The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-10-23
Adopted July y. 1868.

Inc Democratic party, IN national convention
assembled reposing its trust in the intelligence,
patriotism and discrimir atng justice OF the PEG.
pie, standing upon the Constitution as the founda-
uon ana 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 80 having been settled for ell 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 regulated,
DO, with the return Of peace, demands
their Iighta in the Union under the Constitution.
and of civil government to the American people.
Second-Amnesty for all the past political
offenses, and the regulation Of the elective fran.
chise In the States BY their citizens.
Third-Paymento Of the public debt of the United
states as rapidly as practicable, all money drawn
from the people by taxation, except so much as
10 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. upsn 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 II justice be paid in the
Fourth-Equal taxation of every species of
property according to its real value. Including
government bonds and other public securities.
..Fipb1r or s.erRn6ofn dnn tho sraoo-,v-s<.4,
pensioner and the soldier. the producer and the
bondholder. -.- ..-~
Sixth Economy in the administration of the
government; the reduction Of the standing army
ana navy, tn6 dDOut0n OF bne HeeumeQb
bureau and all political instrumentalities de-
signed to secure negro supremacy; simpli6ca-
ton Of the system and discontinuance of ingusito-
rial modes Of assessing and collecting the internal
revenue, SO that the burden of taxation may be
equalized and lessened; the credit Of tie 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
stior under the internal revenue laws as will
N
tures 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 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 subordination of the military to the
civil power, to the end that the usurpsdons of
Congress and the despotism Of the sword may
cease.
Eighth-Equal rights and protection for natu.
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 rights;
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 csfeer, after the most solemn and
unanimous pledge of both houses Of Congress to
prosecute the war exclusively for the maintenance
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.
t. L.. anIu h
jecied ten States. in time of profound peace, to
military jeepotism and negro supremacy. 1t has
nullifed the right of trial by jury; it has ahol-
ished the habeas corpus. that most sacred writ OF
liberty II has overthrow the freedom Of speech
and press; it has substituted arbitrary seizures
and arrests, and military trials and secret star
chamber inquisitcns for constitutional tribunals
II has dhregarded in times Of peace the right OF
the people to be free from searches aud seizures;
it has entered the post and telegraph offices, and
even the private rooms of individuals. and seized
their private papers and letters without any speci
fcatiOn or notice OF affidavit as required by the
organic law; it has converted the American capt.
tol into bsstile; it has established system Of
spies and official espionage to which ne constitu..
tional monarchy OF Europe would dare to resort !;
1t has abolished the right of appeal on i'm
portsnt constitutional questions to the su-
preme judicial tribunals, and threatens to
curtail or destroy its original Jurisdiction,
which is irrevocably vested by the Con-
sttution, while the learned chief justice has been
subjected to greata atrocious calumnies, 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
extravgance 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. II has stripped the president Of
his constitutional power Of appointment. even Of
his own cabinet; under its repeated assaults the
pillars OF the government are rocking on their
base, and should 1t succeed in November next.
and inaugurate its president, We will meet il as o
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 subjugation to the British crown, the
privilege and trust Of suffrage have belonged to
the several States, and have beer 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 fiagrant 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 am unqualified despotism
be established in place of a federal Union Of
equal States; that we regard the reconstruction
acts OF Congress, so.called, as usurpafions,
unconstitutional. revolutionary and void: that
our soldiers and sailors who carried the flag Of
our country TO victory against a most gal
liant and determined foe must ever be CRATE
fully remembered, and all the guarantees given in
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 pre- emption of Homestead laws,
or sold in reasonable quantities, and to none but
actual occupants. at the minimum price as estab-
lshed by the government; when grants OF the
public lands may be allowed necessarily for the
eDcouragements 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 Iigh 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 ell the conservative
element, and all who desire TO support tue Consti-
tution 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
pile, and that to all such, to whatever party they
may have heretofore belonged, we extend the
right hand of fellowship, and hail all such CO.
operating with rs ss friends and brothers.
=" We started early to ascend Mt. Olivet, to be-
hold the spp od the minarets and towers of the