The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-08-29
PRINCIPLES ENUNCIATED BY THE RE-
PUBLICAES OF VIRGINIA. r.

PUBLICANS OF VIRGINIA. e.
The Republicans of Virginia, in Convention
assembled, about to enter upon the canvass for
the election of President and Vice-President
oil the United States, now formally announce
their principles to the voters of this Common
wealth.
From 1865 to 1872 they have continually and
unWaveringly held and proclaimed the same
principles !; and they hereby reiterate and re-
affirm the resolutions OF their State Conventions
held in 1866, 1867, 1868, 1869, 1870, and 1871.
These principles have been embodied in the
18th, l4th, and 10Th amendments of the national
constitution and in the civil rights act of April
9, 1866, the enforcement act of May 80, 1870, and
the amended enforcement net of April 20, 1871 !;
which principles in brief are:-
l. That slavery shall never exist in this Union
That all native and naturalized inhabitants of
these states shall be citizens of the Union, enti-
tied to absolutely equal rights, civil and polti-
cal;
That the elective franchise and the right of of
fice-hoiding shall belong to all citizens of proper
age, not guilty of crime, irrespective of race,
color, or of any other proscriptive qualification
2. That the laws of Congress passed for the
enforcement of these rights should be diligently
executed; and that If, in practice, these laws
should be found inadequate for this purpose,
other laws should be enacted by Congress effect
ual to that end.
3. That these constitutional amendments and
the laws for their enforcement embody not only
the inst principles of equality and right; but
thoseof true Christian liberation and that we
oppose all prescription for opinion sake, and all
eDdeavors to infuse spirit of hatred and HOSTILE
ty in the minds of one class of citizens against
another on political grounds
A. That we challenge the world to produce
financial results more successful than have been
achieved by the national administration The
national debt has been diminished Three hundred
millions Of dollars, while taxation by the nation
| al government has been largely and steadily re-
duced. Our credit has improved and strength
ened at home and abroad the perpetrators of
fraud and enbe2zlement have been vigorously
pursued and promptly punished; the revenues
have been collected by officers held by the Presi-
dent to the most rigid accountability, all OF
which has produced the present satisfactory
condition of the national treasury.
8. That. q well conducted and faithfully ad
ministered system of free schools, in pursuance
of the State constitution, whereby the children
of the people shall be universally educated, is
cardinal policy of the Republican party, and
| necessary to the well being of society; and as
one means of securing an efficient management
of the free schools OF Virginia. we favor the cleo
ton of sch DOL trustees by the people in such
manner that the minority rs well rs the major
ity may be represented in the school boards.
g. That it is due to the Superintendent of Pub
lie Instruction of Virginia, that this Convention
should express their approval of his late able re-
port, as giving earnest of his competency and
fidelity of intention in the discharge of his i'm
portant duties.
7. That the so-caried Conservative party of
this State, by its unjust laws and proscrptive
spirit, by its attempts to hold the mass of the
people in ignorance, by its pernicious financial
Legislation and its oppressive taxation, has for
lelteu all clam 10 tne support OF the people OF
| Virginia and has shown that party is unfit to
exist which, like it, is organized ON the princi
pie of political and social prescription and held
| together by no common bond but that of hatred
! towards the national government and its sup
| portegs.
S. That the wise provisions of the homestead
| clause in our State constitution have been ig-
| nored by the Judiciary or ruled upon in such q
manner as to deny to our people its intended
| benefits
Suffering debtors find no adequate relief upon
| appeal to the State courts or Legislature but
are compelled to see the little wreck of property
left them by the war sacrificed under the sheriff
| hammer at forced sale and themselves and fami-
| lies left homeless beggars.
| In view OF these facts, the Republican party of
| Virginia, as the author of the Homestead clause
and its advocate to the present time, believes the
| extension of the exemptions under the general
| bankrupt act so as to include the homestead eX-
emptions under our State constitution to be the
| only means of relief now offered to our people,
| and they therefore ask Congress to pass the
amendment to that effect offered in the Senate
| by the Hon j. Il. Lewis, and hereby pledge
| themselves to the support Of this measure.
8. That we extend hearty welcome to immi-
| grafton and capital from abroad, and advocate
| the development in every possible manner OF the
magnificent resources of forest soil, water
| power and mineral wealth in which Virginia
| abounds.
| TO- That tile national currency given the ma
| ton by the Republican party, has proved u
national blessing; that protective tariff is the
| true policy for the South, tending as it does to
| produce that variety Of employments which we
| SO much need; and that State and nationul taxa
| ton should be reduced as rapidlyias possible,
consistently with due regard to the public faith
H. That this Convention, as a mark OF their
| respect for the Hon. John L. Lewis and as Il tes
| timonial to his valuable public services, and his
integrity of character, respectfully offer his
| name TO the Republican party of the United
| Sta,es for nomination along with Gen. Grant,
rs candidate for the Weep Presidency
~. That this Conventiou unanimously recon-
mend the denomination General Grant for
| Presidency
public services in the field and in the Cabinet.
aud to his fidelity and honesty, but as measure
OF justice to q great and good man VINO has been
made the object of Ubiquitous assault not only
| from his political enemies but from those who
should have been his political friends.
supplemental Resolutions.
| ResolUed, That in the opinion of this Conven
ton Congress should provide for such an extern
sion of Abe powers of the Federal courts as TO
protect all rights and secure prompt remedies for
wrongs in the States lately in rebellion, where
the partisan character of the local courts, or the
| inadeQuacy of their power fails to secure pro
lection to any portion of the people.
Resolued, That we are in favor of an amend,
ment to the Constitution of the United States
providing for the election of President, Vice
President and Senators, directly by the people
and, SO far rs possible, for such direct election
i all other public officers.
/ ResotUed That the National domain is til,
common heritage of all the people, and SHOULD
be sacredly guarded from speculation and mono
poly; sold only for homesteads TO actual settlers
in small quantities, and The proceeds applied t.
education.
Resoioed, That this Convention earnestly re
commends the establishment of free Nationa
University in the city of Washington, to utiliz
the immense educational material now collecte'
there; such University to be supported from tn
proceeds of sales of the public lands.
ReSolUed, That cheap communication by mai
is one of the most precious interests of the pee
pie, and we call upon Congress to perfect on
present excellent system by adding there to tn
Postal Telegraph, thus securing the vast benefit
of Geographic communication to all
WHEREAS it is of immense commercial impor
lance to the people of the United States that
public highway be established for cheap trans
portaton of freights between the people {
the West and the Atlantic seaboard; therefore
be it
RsSolued, That the Congress of the Unite
States be memorialiZed to complete the JAIME
River and Kanawha canal, and that our Senator
and representatives in Congress be requested I
} use all honorable means to secure the completio
, of this national highway (already half eompl
ted rs soon as possible
NJOTtCE-All persons are hereby cautiont
f IN against purchasing or trading for TW
SHARES OF the Trade Union Company
STOCK, Nos 1Nh and IO6 "A 6 apOlicatiOn will