The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1871-10-07

sponsibility of legislation has been in
their hands. They have rescued the
canals from the ruin to which reck-
less aud improvident system of repair
contracts had exposed them. They
have restored them to the highest
efficiency, and at the same time re-
duced the expense and lowered the tolls
with such practical benefit to the rev.
enue and commerce as to extort from
our political adversaries, who at first
denounced this statesmanlike policy, a
reluctant approval. They have cut off
an immense mess of special legislation,
and reduced materially the volume Of
taxation. They challenge comparison
between lhese results and the twenty
years OF accumulated misrule, waste,
and corruption of their adversaries.
Rcso!vsd, That the freest exchange OF
commodities between this and every
ether country, as between various dis
tricts oil our own land, is of the greatest
benefit both to the buyers and the sell.
ers; that government should lay no tax
on imports except for revenue purposes;
that revenue, TO he justly levied, should
he moderate in amount and fairly based
npOn the value Of the property taxed;
that raw materials and unfinished ar
tc!es cannot be especially taxed with
out an unjust burden being laid upon
our domestic manufactures so as to pre-
vent them from competing fairly with
those OF other countries; that our pres
ent tariff rates violates every princi pie
of political economy-it is complicated
in its provisions, requiring an enormous
body OF officials for its collection, and
thus de5auching our politics by throw
ing into party contests a large element
Of persons subserYient to the selfish az
grandizement OF the appointing power;
it has driven our manufacturers, though
the most skilful in the world, from all
foreign markets by enhancing the cost
OF the materials they use. Many Of its
duties are so high as to encourage
smuggling, and so complicated as to en-.
trap the honest importers That in the
present circumstances OF the country an
ample revenue for the payment Of the
interest and large instalmentS OF the
principle OF the debt and for the ordi.
nary expenses of the government can
lie hal without levying any tariff what
ever upon necessary articles, such as
iron, coal, clothing, medicines, and all
materials used,in the mechanic arts.
ReSoicc{, That in John I. Hoffman
the Democracy claim successor to the
great Democratic leaders-Clinton,
Tompkins, Wright, Marcy and Sey-
mour. Regarding himself as the ser.
want Of the whole constituency, he has
placed himself above all subserviency
to localities. He has 10y his vetoes pro-
tec'ed the treasury and saved millions
OF money for the people. He has per.
sistentIy resisted that species of local
and personal legislation upon which the
lobby member thrivcs and which per
vtr,s our system OF equal laws. In his
administration of the pardoning power,
while sensible ID the appeal OF justice
and mercy, he has been true to the re-
quirement of his office to see that the
laws are faithfully executed. He has
ass ,rted and maintained the civic rights
OF all citizens, no matter OF what race
or creed; and he has borne himself in
his high office with such integrity,
courage and devotion to duty as to com,
mand not only the confidence and graf
ituIe not ONLY of his political support
ers, bat OF the mass of intelligent and
apnrecative citizens of the State.
Rcso'voi, That now that apprehen-
sionS are expressed that the religious
and civil equality Of citizens is men.
acei, we renew the pledge of our fidelity
to the great Democratic doctrine OF
equal and exact justice to all men OF
whatever creed or nationality, and
srerial layOrs to none.