Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1868-07-22
Fer President
HORATIO SEYMOUR,
OF NEW. YORK.
For Vice President,
FRANK P. BLAIR,
THE PLATFORM.
OF MIssOURT

THE PLATFORM.
The Democratic party ia National Convention
assembled, rcposng it, trust in the Intelligence,
patriotism and discriminating Justice Of the
people. standing upon the Constitution as the
foundation aud limitation of the powers Of the
government and the guaranty Of the liberties Of
the citizen, aud recognizing the questions Of
-layery and secession As having been settled for
ali time g. come BY the war OF the voluntary
action Of the Southern states in constitutional
conventions assembled, and never 20 be renewed
or 70. agitnteu, do with the return Of peace de-
mand
Immediate restoration Of all the States to their
rights IN the Union, under the Constitution. and
Of civil government 10 the American peaple
.Ser0ad Amnesty for all past political Offenses
and the regulation Of the elective franchise in
tho States by their citizens.
Third Payment Of the public debt Of the
United States as rapidly practicable, all
moneys drawn from the people by taxation. OK
cePt much rs il requisite for the necessities Of
the government economically administered, be-
iug honestly applied 30 such payment and
whore the obligations of the government do not
expressly state upon their face, or the law un-
der which they were issued does not provide
that they shall bc paid in coin they ought in
right and in Justice. bo paid in the lawful money
ct the United States.
fourth Equal taxation Of every species Of
property according to its real value, including
government bonds and other public securities.
t0th One currency for the government and
the people. the iaborer and the Oihce-hOlder,
the PensiOner and the soldier the producer and
tho bondhOlder.
government, the reduction Of the standing army
and navy. the abolition Of the Freedmen's Blu
reau. and all political instrumentalities
designed % secure negro supremacy; sim
pl6cation Of the system and discontinu-
Ancs Of inquisitnrial modes Of ASSESSING and col
isctinR internal revenue so that he burden Of
taxation may be equalized and lesscncd the
credit Of the government and the currency made
good, the repeal Of ml enactmcnts for enrolling
She State militia into national forces in time Of
peHce, and a tariff for revenue upon foreign i'm
ports, and such equal taxation under the internal
revenue laws as will afford incidental protection
:" domestic manufactures. and as WILL without
Impairing the revenue. impose the least burden
upon and best promote aud encourage the great
industrial interests of the country.
NeUcHh Reform Of abuses in the administra-
ton, the expulsion OF corrupt men fHOm Office,
the abrOgatiOn of useless Offices the restoration
81 rlghtiul authority TO and the Independence Of
the Executive aad Judicial Departments Of the
government, the subOrdinatiOn Of the military
10 the civil power. 20 the end that the usurpq-
tons Of Congress and the despotIsm of the sword
may cease.
EiOLh Equal rights and protection for patu-
rallied aud native born citizens at home and
abroad. the assertion Of American nationality
which shall command the respect of foreign
powers. and furnish AN example and encourage.
inent 70 people struggling tOrnati0nal integrity,
constitutional liberty and industrial rights, and
she maintenance Of tho rights Of naturalzcd
citizens against the absolute doctrine Of hmm
table allegiance and the claims If foreign powers
60 punish them for alleged cTimo committed be-
ynnd their Jurisdiction.
arTaIgn the Radical party for its disregard Of
uEht and the unparalleled oppression and
tyranny which have marked its career. After
the most solemn aud unanimous pledge Of both |
houses I'd Congress To prosecute the war eXclu-
siyoly Tor the maintenance Of the government
and the preservation Of tho Union undor tho |
Constitution, Il has repeatedly violated the |
most sacred pledge undor which alone was raj |
lied that nOblo volunteer army which carried /
our flag 70 victory. Instead of restoring tho |
Union, II has, 80 far AZ in its power dissolved it.
IA m nf md
peace 90 military dCspOtism and negro supram-
acy. u has nulhhed there the right OF trial by /
jury IL has abolished the lha5rus CORPUS that |
most sacred writ OF liberty il has overthrow /
the freedom Of speech and the press: it mas sub
sututod arbitrary seizures and arrests, and mil Il
itary trials, and secret star chamber ipauigi-
tons for the constitutional tribunals Il has /
dlsTogaTded in time Of peace the night of tho /
people 20 be tree from searches and seizures. II
has entered the post and telegraph Offices and 1
even the private rooms OF individuals. aud 1
seized their private papers and letters without /
any SPECIFIC charge or notice Of affidavit, as re- |
CURED by the organic law IL has converted the
American Capitol into "a Basule; Il has estab-
hshed system OF spies and espionage TO which Il
no constitutional monarchy Of Europe would now /
dare 90 resort it has abolished the right Of ap-
peal on important constitutional questions 10
the supreme Judicial tribunals and threatens 10
curtain or destroy ats original jurisdiction which
Is irreVOcably vested by the Constitution while
the learned Chief Justice has been subected 10 i
the most atrOcuus cAlumnes merely because he
would not prostitute his high Office 10 the sup
against the President Its corruption aud oX-
trayaEance have exceeded anything known in /
history and by its frauds and monOpolies il has
nearly doubled the burden Of the debt created /
by the war. IL has stripped the President of |
his constitutional power Of appointment, even
Of his own Cabinet. Under its repeated assaults |
the pillars of the government are rocking on |
their base, and should it succeed in November 1
next and inaugurate its President we will meet I
a subject and conquered people amid the |
ruins OF liberty and the shattered fragments Of
the Constitution.
And We do declare aud resolve that ever since
the people Of the United states threw of an
and trust Of suffrage have belonged 20 the sew |
eral States, aud have been granted. regulated |
and controlled exclusively by the political DOW. |
"a 9t each state rcspeciy ely, and that any at
tempt by Congress on any preteNt whatever, 20 |
iepnve any state OF this right. or interfere with
lts EXERCISE, A. hagunt usurpation Of power |
which can Ind ne warrant IN the Constitution 1
and. n sanctioned by the people. will subvert |
oar form Of government. aud can only end IN a |
Jingle ceptralEed and consolidated government
which the separate existence Of the States will
be entirely absorbed, aud an unqualified des-
9ousm be established In place Of a Federal
mon Of coequal States aud that We regard
he reconstruction acts ESQ called of Congress
's such are u'urInth"ns aud unconstitutional.
evolutionary aud void.
That our soldiers aud sailors who carried the
iaE Of our country 10 victory against "A mos; |
gallant and determined foe, must ever be crate
uly remembered aud all the guarantees given
n their favor must be faithfully carried into cX-
That tho public lands should be distributed
- widely a. possible among tho people and | ,
hOuld be disposed OF either under the pre- |
mptOn OF homestead laws and sold in reason J
.blo quantities. and 90 none but actual Occu-
'ants. az tho minimum price established by the |
government, When grants OF the public iands
nav he allowed necessary for the encourage
nent II important public improvements tho |
,Toceeds Of the sale Of such lands, and not the
lnds themselves, should 30 SO applied '
That the President Of the United States An [
rev johnson. in exercising the power of his ,
lRh oiEce in resisting the RRgreSsons Of Con- T,
ress upon the constitutional rights of the States
nd the people is entitled 20 the gratitude Of \
be whole American people. and in bohaif of tho 1 !,
party We tender him our thanks fsr 4 i
q patriotic efforts IN that regard. d
Upon this platform the Democratic party ap- I h
cal 60 oveTy patriot including ala the conscTva- a
Ne element. and all who desire 30 support the :
onsuiunon and restore the Union. torrettiur 4
u past differences OF opinion. O. unite with - Al
the present great struggle Cor The Liberties ~ :,
ie people; and that 90 ell such. 90 y hsheyrr NJ
irty they may have heretofore beionEcd. We ! =,
tend the right hand Of fellowship and hail Il
! such co-oporatIng With us a. friends aud =,
Othren. - 4