The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1871-10-14

Stoat prlGctpIos JOt UpWaruS OF Cutee'ioN1tuS VI
. century while it managed the affairs of the
goveraneat. dvauci.g progress, and preserv.
ing the rights Of the whole people, it has now no
new principles to pat forth o. advocate.
Res0lned that N .uifest necessity for declar-
alton OF our adherence to those truths new is
! moro obvious ss danger to the liberties of the
people 10 most imminent The wilful and open
disregard by Gen. Grant of the political indepen-
deoce OF the respective states and violent milf
tary measures TO which the standardization has
recorded to destroy their freedom, calling In aid
the military under command Of United States Of
6cera, a. In Louisiana and other states against
the will Of the people, breaking down BY con.
gress of the only safeguard of personal liberty,
the writ of hAbeas corpus in the states, disturbing
OF the freedom of state and individual acti,n,
and in cases vesting the whole power Of the gen.
er.1 government in the president to be exercised
at his pleasure within the states, and the utter
Disregard of all state and authority, manifest
rising spirit of despotism and Capitalization of
power in the hands of a chief, which leave moth.
ing unacoomplished to make his will absolute
and make the masses of the yeople slaves
Resoloed that the general government is, az it
ought to be, q governments Of limited powers
chat these powers are prescribed and enumerated
by the constitution Of the United States; that
according to the letter of that instrument, it il
expressly declared that all powers not conferred
upon congress ard the government of the United
St,tes reserved to states respectively. or PEG.
ple tkat this distinction in spheres of action az.
signed to general and state governments is i'm.
portaut 10 harmonize the cooperation OF both IN
the preservation of local independence, to uni.
versal diffusion of political vitality, to the pre-.
vention Of military despetisu, to the security of
individual rights and popularity of our free in.
stitutiona, but that the u-urpatons of the pre-.
ent administration directly involve the destruc.
tion of these Republican guarantees Of all.
ResogocG that the Democratic party of the state
os Illinois regard the constitution, with Its
amendments, as the supreme law of the union,
to be invioate a0d observed in all its parts, and
political distinctions, founded on race and color,
being nov abolished, We pledge ourselves in the
future ~ 10 the past to maintain at ait times the
constitutional rights aud franchise Of all men
without regard to previous condition.
ltcso<ced that taxes should be levied solely foe
the support of the government and the mainten.
ance of its credit and that the imposition of taxes
having for their object the transfer of capital
from one class, section or individual to another,
without the consent of the owner. is unjust, de.
lusive. impoitic ane opposed to sll principles Of
Republican government.
IisS0locd that commerce, trade aud industry,
are founded on mutual exchange of service
among men, and whatever operates to cripple or
OF loss to the whole comm unity.
Resotced that the present tariff has destroyed
the ship building industry and almost annihils.
ted the foreign commercial m ,rine Of the United
ststes; that it has prohibited the contraction
on our lakes and rivers Of iron vessels with in.
creased capacity in proportion to tonnage and
draught of water, with greater durability, and
diminished the outlay for repairs and insurance.
all OF which tend to materially affect the trans.
port OF products; that while this tariff il unnec.
essarily increasing the profits of the iron pro.
duoer, it is crippling ship.bo'ldiny and ship
owning interests Of tho CREST lakes and rivers
80 that rs respects competition with our Cana
dian rivals these interests are placed BY tho gen.
erai government 1t y great disadvantage. and
this IN the face OF the most abundant natural re.
s,urces for ship building and navigation.
tesoIpod that to the same policy is chargeabls
the increase in Large degree of the heaviest of
railroad transportation, the cost of such trans
portation being always 10 proportion to the cost
OF iron, and that It 10 idle for the western farm.
er:. notwithstanding bis superior advantages Of
coil and climate. to expect to compete with other
parts OF the world, when his products are con.
veyed to market over rails which cost seventy
per cent. more than they cost elsewhere.
isossaced that our system OF taxation should be
reduced and simpiined with view Of raising
tho necessary amount of revenue from the sm ALI.
est ns0ber OF articles to the end that the COS,
OF collection nay be lessened aud fruitful
source OF corruption removed.
fssotcea that the departments Of the " neral
government, Legislative, executive and judicial,
are oo-ord'nste in their powers and the indie.
peadence Of each should be- sacredly upheld aud
maintained.
RSsolccd thst sound financial policy. no
less than true Interpretation Of the coustitu.
hon requires return to specie payments ut tho
earliest praoticatAe moment. and the restosa tiou
OF gold aud silver M the only legal tender nav.
ment for all debts. both public and private.
ffesosccd that IN American citizen should be
entitled to the enjoymsnt Of his rights under
the constitution ~ rmended. We demand of
c'"ere,s full amnesty for all past polite Il of
,ence' anu the restoration Of all privileges with.
heih ny the fourteenth amendment.
hesotoed that full force should be given
to the doctrine that citizens aud subjects, in all
states, have the right n choose in what country,
and under what country they will live, aud we
speedily insist that all American uitizaA..
whether or not n turalized, shall he promptly
anu efficiently protected by the n>,iouai govern
meut l. every part OF the world as ,;n., H. az.
preston aud injusl ice Of all governmeots Whist.
ever.
He'olced that labor is the true source q, Ill
wealth, ard men of labor are no. onl, the rnl
authorities Of IN ,,erial weil.heins bui the. he.,
defenders OF the honor and Interests II the
country. 1t L. therefor" no less ,he dipi te OF
II wise policy, than of sound prime Plies that the
''eh.s OF DOR be July mI,nioin,a aud every
possible opportunity oi Individual itnprov Z nent
secured ny laws 10 the "Grkinginen Of the
country.
heSolred that in view of the con,inunl,y recur.
ring calamities Ia co i mines throughout the
world, and the fearful sacrifice Of life, limb and