The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1872-06-13


action of the Cincinnati Convention in nomi-
mating him for Vice President, Hon. B. Gratz
Brown has responded as follows:
JEFFERSON CITY, May "a, 1872.
Gentlemen: Your letter advising me of the
action of the Liberal Republican Convention
ut Cincinnati has been received, and return
through you my acknowledgment of the honor
which has been conferred upon me.
| accept the nomination as candidate Tor
Vice President, and indorse most cordially the
resolutions setting forth the principles on which
the appeal is made to the whole people OF the
United States.
A century is closing upon our experience of
Republican government, and while that lapse
| of time has witnessed great expansion of our
free institution, yet it has not been without IL
lustration also of grave dangers to the stability
of such q system. Of those successfully encoun-
| tered, it is needless to speak. Of those which
remain to menace US, the most threatening are
provided against as I firmly believe, in the
wise and pacific measures proposed by your
platform. 1t has come to be the practice of
those elevated to positions of national authori-
| ty to regard public service but as means to
| retain power. This results in substituting
mere party organization for the government it
IL,
| laws or moralities, impairs all Independent
thought, enables few to rule the many, and
makes personal allegiance the road to favor. 1t
requires little forecast to perceive that this will
wreck all liberties unless there be interposed
timely reform of the administration from its
| highest to its lowest station, which shall not
only prevent abuses, but likewise take away
| the incentive to their practice. Wearied with
the contentious that are carried on in avarice
of spoils the country demands repose and re-
sents the efforts of officials to dragoon it again
into partisan hostilities. And will zealously
sustain any movement promising a Sire deliy-
erance of the perils which have been connected
with the war. 1t is safe to say that only those
are now to be feared which come of an abuse
of victory into permanent estfangement. The
Union is fortified by more power than ever be-
fore, and it remains as an imperative duty to
cement our nationality by perfect reconcilia-
ton at the North. A widespread sympathy is
which long after the termination of resistance
to the rightful Federal authority are still plum
dered under the guise of loyalty, and tyrannized
over in the name of freedom. Along with this
feeling is present. too, the recognition that in
complete amnesty alone can be found hope OF
any return to Constitutional Government as of
old, or any development of q more enduring
unity and broader national life in the future.
Amnesty, however, to be eficacious, must be
real, not nominal; genuine, not evasive.. 1t
must carry along with it equal rights as we'll as
equal protection to all for the removal of dis
abilies as to some, with enforcement as to 9TH
ers, leaves room for suspicion that pardon is
measured by political gain. Especially will
such professed clemency be futile in the pres
ence of the renewed attempt at prolohging a
suspension of the habeas corpus, and the per-
sistent resort to martial rather than civil law
in upholding those agencies used to ALLEVIATE
the races, when concord is most essential and
in preparing another elaborate campaign on q
basis of dead issues and arbitrary intervention,
all will rightly credit such conduct as but q
mockery of amnesty, snd demand an admins
tration which can give better warrant of homes
ty in the great work of reconstruction and re-
| form in the array of sectional interests. A re-
public as widespread az ours is never entirely
safe from serious conflicts. These become still
more dangerous when complicated with ques-
tions of taxation, where unequal burdens are
believed to be imposed on one part at the eX-
pense of another part. 1t was bold as well
as admirable policy, in the interest of present
as we'll as future tranquility, to withdraw the
decision of industrial and revenue matters from
the virtual arbitration of an electoral college,
chosen with the single animating purpose of
party ascendency, and refer them for more
direct popular expression to each Congressional
district. Instead of being muzzled by some
eyasive declaration, the country is thereby
invited to its frankest utterance and sections
which would revolt at being denied voice out
of Difference to other sections would be content
to acquiesce in general judgment Honestly
elected"
If local government bo, rs it undoubtedly is,
the most vital principle, of our institutions,
much advance will be made towards establish
ing it by enabling the people to pass upon
questions SO nearly affecting their well-being
dispassionately through their local representa-
ton. The precipitance which would force a
controlling declaration on tax or tariff through
a Presidential candidacy is only disguised
form of Capitalization, involving hazardous
reaches of Executive influence A conclusion
will be much more impartially determined and
with less disturbance to trade and finance by
appealing to the most truthful and diversified
local expression Industrial issues can be thus
likewise emancpatcd from the power of great
monopolics, and each representative held to
fidelity towards his immediate constituents
These are the most prominent features of that
general concert of action which proposes to re-
6Slace the present administration by one more
in sympathy with the aspirations of the masses
Of Of our countrymen. OF course such concert
cannot be obtained by thrusting every minor
or past difference into the foreground, and it
will be for tho people therefore to determine
whether these objects are of such magnitude
and present urgency as ojustify them in de-
Tending other adjustments until the country
shall be first restored to a free suffrage, unin-
Auenced by official dictation, and ours becomes
in fact free republic, released from apprehen-
sions of central domination.
Without referring in detail to the various
other propositions embraced in the resolutions
of the convention, but seeing how they all con-
template restoration of power to the people,
peace to the nation, purity to the Government;
that that they condemn the attempt to establish an
ascendency of military over civil rule, and at,
firm with explcitness the maintenance of equal
freedom to all citizens, irrespective of race,
previous condition, or pending disabilities, l
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