The Van Buren press., 1869-10-26
From Littie Rock Gazette.
Liberal Rspdbncan State convsntion.
TnuRsDAY, Oct. 14 1869.

The Liberal Republican Stats Convex
ton vas cAiled u ofder at halfpast tel
o'cloc',, by the temporary chairman, Gen
John Edwards, OF Sebastian.
The chairman announced that ali per
sons desirous Of responding to the cal
published yesterday, for all who favor en-
fIadchisement, etc, irrespective or race
color, or previous condition, to come for
ward and enroll themselves. The chair
also Announced that the report of the com
mittce on credentials would be FIRST in or
der. .sntaSGG4 sA4 0Ji4
DR.. Jennings presented the report oI
| the committee on credentials, and stated
that twenty three counties were represent
cd sV EiH tsa oi iHfi boti it Hgf sn
The committee on permanent org;kiiza-
tioa reported .the nomination Of General
John Edwards, OF. Sebastian for Presi-
dent and T. CFAadcrsoa and 1Tabbs
Gross, Vice Presidents ~. Msi,arncs, as
SECRETARY, aud II. King White as Assist
ant Secretary, who were elected unani-
moHsiy. sHe GOA ,vTHcs 81 Z ati
Gen, Edwards returned thanks for the
honor conferred, at considerable length,
IN speech characterized by iibefaiity
prudence and good sense, which was ap-
plaIuie,t enihnsrasticalW a. 4.t .lUsss
The following is the Platform adopted
by the Convention e.s.,5.. ....f....
We, the representatives of that portion OF
The loyal and conservative people of Arkan.
ak who FAVOR universal sufIlsioe. universal
aud. faenpnu,f.al n u-
nont in convention assembled at the city OF
Little Rock, this lith day Of Oct, 1869, do
hereby adopt and proclaim the following, as
the plltform of the Liberal Republican. party
Of Arkansas 1latR -taNi'i '
lst. we pledge ourselves to maintain and
defend the union and the constitution of the
United States. a, a.i bsJ, (. "a
I'd We accept the reconstruction OF Arkan-
sas. and the restoration OF her constitutional
relations with the national union as accom-
plisied facts. and recognize. the present con
stitptpn. and existing state gove rnment as
valid and binding, whose lawful authority is
entitled to, and ought to receive the respect
uud' obedience Of every good citizen.
Sd. We maintain that the equality of all
men before the law, Is a fundamental princi-
pie Of republican government. Therefore we
faoor universal suffrage and univerfal ampes-
ty and ihasmuch as there no longer exists
my TtsCsBu UT -IttVtsNtlf iOE
any class of our fellow citizens, we frvor the
immediate removal of all restrictions upon
the elective franchise. except shch as may
be imposed AS punishment for crime. OF
which the offender has been duly convicted
4th. we are opposee to making any change
in, or modification of, the constitution that
will or iiiay In anywfsc, curtail or 'abridge
any Of the rights dpiivileges or inniunities
nov held and enjoyed by the eolored people
Of Arkansas, seA a. ,tf.ss 'pel st 1fi .uUe
5th. We are opposed to the one man pow
er," and deprecate as dangerous to the liber-
ties Of the people, and fatal to the purity OF
Republican government the vast amount OF
official power and patronage now lodged in
the hands of the chief executive of this State
and therefore favor such Modification of the
constitution and existing laws as TO place the
most of that power IN the hands Of the people
where 1t properly belongs. 1s. "a lIr..l y
9Th. The enormous expenditures of the gov
ernment, ahtl the oppressive burdens OF taxa
ton imposed upon the people, call aloud fol
retfeachment and reform In every branch
and department of the public service and de-
| lnand the exercise of the most rigid care and
1 irggaity in the collection, outstanding ant
disbursement of the public funds Therefore
we favor such a modification of.the eonstitu
tion and existing lawsas to lessenthc number
| and curtail the salaries of officers and agent
needless antt UNNECESSARY Offices, and the re
duction of the rates .oftaxation to such a per
ceDt,ll,e ,,gs may be sufficient to raise just q
nough and no more revenue than Is neeessa
| ry 10 defray the EXPENSES Of the gevernnen
h6hrstIy and economically administered.
| 7th. We favor wise and judicious system
| Of public Instruction, so rs to place the mean
of education within the reach Of every chill
in the State; but We deprocatc the prescn
systpmas being needlessly cuinbrous andex
pensive; and because 1t dNetts a very lnrg
proportion Of the school fundto theanainte
napce and support ofa number Of fsupernumc
\ rary officers, With enormous salaries, who's
services niiglt'very we'll bcdispenscd wfth,o
ut least substituted by less expensive and a
equally efficient aHencies,o aarod lnaa rI9
/ Sth. We are In favor Of q vigorous and pre-
grcssive SYSTEM ofpublic improvements, an
j believe that the government Should foster,ai
and encourage the building OF railroads TO tl
utmost extent consistent with the means {
the people, and the resources of the State. /;
the same time carefully and scrupulousl
guarding against any and every corrul
scheme or combination to defraud the stat
By converting the governments bounty int
means of private speculation and individul
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT to the prejudice of public II
tercs rs. 8H s14F g90Q> = ud toc-i F1A
9th. We are In favor Of immigration. an
cordially extend q welcome TO all Immigrant
from other States, ~ we'll Us from foreig
countries. who may desire TO come among /,
y for thcpnrpese ofidentifying themselves wit
the soil, and aid in the developement and In
provement of the Stale. 8urt f tt't -
10Th. For the attainment and accomplish
inent Of the purposes and objects embraced
and contemplated by the foregoing propos
tions we hereby organize ourselves into p'
litcal party, to be designated the Liberal a
PUB 6cdn Party Of Ayknnsas. and cordially II
yte the cooperation Of all men. without Y
gpect to race color or previous political opii
ions, to unite with us on the basis Of the pla
form herein lay down, iEI s1tr r4r 1h1