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


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The Democratic party, 10 rational conversion
assembled reposing its trust In the intelligence,
patriotism and discriminating justice OF the pAo-
ple standing upon the Constitution as the fouo9s-
ton and limitation Of the powers of the govern
zen, and recognizing the questions Of slavery end
secession 90 having been settled for all time ~
come by the war or the voluntary action OF sho
Southern States In constitutional conventions as
sembled and never TO be renewed or resgitatsd,
do, with the return Of peace, demand:
First-Immediate restoration Of all the Statef' 10
their righn in the Union under the Constitution,
and of civil government to the American people:
Second-Amnesty for all the past political
offences, and the regulation of the elective fran.
chte in the States by their citizens.
Third-Psymentof the public debt Of the United
States as rapidly as practicable, ell money drawn
is requisite for the necessities of the government,
economically administered, being applied TO sach
payment and where the obligations of the gov.
eminent do not expressly state, upon their fsce,
does not provide that they shall be paid in chin,
they ought 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-0ne currency for the government and
the people, the lsborer and the Office holder. the
Sixth Economy in the administration of the
government; the reduction Of the standing asmy
and navy the abolition of the freedmen's
bureau and all political instrur1entalities de-
signed to secure negro supremacy; simplitca-
ton of the system and discontinuance of inquiSto
rial modes Of assessing and collecting the internal
revenue, SO that the burden OF taxation MAJ be
equalized and lessened; the credit of the govern
ment and the currency made good; the repeSl 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 FAX.
atior under the internal revenue laws az will
sfford incidental protection to domestic man6fac-
lures; and as will, without impairing the revenue,
impose the least burden upon, and best promote
and encourage the great industrial interest Of the
country.
seyenth-Reform Of abuses in the administra-
ton, the expulsion of corrupt men from Office the
abrogaiion of useless Offices, the restoration OF
rightful authority to and the independence OF the
executive and judicial departments OF the govsrn'
ment; the subordination OF the military to the
civil power, to the end that the usurpatioLs OF
Congress and the despotism of the sword may
cease.
Eighth Equal rights and protection for natu.
ralized 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-
seement TO people struggling for national irteg-
rity, constitutional liberty and individual rights;
and the maintenance Of the rights of naturaltzed
citizens against the absolute doctrine of immu-
table allegiance and the claims Of foreign powers
to punish them for alleged crimes commitIed'be-
yond their jurisdiction. l-sl.i =.
In demanding these measures and reforms we
arragn the radical party for its disregard Of right
and the unparalleled oppression andtyranny waich
have marked its career, after the most solemnand
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. II 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 far is in its power dissolved IT, and auD-
jected ten States, in time of profound peace, to
military despotism and negro supremacy. IL mas
nullified the right OF trial by jury y mas sool.
ished the babeas corpus. that most sacred writ OF
liberty it has overthrow the freedom of speech
and press; il has substituted arbitrary seizures
and arrests, and military trials and secret star
chamber nquistions for constitutional tribunals
1t has disre garded in times Of peace the right OF
the people to be free from searches and seizures
1t has entered the post and telegraph ofices and
even the private rooms Of individuals and se ised
their private papers and letters without any sreci.
fcaiion or notice of affidavit as required BY the
organic law; it has converted the American eapi-
tol into bsstile; it has established system OF
spies and official espionage to which no conssitu.
tional monarchy of Europe would dare to resort
| it has abolished the right Of appeal on i'm
| portant constitutional questions to the su-
preme judicial tribunals, and threatens to
| curtail or destroy its original jurisdici ion,
which is irrevocably vested by the Con-
sttution, while the learned chief justice has been
subjected to great and atrocous caluplnes. merely
because he would not prostitute his high ofife to
the support of the false and partisan charges pre-.
feIred sgslnst the president; Its corruption and !,
history, and by its frauds and monopoliss IL has
nearly doubled the burden of the debt created
during the war. II has stripped the president of
his constitutional power OF appointment, eyeh OF
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| pillars Of the government are rocking on theif
! base, and should it succeed In November next.
and marguerite its president. We will meet II ~
subjected and conquered people, amid the rains
| of liberty and the scattered fragments OF the
| Constitution. And we do declare AID 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 belonRed to
the several States, and have been granted, ragu
| 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 usurpatioh Of
| power, which can find no warrant in the Conssitu.
lion, and IL sanctioned by the people will subyert
| our form of government, and can only end 70
| single, centralized, consolidated government, In
/ which the separate existence Of the States viii be
entirely absorbed, and an unqualified despotism
be established in place OF federal UnioE oil
| equal States that we regard the Reconstruction
acts of Congress, so.called, as usurpauons
| UNCONSTITUTIONAL. rev0luuonary ano voiu tha'
| our soldiers and sailors who carried the nag O.
our country to victory against q most gal
liant and determined foe must ever be crate
fully remembered, and all the guarantees given II
their favor must be faithfully carried into exscu
ton; that the public lands should be distributed
among the people, and should be disposeg o
| either under the presumption OF Homestead laws
| or sold in reasonable quantities. and TO none bu
| actual occupants. at the minimum price as estab
lisbed by the government; when grants OF ths
| public lands may be allowed necessarily for tai
epcouragements Of important public improve
ments the proceeds Of the sale of such iands. 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 c,hct
in resisting the expressions Of Congress on thu
constitutional rights Of the States and the pespie
is entitled to the gratitude OF the who'll
American people; and on behalf OF the psmo
| cratic party we tender him our thanks for his pa
triotic efforts IN that regard.
Upon this platform the Democratic party anpea
| TO every patriot, including all the oonservstiy
element, and all who desire to support the Ccnstl
tuition and restore the Union, forgetting all pas