The Van Buren press., 1872-06-11

Z NiHClnnatl nomination Tor VICE president;
ENECUTIvE OFFICE /
JEFFERSON CITY, May 81, 1872.
GENTLEMEN: Your letter ad vising Of the action
of the Liberal Republican convention at Cincinnati
has been received, and return through you my ac-
Acknowledgement of the honor which has been confer
red upon nc. accept the nomination as a cand-
date for vice president, and indorsc most cordially
the resolutions setting forth the principles which
this appeal is made to the whole people OF the United
States.
century is closing upon our experience Of rcpub-
lican oyemmcnt and whilo that time has witnessed
great expansion of our free institutions yet it has
not been without Illustrations also of grave dangers
to the stability of such system. OF those successfully
encountered it is needless to speak Of those which
remain to menace Us the most thrcatcningly pro-
yidcd against, as firmly believe in the wise and pa
ciic measures proposed by your platform.
1t has come TO be the practice of those elevated TO
positions Of national authority TO regard the public
service not as pubic trust nut only as means to re-
tain power. This results in substituting mere par
ty organization for the government itscf constitute.
control amcnabie to no laws or morAllues lmpairs
all Independent thought enables the few (" rule the
many and makes personal allegiance the road to Ia
Eor, II requires nut niue forecast TO perceive that
this will wreck liberties unless there be nterpos
ed timely reform Of adm strauon, from its high
est to its lowest station, which shall not only forbid
thos lbuses but likewise take away the incentive to
their rscticc, Weared with contentious that are
arried in ayaricc Of sp0ils the country demands
reposc, iesents the effort of officials to dragoon it
agnin into partisan hostiltics, and will 2calously
Ofthe perils which have been connected with the
war it safe to say that only those now to be
feared which come of an abuse of victory into pcrma
power than ever before. and il renal ms as an imper
atiye duty to cement our nationality by perfect rec
onciliaton. At the North wide spread sympathy is
aroused in behalf Of those states of the South which
long after the termination OF resistance to rghtui
federal authority still plnndercd under the gusc
Of loyalty, and yranizcd over in the name of free
dom. Along with this feeling is present too the rec
ogniton that IN complete amnesty alone can be
found hope Of any return to constitutional govern
ment as of old or any development Of more endur-
ing unity, and broader national life in the future
Amnesty, however. to be eihcacious must be real,
! |
along with it equal rights as well as equal protection
to all for removal of disabilities as 10 some, with
enforcement as to others leaves room for suspicion
that pardon is measured by political gain. Espec-
tally " i'll such pro1ered clcmency be futile in pres
cnce Of renewed attempt at prolOnging suspension
OF the habcaS corpus IN persistent resort to martial
rather than civil law, in upholding those agencies
tiaI, ana in preparing another elaborate campaign
on b9sis Of dead issues and arbitrary interVontons
All will rightly credit such conduct as but mock
cry of amnesty, and demand an administration
which give better warrant Of honesty in the great
work Of reconstruction and reform.
In the array of sectional interests = republic so
widespread is never entirely safe from sori-
Gus conflicts. These become still more dangerous
when complicated with questions of taxation where
unequal burdens are believed TO be imposed on one
part at the expense of another part, 1t was bold
well as admirable policy in the interest of present
as well as future tranquility to withdraw the decsion
Of industrial and revenue matters from the virtual
arbitration of an electoral college chosen with sin
gle nnimating purpose of party asccndency and re-
fer them for more direct popular expression to each
congressional district Instead of being muzz ed by
some eyasiyc declarations the country Is thereby IN
vicd to its irankest utterancc. and sections which
would revolt Mt being denied voice, out of Difference
to other success, would be content to ecquicsce IN
general judgment, honestly elected. If local gov.
eminent be, as it undoubtedly is, the most vital
principle of our institutions, much advance Will be
made toward rc-cstAbllshlng 1t by enabling the peo-
pie TO pats upon questions so nearly affecting their
Nel-being dSpassiOnatcly, through thoir local rep
resentatons The prccipitancy which would force
controlling declaration on tax or tarlh through
presidential candidacy, is only DISGUISED form of
cenrall2aton nvolrug hazardous reaches OF eNecu-
tive influence. Conclusions will be much more i'm
partially determined and with less disturbance to
and diversified local expression. Industrial issues
can be thus likewise enancpNtcd from the powers OF
great monopolies, each canvass made to determine
it, own specific instructions, and each representative
held TO fidelity toward his immediate constituents.
These are the most prominent features O that gen
cral concert of action which proposes to replace the
present administration by one more in sympathy with
tho aspirations of the masses OF our cOuntymen, Oi
course such concert cannot be attained by thrustne
every minor or past difference into the foreground,
and II will be for the people, therefore, TO determine
whether these objects Of such magnitude and pre-
sent urgency rs to justify them in doicrrng other ad
justments until the country shall be first restored to
free suffrage, uninfuenced by other dictaton, and
ours become in fact free repubic released from ap
prchcnsiOn of q central domination,
ithout referring in detail to the various other
propositions embraced in he resolutions of the con
yentiun, but seeing how they all contemplate q res
toraton of power to the people peace to the nation
purity to the government that they condemn the at
tempt TO establish an ascendancy of military over
civil rule, and affirm with eNplicitncss the mainte,
nance Of equal freedom to all citizens, irrespective Of
race, previous condition, or pending disabilities,
have only TO pledge again my sincere cooperation.
have the honor TO remain,
B. GRAFT BROWN.
To Hon Carl Schurr, president; Hon. George W.
Julian, vec-prcsident and Messrs. W F., Mclean,
al Convention of Liberal Republicans Of tho United
States.