The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-05-30
PRINCIPLES ENUNCIATED BY THE RE-
PUBLICANS OF VIRGINIA.


The Republicans of Virginia, in Convention
assembled, about to enter upon the canvass for
the election of a President and Vice-President
oil the United States, now formally announce
their principles to the voters of this Common
wealth.
From 1865 to 1879 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, 14th, and 10th amendments of the national
constitution and in the civil rights act of April
8, 1866, the enforcement act of May 80, 1870, and
the amended enforcement act of April 90 1871 ;
which principles in brief are =
1. 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 poliii
cal
That the elective franchise and the right of of
f1ce-holding shall belong to all citizens of proper
age, not guilty of crime, irrespective of race,
color, or of any other proscrptive 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 just principles of equality and right; but
those of true Christian liberation; and that we
oppose all prescription for opinion sake, and all
epdeavors to infuse spirit of hatred and HOSTILE
ty in the minds of one class of citizens against
another on political grounds.
4. 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 embeZzlement 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.
o. That well conducted and faithfully adj
ministered system of free schools, in pursuance
of the State constitution, whereby the children
of the people shall be universally educated, is a
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, favor the cleo
ton of sch DOL trustees by the people in such
manner that the minority as well as 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, giving earnest of his competency and
fidelity of intention in The discharge of his i'm
portant duties @
7. That the so-called Conservative party of
this State, by its unjust laws and proscriptiye
spirit, by its attempts TO hold the mass of the
people in ignorance, by its pernicious financial
legirlation and its oppressive taxation, has for.
fcited all claim to the support of the people of
Virginia; and has shown that party is unfit 10
exist which, like II, 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
porters.
S. That the wise provisions of the homestead
clause in our State constitution have been ig-
nored by the judiciary 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 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. f. Lewis, and hereby pledge
| themselves to the support of this measure.
| 0. That we extend hearty welcome to imml
| 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
| abornds.
| 10. That the national currency given the ma
| ton by the Republican party, has proved !
national blessing; that protective tariff is thu
| true policy for the South tending as it does tt
| 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
II. That this Convention, as a mark of the
respect for the Hon. John i. Lewis and as n ties
timonial to his valuable public services, and hi
| integrity of character, respectfully offer h il
name to the Republican party of the United
States, for nomination along with Gen. Grant
| as a candidate for the Vice-Presidency
mend the denomination, General Grant fo
| the Presidency, as due, not only to his grea
public services in the field and in the Cabinet
and to his fidelity and honesty, but as measure
| of Justice to q great and good man who has beef
made the object of iniquitous assault not osl,
from his political enemies but from those VIII
should have been his political friends
supplemental Resolutions.
Resolved, That in the opinion of this Conven
ton Congress should provide for such an exten
sion of the powers of the Federal courts, as b
protect all rights and secure prompt remedies 10
ali wrongs in the States lately in rebellion, wher
the partisan character of the local courts, or tn
inadequacy of their power, fails to secure pre-
lection to any portion of the people.
Resolved, That we are in favor OF an amend
ment to the Constitution of the United State
| providing for the election of President, Vice
President, and Senators, directly by the people
and, so far possible, for such direct election
Resoloed, That the National domain is tn
common heritage of all the people, and shonl
be sacredly guarded from speculation and mono
| poly; sold only for homesteads to actual settler
education.
i RESOLVED, That this Convention earnestly 1T
commends the establishment of u free Nations
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.
Res0loed, That cheap communication by ma
is one of the most precious interests of the PEI
pie and we call upon Congress to perfect OF
present excellent system by adding there TO II
Postal Telegraph, thus securing the vast bench
Of telegraphic communications to all.
WHEREAS it is of immense commercial nnpol
lance to the people of the United States that
public highway be established for cheap tran
portation of freights between the people
the West and the Atlantic seaboard; therefor
be it
Resolved, That the Congress of the Unite
States be inemorialized to complete the Jam
River and Kanawha canal, and that our Senate
and representatives in Congress be requested
use all honorable means to secure the complete
| of this national highway (already half compl
ted) as soon as possible.
e. 4351 g.