The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1874-09-24

Congress. Our Chief Justice Story, in his
treatise on the Constitution, vol s, page SOq
stl. 1888, ia constituting this power, holds that
Congress has the e.rcfuSire pOleer to deter
mine and declare whether the exioencv has
ARISEN, where the privilege of the writ of
habeas corpus shall be suspended. Mr..
Jefferson so construed the constitution. In
Il critical period Of his term, lie declined
upon solicitation to exercise that power,
holding that Congress alone would do il.
And both he and Congress were forced by
popular indignation from their purpose to
declale this right suspended.
Crowned heads OF England. when inva-
ded by a foreign foe, in more than two in
stances We're afraid TO defy public opinion
by declaring this writ Of right suspended
But now, this dominant party, defy ing pub
lie sentiment and the Constitution alike,
by the fourth section of this Endorsements
Act, places the writ of habeaS corpus at the
mercy of the President alone. BY one
stroke OF his omnipotent pen he can declare
that there is rebellion in 4 State and wipe
nut the civil lazy, assert military rule, close
the courts of justice, and set mp in their
steals military conrts, where any citizen
can be tried without jury, and without
the right Of resort TO the writ Of habeas
corpus.
This is no fancy sketch. And vet the
Republican parry of Tennessee have at the
head Of their tieheJ a supporter of this and
other infamous measures already referred to.
Il. That we oppose a ! monOpolies, rings
and combinations formed for the Oppres-
sion Of the people; that we are for the aboli-
ton Of ali useless and unnecessary offices;
for the proper reduction Of all excessive
salaries; for the most rigid economy in the
administration of the State Government;
for all necessary reforms in the law, so as to
make its execution speedy, just and Ger
tain; tina. we will hold the collectors of
re enue to a strict accountability in the
collection and application of said revenue;
that we deplOre the existence of all indebt-
ness, Federal, State, county and municipal,
and demand that no more taxes shall be
LAID upon the people than shall be found TO
be essentially necessary for the support Of
the State Government administered on
principles Of the most rigid economy, and
for the payment of its just debts and obli
cations, and for the preservation of its
credit and honor untarnished, aud are there
fore opposed to an increase of taxation"
l pass this without comment, preferring
ia notice it in connection with the Repub-
| lican platform.
-. That we favor the abolition of the
| present odiOus national banking system
and the payment Of the bonds of the Gov
eminent by issuance of its nOn-bearing
| interest notes according to the contract eX-
| pressed and implied at the time of the crea-
ton of such obligations. and a repeal Of
| the present oppressive Federal tariff, aid
| the enactment of a law solely with a view
| to the collection of the necessary revenue"
| This is comprehensive, and is threefOld.
l. To repeal The present National bank
law.
z. To redeem the United States bOnls
! in greenbacks, instead of coin, aud Tor that
purpose, as far as the wants of the country
may justify, increase the circulation OF
! legal tender notes.
3. To repeal the present tariff which dis
| eliminates in favor of the few against the
many, and enact in Its stead tariff for
/ revenue alone.
"6. That we denounce all legislation that
seeks to interfere with the individual right
1 OF tie citizen 80 select his own associates,
| and particularly what is Known as the sup
/ Elementary Civil Rights bill, pending be-
fore the Federal Congress, AS a palpab vi
| UlatiOn of the Constitution, intended to
veN, harass, Cypress and degrade the people
/ of the Southern States, and procuc i've o
/ untold social and political evils 20 bO,h
/ faces, and which we should resist by all
| legal and constitutional means in our
| power"
This last plank in the platform is com
| prehensive, and yet so explicit and express
/ rs may be provoked by discussion Of tho
/ Radical plank on the same subject.
STATE REPUBLICAN, PLATFORM.
Alter re-afliIning l. e National Republic
| can platform of 1872, which is full Of sain
| glory and Radical platitudes, the eonven-
ton proceeds 20 define itself thus, on
! finances and currency.
:. That the system Of national currency
| founded by the Republican party, las
! proved the best ever devised for the pur-
! pose Intended, and while we would favor
no violent change VIII ch night be oppress-
/ i've to either the debtor or creditor class
| we would recommend a system of free
national banking, basel upon a safe an
| for redemption, and a return to specie pay
ment at the earliest piactica Ale period CON
| Sistent with a sufficient supply of currency
| 10 meet the reasonable wants Of business.
What splendid enunciation of princi-
| ple 1t reminds enc of the husband who
said s'his wife Sally had been the hest wife
in the world, but he was anxious to be lii
voreed from her." I4aughter.l
] They declare the national bank system
! the best ever devised, but they recommend
| its adjustment and a system Of free bank
ing adopted instead. Their platform of
1872, which they re-afi1n, fully approves Of
the system of national currency, aud styles
1t ''Our excellent national currency The
question naturally suggests itself, If Gthe
system has proved the best ever devised"
and if, as they pretend, the country has
| grown great aud prosperous, under it, why
| abandon it, aud go out into the shoreless
| sea of experiment?
Sirs, it cannot be disguised, and the Re
publican party cannot escape the fact, that
the country has well nigh drilled in the
vortex of bankruptcy and ruin under this
National bank system and the Republican
finaucial policy. \ favored few have CON
t. oiled the Congress by money power
that legislators would H0tresis aud now The
/ wall Of the pOyerty-stricken masses, both Of
the South and the North, tie dep eciatiOn
Of real estate all over e land, even in the
crowded. marts Of the great commercial mt
| tropolis Of the nation, the prostratiOn Of
/ trade and commerce and the financial ruin
everywhere staring us in the face, have
alarmed even the leading Republicans for
! tn. sIfsiy of their party.
Tie Democratic parry since 1866, have
/ by ali meats ia their power, denounced the
in