The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-09-29
Adopted July a, 1868.

... ~
The Democratic party, in national convention
mpied, reposing its trust In the intelligence,
patriotism and discriminating justice OF the peo.
pie, standing upon the Constitution as the founda.
ton and Limitation of the powers of the govern.
ment, and the guarantee Of the liberty OF the citi.
zen, and recognizing the questions Of slavery and
secession as having been settled for all time 10
come by the war or the voluntary action of the
Southern States in constitutional conventions as
sembled, and never to be renewed or reagitated,
do, with the return of peace, demand 80
Frst-lmmediate restoration of all the Statee TO
their rights in the Union under the Constitution,
and OF civil government to the American people.
overwhelmingly for all the past political
ofenses, and the regulation Of the elective fran
chse In the States by their citizens.
Third-Paymentof the public debt of the United
States as rapidly as practicable, all money drawn
from the people by taxation, except so much as
requisite Tor the necessities Of the government,
economically administered being agRtsd n fyse
eminent do not expressly state, upon their face,
or where the law under which they were issued
does not provide that they shall be paid in COIN
they ought in right and in justice be paid In the
lawful money of the United States.
Fourth-Equal taxation Of every species of
property according to its real value, including
government bonds and other public securities
Fifth-One currency for the government and
the people, the laborer and the Office holder the
pensioner and the soldier. the producer and the
Sixth Economy in the administration of the
government; the reduction of the standing army
and navy the abolition of the freedmen's
bureau and all political Observation-Disclosures de-
signed to secure negro supremacy; simpli6ca-
ton OF the system and dscontinuance of inquisito-
rial modes Of assessing and collecting the internal
revenue, so that the burden of taxation may be
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
national forces in time of peace and tariff for
revenue upon foreign imports, and such equal tax
atior under the internal revenue lava as will
afford incidental protection TO domestic manufac-
lures; and as will, without impairing the revenue
impose the least burden upon, and best promote
and encourage the great industrial interest of the
country.
seventh-Reform of abuses in the administrs.
ton, the expulsion of corrupt men from office, the
abrogation of useless Offices, the restoration of
rightful authority to and the independence of the
executive and judicial departments of the govern.
ment; the subordination Of the military to the
civil power, to the end that the usurpatons of
Congress and the despotism OF the sword may
cease.
Eighth Equal rights and protection for natu.
rallied and native born citizens at home and
abroad, the assertion of American nationality,
which shall command the respect of for
eign powers and furnish an example and encour-
agement to people struggling for national integ-
rity, constitutional liberty and individual rightsS
and the maintenance of the rights of naturalized
citizens against the absolute doctrine Of immu-
table allegiance and the claims of foreign powers
to punish them for alleged crimes committed be-
yond their Jurisdiction.
In demanding these measures and reforms, we
arragn the radical party for its disregard of right
and the unparalleled oppression andtyranny which
have marked its career, after the most solemn and
unanimous pledge OF both houses of Congress to
prosecute the war exclusively for the maintenance
of the government and the preservation of the
Union and Constitution. II has repeatedly vio-
lated that most sacred pledge, under which was
roll io1t hat pahIo ~. -
our flag to victory instead of restoring the Union,
il has, far in its power dissolved it, and sub
lfGifat ye81s fNjhsm End 'Hegf6 supremacy rf has
nulified the right of trial by jury; it has abol-
ished the habeas corpus. that most sacred writ of
liberty; II has overthrown the freedom of speech
and press; it has substituted arbitrary seizures
and arrests, and military trials and secret star
chamber inquisitions for constitutional tribunals:
II has disregarded in times of peace the right Of
the people to be free from searches and seizures;
1t has entered the post and telegraph Offices, and
even the private rooms Of individuals and seized
their private papers and letters without any spec.
fcatlon or notice of affidavit as required by the
organic law; 1t has converted the American capt.
tol into bastie; 1t has established a system Of
spies and official espionage to which no constitu.
topal monarchy of Europe would dare to resort;
1t has abolished the right of appeal on i'm
portant constitutional questions to the SUI
preme judicial tribunals, and threatens to
curtail or destroy its original jurisdiction,
which Is irrevocably vested by the Con-
stitution, while the learned chief justice has been
subjected to great and atrocious csumnies, merely
because he would not prostitute his high Office to
the support of the false and partisan charges pre-
ferred against the president. Its corruption and
extravaganza have exceeded anything known in
history, and by its frauds and monopolies it has
nearly doubled the burden of the debt created
during the war. 1t has stripped the president of
bis constitutional power Of appointment, even of
his own cabinet; under its repeated assaults the
pillars Of the government are rocking on their
base | in VI
and inaugurate its president, We will meet IL as
subjected and conquered people, amid the ruins
OF liberty and the scattered fragments Of the
Constitution. And we do declare and resolve,
that ever since the people Of the United States
threw of all subjugaton to the British crown, the
privilege and trust Of suffrage have belonged to
the several States, and have been granted, regus
lated and controlled exclusively BY the political
attempt by Congress, on any pretext whatever,
to deprive any State of this right or interfere
with this exercise, is q fragrant usurpation Of
power, which can find no warrant in the ConstItu-
ton, and II sanctioned by the people will subvert
our form of government, and can only end In
single, centralized, consolidated government, in
which the separate existence Of the States will be
entirely absorbed, and an unqualified despotism
be established in place Of q federal Union Of
equal States; that we regard the reconstruction
acts OF Congress, so.called, as usurpationg,
revolutionary and void: that
our soldiers and sailors who carried the flag Of
OuI OOuuuy W NlCtOry hBaiust HOst gal"
liant and determined foe must ever be CRATE
fully remembered, and all the guarantees given 10
their favor must be faithfully carried into execu-
hon; that the public lands should be distributed
among the people, and should be disposed of
either under the pre- empton Of homestead laws,
Or sold In reasonable quantities, and to none but
actual occupants at the minimum price as estab-
ished by the government; when grants of the
public lands may be allowed necessarily for the
Of important public improve.
nents, the proceeds of the sale OF such lands, and
not the lands themselves, should be so applied.
That the president of the United States, Andrew
Johnson, In exercising the power Of his high Office
n resisting the aggressions of Congress on the
constitutional rights of the States and the people,
q entitled TO the gratitude Of the whole
American people; and on behalf Of the Demo-
cratic party we tender him our thanks for his pa
r otto efforts In that regard.
Upon this platform the Democratic party appeal
20 every patriot. including all the conservative
element, and all who desire to support the Consti-
ution and restore the Union, forgetting all past
differences of opinion, to unite with Us in the
present great struggle for the liberties of the peo
pie, and that to all such, to whatever party they