Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1868-07-16
FRANK P. BLAIR,
oF missouri. 1901
THE PLATFORM.

THE PLATFORM.
The Democratic party ia National Convention
assembled reposiug ns trust "a the intelligence,
patriotism and discriminating justice OF the
people standing upon the Constitution as the
foundation and Limitation OF the powers Of the
Government, and the guaranty Of the liberties az
the citizen, and recognizing the questlons %
slavery and secession ~ having been settled Tor
an time to come BY the war. or the voluntary
action Of the Southern States In e0nstituti0nal
conventions assembled, aud mover 90 be renewed
on re agitated, do with the return Of peace de-
Immediate restoration Of all the States TO their
rights ia the Union, under the COnstitut on. aud
ofeivil government 60 the American people
Second Amnesty for all past political oflenses
aud tho regulation Of the elective franchise 10
the States by their citizens. -. 40.
Third Payment Of The public debt OF the
United States rs rapidly as practicable, al
moneys drawn from the people b. taxation. eK-
cept 80 much a requisite for the necessities Of
the government economically administered, be-
ing honestly applied to zueh payment, and,
where the obligations Of the government do not
expressly state upon their tace. OF the law IN
dor which they we're issued docs not provide
that they shall be paid IN coin, they ought, in
right aud in Justice, be paid IN The lawful money
Of the United States.
fluid Equal taxation Of every species Of
property according 10 is real ynlue, including
government bonds and other pablo securities.
Ftik Ono currency for the RoForsment and
the people, the labOrcr aud the Ohics- holder,
the pensioneT and the soldier. the producer and
the b0ndhOlder.
SiuE Economy in the administration Of the
government. the reduction Of the standing army
and navy, the abolition Of the FrGedmen's Blu
roau, and all political iBstrumentalitios
designed 10 secure negro supremacy; sim
pihcation Of the system and discontinue
aEce OF inquisitOrial modes Of asseafing and col
lsctinR internal revenue 80 that he burden of
taxation may be equAliZed and lessenod. the
credit Of theR0vernment and tho currency made
good. tho repeal Of all onactments for enrolling
the state militia into national forces IN time Of
peace, and n tariff for revenue upon foreign i'm
ports. and such equal b tiOn under the internal
revenue laws a. will afford incidental protection
"a domestic manufactures. and as will, without
impniring the revenue, impose the least burden
upon and best promote and encourage the great
industrial interests % the country
NeUeHfh Reform Of abuses in the administers
ton. tho expulsion q corrupt men fapm Office,
the abragation Of useless Offices, the restoration
Of rightiul authority 20 and the independence Of
the Executive aad Judicial Departments Of the
government, the sUbordinatlon Of the military
% the civil power, 20 the end that the usurpa-
tions Of Congress and the dcspotism Of the swor 4
may cease.
rallied and native born citizens at homo and
abroad. the assertion Of American nationality
which shall command the respect Of foreign
powers. and Furnish an example and encourage.
ment 20 people struggling iOTnauonal integrity,
constitutional liberty and industrial ights and
the maintenance Of the rights Of nAturalizod
citizens against the absolute doctrine Of immu Z
table allegiance and the claims If foreign powers
10 pL .ish them for alleged crmc committed be-
yond their jurisdiction.
Ia demanding these measures and reforms we
arTaign the Radical party for its DISREGARD Of
right and the unparalleled Oppression and
tyranny which have marked its career. After
the most solemn and unanimous pledge of both
houses Of Congress 10 prosecute the war exclu-
sively for the maintenance Of the government
and the preservation Of the Union under the
Constitution, II has repeatedly violated tho
most sacred pledge under which alone was raj
lied that noble volunteer army which carried
our flag 10 victory. Instead OF restoring the
Union, u has, So far aslu it, power, dissolved IT,
and subjected ten States an time Of profound
peace 20 military dcspotsm and negro supTem-
acy. IL has nullihed thore the right OF trial by
Jury Il has abolished the ihdkeIs cDrpas. that
most sacred writ OF liberty; Il has overthrow
tho freedom Of speech and the press 1t has sub
sututod Arbitrary seizures and arrests, and mil
ltary trials, aud secret star chamber inQuis-
poas for the constitutional tribunals; il has
disregarded IN time of peace the right Of the
people 90 be free from searches and seizures: ID
has entered the post and telegraph Offices and
even the private rooms OF individuals, and
seized thor private papers and letters without
any specific charge OF notice of affidavit as re-
yuired by the organic law Il has converted the
American Capitol into Bastile; it has estab-
hshed system Of spies and espionage 20 which
no constitutional monarchy Of Europe would now
dare 20 resort Il has abolished the right Of ap-
peal on important constitutional questions 20
the supreme judicial tribunals. and threatens 90
curtan OF destroy its original jurisdiction which
Is iTreyocably vested By the Constitution while
the learned Chief Justice has been subjected 20
would not prostitute his high Office to the sup
port Of the false apd partisan charges preferred
against the President. It's corruption and ex-
trayaEance have exceeded ANYTHING known in
history and hyits frauds and monnpoles Il has
nearly doubled the burden Of tho dobt created
by the war. IL has stripped tho President of
his constitutional power % appointment. even
81 his own Cabinet Under It's repeated assaults
The pillars Of tho government are rocking on
their base and should 10 succeed in November
next and inauEurate is President, We viii meet
as a subject and conquered people amid the
ruins ofnberty aud tho shattered fragments OF
the Consultation.
And We do declare and resolve, that ever since
the people Of the United States throw of an
suhjoctiOn Go the British Crown the privilege
and trust Of suffrage have belonged 10 the sew
eEal states, and have been granted. regulated
and controlled exclusively By the political pow
er 81 each state respectively. and that any at
tempt by congress, on any proteNt whatever, 20 /
deprive any State of this right OF interfere with
az exercise, Is hagrant usurpatlon OF power
and. Il sanctioned ~ the people, VIII subyert
ost :orm of government, and can only end in a /
NnkIS eSatFahzeA and oonsoh dstod government,
be entirely absorbed and an unqualified des-
aUtlFm be established In place OF n Federal
gnieh q eoeepal sttt0ggi and that We regard
As such are usurpatidns and unconStitUtianaI
Evolutionary end void.
Thai our soldiers and sailors who carried the
Jas OF our country 10 victory against n most
gallant and determined foe, must ever be crate
kily remembered and all the guarantees given
~ their tay or must be faithfully carried into ox-
Scutiou.
That the public lands should be distributed
- widely az possible among the people, sna
should be disposed Of either under the pre-
caption OF homestead laws. snd Sold in reason
able quantities. and 20 mono but actual oceu-
pants. al tho minimum price established By the |
government hhon grants of the public lands |
may be allowed necessary for the encouraFe-
mont Of important public improvements, the |
proceeds of the sale OF such lands and not the |
lands themselves, should be 80 applied.
That the President Of the United States 40 |
drew johnson. IN exercising the power Of his /
high Jhce Iu resisting the aEErossions OF Con Il
gress upon she constitutional ehts Of the States
and the people. h entitled 60 thc gratiiude II Il
the whole American people. aud In behalf 81 che /
DomocTatIc party We tender him onr thauks isr L
bis patriotic efforts IN that regaFd
Upon thls platform the Democratic party ap- |
peal o. every patriot including all the conserve
i've elomcut and an who desire 20 support the
Constitution and rest0ro the Union, forgetting /
al past differences 81 pTiniun O. unite with Us Il
IN the present great struTgle tor the liberties az
he people and that Go al suCh, 90 whatever
party they NAV have heretofore bclonrcd. we |
,Xtend the night hand OF fellowship and kail |
"a such cooperating with us a. friends and
brethren. 4
----- r.H n