Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-08-28
THE PLATFORM.

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THE PLATFORM.
The Democratic party, in National ConA-
ton assembled repo.ing its trust in the intd-
gence, patriotism and discrin1in atiuR Justicef
| the people: standing upon the Constitutionp
| the foundation and limitation of the powerst
critics of the citizen and recognizing the QUO
| tions of lavery and secession as having beeI
settled for all time TO come by the war or tn
| voluntary action Of the Southern States II
| Constitutional Conventions assembled. anC
never to be renewed or reagitated do. with tn,
return Of peace, demand,
| l. Immediate restoration of all the States Il
| their rights in the Union under the Consti tu-
| tion and civil government of the American
2. Amnesty for all past political offenses, ant
the regulation OF the elective franchise in tht
States by their ci izens. and the payment Of tn,
public debt Of the United States as rapidly al
practicable.
3. All money drawn from the people bv tax
alton. except so much as is requisite for the ne
cessities of the Government, economically ad-
m;nistered, should be honestly applied to such
payment, and where the obligations Of the Gov
ernment do not expire sly state upon their face
or the law under which they were issued does
not provide that they shall be paid IL coin, they
OUGHT. in rig and ju 'tice. be paid in the law
ful mon Of the United States.
4. Equal taxation ofevery species ofrroperty
according to its real value. including Govern
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
the bondholder.
s. Economy in the administration Of the
Government; the reduction of the standing
army and navy; the abolishment of the freed
mems bureau. and all political Instrumental
tiles designed to secure negro supremacy; SIM
plifcstion of the system and the dis continuance
of inquisitorial boards for assessing. and col
lectipg 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 AL enactmeuts 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 as Will afford inci-
dental protection to domestic manufactures,
and as will, without impairing the revenue,
impose the least burden upon and best promote
and encourage the great industrial interests OF
the country.
7. Reform of abuses in the Administration
the expulsion of .errupt men from Offices. the
abroRation 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 tho civil power to the end that the usurpa-
tions of Congress and the despotism Of tho
s. Equal rights and protection for natural.
ized and native-born cifizens at home and
abroad; an assertion OF American nationality.
which shall command the respect Of foreign
powers over and furnish an example and encourage
ment TO people struggling for national integ-
rity. constitutional liberty and. individuat
rights. and the maintenance. of the rights of
naturalzed citizens against the obsolete doc
trine Of immutable 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 rioht anA no " N
tyranny which have marked its career, after
the most solemn and unanimous pledge OF both
Houses of Congress to prosecute the war ex-
clusively for tho maintenance OF the govern
ment and the preservation Of the Union under
the Constitution.
fthas repeatedly violated that most sacred
pledge under which was rallied that noble vol
unteer armv, which carried our flag to victory.
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.
1t has nullifed there the right of trial byjury.
II hes abolished the habeas corpus, that
most sacred writ of liberty.
1t has overthrown the freedom of speech and
the press.
srrests. and military trials and secret Star
Chamber inquisitions. for constitutional tri-
bunals.
II has disrcgarded in time of peace the, right
of the people to be free from search and seiz-
ures.
It has entered the post and telegraph offices,
and even the private rooms of individuals.
and seized their. private papers and letters,
without any specification or notice OF afbdavit'
as required by the organic law.
1t has converted the American capitol into
bastile.
1t has established a system of spies and OFF,
cial espionage to which no constitutional moH-
archy Of Europe would now dare to resort
1t has abolished the right of appeal on i'm
portant. constitutional questions to the SUI
IRENE Judiciary tribunal. and threatens to
cIrtail or destroy its original lar,,dlcti;Gn
tion. while the learn d Chief Justice has been
subjected to the most atrocious calumnies,
merely because he would not prostitute his
tisan charges preferred against the President.
Its corruption and extravagance have ex-
ceeded anything known in history, and by its
frauds and monopolies il has. nearly doubled
the burden Of debt created during the war.
Il has stripped tn, President Of his coustitu-
tional power Of app ointment, even Of his own
cabinet.
Under It's repeated assaults the pillars Of the
Government are rocking on their base, and
should Il succeed in November next and inau-
gurete its President We will meet as a subject
and conQuere1 people amid the runs af lib
erty and The scattered fragments Of the Constr
tuition and we dc declare and resolve that
ever since the people Of the United States
threw Of all suhjection to the British Crown
the privilege and trust Of suffrage have. be-
longed 70 tne teterai states, ana nave pecn
granted. regulated. ard controlled exclusively
by the political power e each State respect
lively, and any attempt By Congress. on any
rretext whatever. 10 deprive any STATE cf this
right, Vt interfere with this exercise. Is q ia
graft usurpation of power which can ind no
warrant in the Constitution. and, III sanctioned
by the people, will subvert our form Of gov-
ernment, and can only end In a single central
fred. consolidated government. in which the
eepa-nte existence of the States VIII be entirely
absorbed. and an unQualifed desrotism Be
established in place Of FEDERAL UnsSn Of
equal Stafes-
Thaf We regard the reconsiructiln acts Of
Corgrrsr, no-called. a. fusurpations. 1nconsti- /
fufional. rerolufionary and void. an that our /
soldiers and sailors who carried the fag of our !