, so that the burden OF
taxation may be- equalized and lessened; the
credit of the Government and the currency
made good the repeal OF all anactments for
enrolling the State militia into National forces
in time of peace tariff for revenue upon
foreign imports, and such equal taxation under
the internal revenue laws rs will afford incl
dental protection to domestic manufactures,
and as will, without impairing the reveHue,
impose the least burden upon and best promote
and encourage the great industrial interests OF
the country.
Z. Reform of abuses in the Admins tration,
the expulsion of corrupt men from Offices, the
abrogation Of useless Offices, the restoration OF
rightful authority, to, and the independence OF
the Executive and Judicial departments Of the
Government the subordination of the military
to the civil power to the end that the usurpa-
tons of Congress and the despotism of the
sword may cease.
s. Equal rights and protection for natural.
lied and native-born citizens at home and
abroad; an assertion Of American nationality,
which shall command the respect OF foreiEn
powers and furnish an example and encourage.
ment to people struggling for national integ.
rity, constitutional liberty and. individual
riRhts, and the maintenance of the rights OF
naturalized citizens against the absolute doc
tsine of immutabie allegiance, and the claims
Of foreign powers to punish them for alleged
crime committed beyond their jurisdiction.
In demanding these measures and reforms
we arraign the Radical party for its disregard
of right, and the unparalleled oppression and
tyranny which have msrked its cateer. after
the most solemn and unanimous pledge oil beth
Houses of Congress TO prosecute the war ex-
clusively fer the maintenance OF the govern
ment and the preservation oft Union under
tha Cop efitntinn
1t has repeatedly violated that most sacred
pledge under which was rallied that noble vol
unteer army. which carried our flag to victery.
Instead of restoring the Union. it has, SO far
as in its power. dissolved it. and subjected ten
States in time of peace TO military despotism
and negro supremacy.
IIthas nulliGed there the right of trial by jury.
1t has abolished the habens corpus, that
most sacred writ of liberty.
1t has overthrown the freedom Of speech and
Il has substituted arbitrary seizures and
srrests. and military trials and secret Star
il has disregarded in time of peace the right
of the people to be free irom search and seiz-
ures. Hyr .I.HI
1t has entered the post and telegraph Offices,
and even the private rooms Of individuals.
and seized their. private papers and letters
without ary specification or notice oil aihdavlt,
as required by the organic law.
Ii has converted the American capitol into a
bastile.
II has established system of spies and Off
cial espionage to which no constitutional mon
archy Of Europe would now dare to resort.
1t has abolished the right Of appeal on i'm
poftant constitutional questions to the SUI
IRENE Judiciary tribunal, and threatens TO
curtail or destroy Its original iurisdicuon'
which is irrevccably vested by the Constitu
tion. while the Learned Chief Justice has been
suhiected to the most atrOcious calumnies,
merely because he would not prostitute his
high Office 70 the support Of tho false and par
tisan charges preferred against the President.
Its corruption and extravagsnco have ex-
cceded anything known IN history, and by its
frauds and monepolies Il has nearly doubled
the burden Of debt cl eeicd during The war.
Il has stripped tn President Of his constitu-
tionai power Of appointment, even Of his own
Tnarr It's repeated arsau,ts the pillars Of the
Government are rocking on their base, and
should ID succeed in November next and inau-
rurate its President We will meet as subject
and conquered people smid the ruins Of lib
erfy and the scattered fragments Of the Constr
tuition; ard We do declare and resolve that
ever since the people Of the United states
threw OF all fuhiccti0n T. the British Crown
tho privilege and trust OF suffrage have bo-
longcd TO the several States, and have been
rraDied. regulated. and controlled exclusively
~ the political power q each State respect
lively. and any attempt by Congress, on any
rretext whatever. 70 deprive any state Of this
right, OF interfere With this exercise. is ia
sr-s.t h re consiitstion. srd. II Ssnctiorsd
~ the people. viii subyert our form of gov-
emmett, and can only end in a single cen trail
Aei. consoldstod Fovcnmcnit n ~hich the
rrparafe existencsuf the hlaies VII % Entirely
.h---h-a, and an unqualified dc.feefz be
ssfsblished in piacs Of . Iedefa' Onion Of
~; ~e r,rsrd the recoasirucslos scis %
conrrsss. so-calltd, 81 usurrauenss snoonfts-