The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-09-23

The Democratic party, in national convenfiin
assembled, reposing its trust in the intelligence,
patriotism and discriminating justice Of the pet-
pie, standing upon the Constitution as the founda-
ton and limitation Of the powers of the goversi-
ment, and the guarantee Of the liberty Of the CHI
zen, and recognizing the questions Of slavery asa
secession IS having been settled for all time 10
come by the war or the voluntary action Of tie
Southern States In constitutional conventions o.
sembled, and never to be renewed or resgitates,
do, with the return of peace, demand
First-lmmediate restoration Of all the Slater 10
their rights in the Union under the Constituted,
Second-Amnesty for all the past political
ofenses, and the regulation of the elective fral-
chite in the States by their citizens.
Third-Paymentof the public debt Of the United
from 'front.' the people BY tsason, except so much as
Is requisite for the necessities OF the government
economically administered, being applied to such
payment; and where the obligations of the gov.
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 tas
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
bondholder.
Sixth Economy in the administration Of tie
government; the reduction Of the standing army
and navy the abolition Of the freedmeps
bureau and all political instrumentalites he-
signed to secure negro supremacy; simplfea-
ton Of the system and disconinuance Of inqusito-
rial modes of assessing and collecting the internal
revenue, SO that the burden of taxation maybe
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 TOR
revenue upon foreign imports, and such equal tax
atior under the internal revenue laws as will
AFFORD incidental protection to domestic manufhc-
lures; and as will, without impairng the revenue,
impose the least burden upon, and best prombte
and encourage the great industrial interest Of The
country.
Seventh Reform of abuses in the administra-
ton, the expulsion of corrupt men from Office, tbs
abrogaion 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
OWL 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 encout-
agement to people struggling for national intes-
rity, constitutional liberty and individual rightSs
and the maintenance of the rights Of naturalizsS
citizens against the absolute doctrine Of imniG-
table allegiance and the claims Of foreign powsrs
to punish them for alleged crimes committed Ee-
yond their jurisdiction.
In demanding these measures and reforms, re
srragn the radical party for its disregard Of right
and the unparalleled oppression andtyranuy whbh
have marked its career, after the most solemn add
unanimous pledge of both houses of Congress 20
prosecute the war exclusively Tor the maintenarsS
of the government and the preservation Of 90
Union and Constitution. 1t has repeatedly yso-
lated that most sacred pledge, under which Wis
rallied that noble volunteer army which carrsd
flag to victory instead of restoring the UniSa,
has far q q 10 in ifa lvadi md
jected ten States, in time OF profound peace, ito
military despotism and negro supremacy. 1t las
nullifed the right of trial by jury; it has sbFl-
ished the habeas corpus. that most sacred writ OF
liberty; it has overthrow the freedom of speeah
and press; il has substituted arbitrary seizusas
and arrests, and military trials and secret sSr
chamber inquisitons for constitutional tribunas
II has disregarded in times Of peace the right Of
the people to be free from searches and seizurtf;
1t has entered the post and telegraph offices, aid
even the private rooms of individuals and sei2sd
their private papers and letters without any spop-
fcaiion or notice Of affidavit as required by txe
organic law; it has converted the American calsi-
tol into bsstile; 1t has established q system OF
spies and official espionage to which no constth.
tionai monarchy Of Europe would dare to resort;
it has abolished the right Of appeal on i'd
portant constitutional questions to the SD
preme judicial tribunals, and threatens 70
curtail or destroy its original jurisdictiC6,
which is irrevocably vested by the Coz
sutution while the learned chief justice has beeu
subjected to great and strocous calumnies, merely
because be would not prostitute his high office "a
the support Of the false and partisan charges pre-
ferred against the president. It's corruption ard
extravaganza have exceeded anything known ia
history, and by its frauds and monopolies IL his
nearly doubled the burden of the debt created
during the war. 1t has stripped the president Df
bis constitutional power OF appointment, even ef
his own cabinet; under its repeated assaults tss
pillars Of the government are rocking on theiF
base, and should IL succeed in November next,
and inaugurate its president, we will meet II asa
s1bje cted and conquered people, amid the ruins
of liberty and the scattered fragments of tire
Constitution. And we do declare and resolve,
that ever since the people Of the United States
threw of all subjugation to the British crown the
privilege and trust of suffrage have belonged 10
the several States, and have been granted, regu,
lated and controlled exclusively by the political
power OF each State, respectively; and any
attempt by Congress, on any pretext whatever,
to deprive any State of this right or interfere
with this exercise. is fragrant usurpation of
power, which can find no warrant in the Constitus
ton, and il sanctioned by the people will subvett
our form OF government, and can only end In
single, centralized, consolidated government in
which the separate existence Of the States will lie
entirely absorbed, and an unqualified despotiss0
be established in place Of federal Union Of
equal States; that we regard the reconstruction
acts Of Congress, so.called, as usurpationH:
unconstitutional. revolutionary and void; that
our soldiers and sailors who carried the flag OF
our country to victory against most gall
liant and determined foe must ever be CRATE
Iuny renempereo, ana all the guarantees given Ia
their favor must be faithfully carried into execu-
ton; that the public 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-
lished by the government; when grants OF the
public lands may be allowed necessarily for the
Of important public improve
ments, 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
in resisting the aggressions Of Congress on the
constitutional rights of the States and the people,
Is 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
triotic efforts In that regard.
Upon this platform the Democratic party appeal
to every patriot, including all the conservative
element, and all who desire to support the Consti-
tuition and restore the Union, forgetting all past
differences of opinion, to unite with rs In the