Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-07-24
THE PLATFORM.

| The Democratic party, in National Conven-
tion assembled. repo.ing its trust in the intelli
gence. patriotism and discrimin sting justice OF
| the people; standing upon the Constitution as
| the foundation and limitation Of the powers sf
| the Government. and the guarantee of the lib
critics of the citizen and recognizing the ques-
| tiops of slavery and secession as having been
| settled for ali time TO come by the war or the
| voluntary action Of the Southern States in
| Constitutional Conventions assembled. and
never to be renewed or reagitated; do. with the
| return of peace, demand,
| l. Imu ediate restoration Of all the States to
| their rights in the Union under the Consti tu-
| tion and civil government OF the American
2. Amnesty for all past political offenses, and
| the regulation Of the elective franchise in the
States by their ciizens. and the payment OF the
public debt of the United States as rapidly as
practicable.
! 3. All money drawn from the people by tax
alton, except 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 expressly state upon their face,
| or the law under which they were Issued does
not provide that they shall be paid IL cein. they
| ought, in right and justice, be paid in the law
| full money of the United States.
| 4. Equal taxation Of every species of property
| 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 ohiceholder, tho
| pensioner and the soldier. the producer and
| The bondholder.
6. Economy in the administration of the
| Government; tho reduction of the standing
| army and navy; the abolishment of the freed
| mems bureau, and all political instrumental
1 tiles designed to secure negro supremacy SIM
plification Of the system and the dis continuance
| of inuuistorial boards for assessing and coll
| 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 enactments for
| enrolling the State militia into National forces
| in time of peace a tariff for revenue upon
| foreign imports, and such equal taxation under
| the internal revenue laws as will afford incl
| 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
I. Reform of abuses in the Admins tration,
| the expulsion of corrupt men from ohhees. the
abroaaton 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.
| lied and native born citizens at home and
| abroad; an assertion OF American nationaiity.
| which shall command the respect OF foreisn
powers and furnish an example and encourage
| ment to people struggling for national integ..
| Iity, constitutional liberty and individual
rights, and the maintenance. Of the rights OF
naturalized citizens against the absolute doc
| trine of immutabe allegiance. and the claims
| of foreign powers to punish them for alleged
crime committed beyond their jurisdiction.
| In demanding these measures and reforms
we arrsign the Radical party for us o!sregard a
tyranny which have marked its career, after
the most solemn and unanimous pledge oil beth
| Houses of Congress to prosecute the war ex-
| clusively for the maintenance Of the govern
ment and the preservation of the Union under
the Constitution.
pledge under which was rallied that noble vol
unteer army. which carried our flag to victory.
Instead of restoring the Union. 1t has: SO lar
as in its power dissolved it. and subjected ten
States in time of peace to military despotism
| and negro supremacy.
II has nulIifed there the right Of trial by jury.
1t has abolished the habeas corpus, that
most sacred writ of liberty.
Ii has overthrown the freedom Of speech and
II has substituted arbitrary seizures and
arrests, and military trials and secret Star
Chamber inquisitions, for constitutional TIL
II has disregarded in time of peace the. right
of the people to be free from search and seiE-
II has entered the rost and telegraph Offices,
| and even the private rooms OF indiyiduals,
and seized their private papers and letters
without any specification or notice OF afhdavit,
| as required by the organic law.
1t has converted the American capitol into
II has established q system Of spies and Off
cial ksnionaee 10 which no constitutional mon
archy of Europe would now dare to resort
1t has abolished the right Of appeal on I'M
portant constitutional questions TO the su-
preme judiciary tribunal, and threatens 70
curtail or destroy its original {url,olc..on,
which is irrevocably vested BY the Sonsutu
ton, while the learned Chief Justice has been
subjected TO the most atrocious calumnies,
merely because he would not prostitute nls
high office TO the support Of the talse ane ps,
tisan charges preferred AGAINST the Presidents
Its corruption and extravasance have ex-
cceded anything known in history. and oy its
| frauds and monepolies II ha- nearly doubled
| the burden Of debt created dG.isg the war.
| II has stripped the President OF his constitu-
tiOnal power OF appointment, even OF his own
Under It's repeated assaults the pillars Of the
Government are rocking on their base, and
| should Ii succeed in November next and inau-
| rurafe It's President we will meet as a subject
| md conquered people amid the runs Of lib
| erty and the scattered fragments OF the Consti-
| tuition: and we do declare aad resolve that
| ever sincc the people Of the United States
threw on all subioction 20 the British Crown
the privilege and trust OF suhragc have be-
ionred 10 the several States. and have been
granted. regulated. and controlled exclusiyeiy
~ the political power e each State respect
lively, and any attempt By Congress, on any
| rrsfcrt whatever. 20 deprive any state OF this
| rrsrt usurpation Of power which can Ind no
| warrant in the C0rstilrtion. and. II sanctlonca
| ~ The people. will subvcrt our form Of gov
| ernmcnt, and can only end In q single cent tral-
i-ed, consolidated government, in which The
| srrarsfe existcnce Of the States viii be cntircy
| sSh.,,bei. and an urqualified desootiFm Be
ss,sblhhsd in place Of feters- Union OF
eSFThf eSFhss ~s rersrd the reconstructlss acts ef
congress, So-eaIsd, as lusurratsnss tnconit-