The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-10-28
THE PLATFORM
OF THE
National Democratic Convention
Adopted July q, 1865.

The Democratic party, 10 national convention
assembled reposing its trust In the intelligence,
patriotism and discriminating justice Of the PEG.
pie, standing upon the Constitution as the founda-
ment and the guarantee Of the liberty Of the citi
zen, and recognizing the questions of slavery and
secession 90 having been settled for all time to
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 .a
First-lmmediate restoration of all the States to
their rights in the Union under the Constitution,
I and OF civil government to the American people.
overwhelmingly for all the past political
onenses, and the regulation of the elective fran
ohise In the States by their citizens.
States as rapidly as practicable, all money drawn
| from the people by taxation, except SO much as
is requisite for the necessities of the government
economically administered, being applied to such
| 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,
theyeueht 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
bondbolder.
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 instrumentalities de-
signed to secure negro supremacy; simplifca-
ton of the system and dscontinuance of linguistic
rial modes of assessing and collecting the internal
revenue, 80 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
E0~o fxnxxr
alton under the internal revenue lava as will
afford incidental protection to domestic manufac-
lures; and a. will, without mpairing 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 administra-
ton, the expulsion of corrupt men from office, tho
abrogation of useless. offices, the restoration Of
rightful authority to and the independence of the
executive and judicial departments Of the govern
ment; the subordinaton of the military to the
civil power, to the end that the usurpstions 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-
rty, constitutional liberty and individual rights
and the maintenance Of the rights of nsturalized
citizens against the absolute doctrine of immu-
to punish them for alleged crimes committed be-
yond their jurisdiction. r..~ l.- ,I.
In demanding these measures and reforms, we
arraign tie radical party for its disregard Of right
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. 1t has repeatedly vio-
lated that most sacred pledge, under which was
rallied that noble volunteer army which carried
our flag to victory instead of restoring the Union,
il has SO far as is in its power dissolvedt and sub
jected ten States, In time of profound peace, to
military despotism and negro supremacy. 1t has
nullifed the. right of trial by jury; it has sbol-
lshed the habeas corpus. that most sacred writ Of
liberty; 1t 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
Il 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; i has converted the American capt.
tol into bas;ile; it has established system Of
spies and official espionage to which no constituf
tional monarchy VI Europe would dare to resort
1t has abolished the right of appeal on i'm
portant constitutional questions to tho su-
preme judicial tribunals, and threatens to
curtail or destroy its original jurisdiction,
which Is irrevocably vested by the Con-
stituton, while the learned chief Justice has been
subjected to great and atrocous cslumnies, merely
because be 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 lis 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
cuoo -
and naugurate its president, we will meet il as q
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 oil subjugation to the British crown, the
privilege and trust Of suffrage have belonged to
the several States, and have been granted, regu,
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-
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 federal Union OF
equal States; that we regard the reconstruction
acts Of Congress, so-called, es usurpations,
revolutionary and void; that
Dur soldiers and sailors who carried the flag OF
Jul Oountty W NiCtoTy uBbiIst ulO5t Rdis
liant and determined foe must ever be CRATE
fully remembered, and all the guarantees given in
their favor must be faithfully carried into execu-
hon; that the pubic lands should be distributed
among the people, and should be disposed OF
either under the presumption Of homestead laws,
or sold In reasonable quantities. and to none but
actual occupants. at the minimum price as estab-
shed by the government; when grants Of the
public lands may be allowed necessarily for tho
Of important public improve
nents, the proceeds of the sale Of such lands and
not the lands themselves, should be 30 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 tho
constitutional rights of the States and the people,
s entitled to the gratitude Of the whole
American people; and on behalf of the Demo-
ratio party we tender him our thanks for his pa
rotic efforts In that regard.
Upon this platform the Democratic party appeal
o every patriot, including all the conservative
clement, ard all who desire to support the Consti-
ution and restore the Union, forgetting all past
differences of opinion, to unite with rs in the
resent great struggle for the liberties of the peo-
lie, and th&t to all such, to whatever party they
nay have heretofore belonged, We extend the
light hand Of fellowship, and hail all such CO.
DeratinQ with fYienda hrofhera.