The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-08-23


constitution and in the civil rights act of April
9, 1855, the enforcement act of May 80, 1870, and
| the amended enforcement act of April 20, 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 politi-
cal;
That the elective franchise and the right of Of
fce-hoiding shall belong to all citizens of proper
| age, not guilty of crime, irrespective of race,
color, of any other proscriptive qualification;
| 2. That the laws of Congress passed for the
| enforcement of these rights should be diligently
| executed; and that II, 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 ernbody 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
eDdeavors 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 h,ullred
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.
| 8. That 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
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 as well as the major
! ity may be represented In the school boards.
| g.. That il 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 inn
7. That the so-cafled Conservative party of
this State, by its unjust laws and proscriptfve
spirit, by its attempts TO hold the mass of the
people in ignorance, by its perncious financial
legirlation and its oppressive taxation, has for
| feited all claim to the support of the people Of
Virginia and has shown that party is unfit to
| exist which, like it, is organized on the princ-
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 or ruled upon in such
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 tho 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 homes tead ex-
emptions under our State constitution to be the
only means of relief now offered to 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 10 the support of this measure.
8. That we extend hearty welcome 10 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
| abounds. a..... Be-.
10. That the national currency given the ma
ton by the Republican party, has proved a
national blessing; that protective tariff is the
true policy for the South, tending as it does to
produce that variety of einployments which we
So mnch need and that State and national taxa
ton should be reduced as rapidly as possible,
consist ty with due regard to the public faith
II. That this Conyention, as .. mark of their
timonial to his valuable public services, and his
integrity of character, respectfully offer his
name to the Republican party of the United
STATES, for nomination along with Gen. Grant,
as candidate for the Vice-Presidency.
IL. That this Convention unanimously recon-
mend the denomination, General Grant for
the Presidency, as due, not only to his great
public services in the field and in the Cabinet,
and to his fidelity and honesty, but as a measure
OF justice to great and good man who has been
made the object of intq uitous assault not only
from his political enemies but from those who
should have been his political friends.
supplemental Resolutions.
Reso,rsd, That in The opinion of this Conven
ton Congress should provide for such an extern
sion of the powers of the Federal courts, as to
protect all rights and secure prompt remedies for
ali wrongs in the States lately in rebellion, where
the partisan character of the local courts, the
inadequacy of their power, fails to secure pro-
lection to any portion of the peOple
Res0lued, 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 as possible for such direct election OF
all other public officers.
RESOLVED, That the National domain is the
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 to
education.
RESOLVED, That this Convention earnestly re
eommentls the establishment of Il free National
University in the city of Washington to utilize
the immense educational material now collected
| there such University to be supported from the
proceeds of sales of the public lands.
/ Resotued, That cheap communication by mail
is of the most precious interests of the peo
pie, and we call upon Congress to perfect our
present excellent system by adding there to the
Postal Telegraph, thus securing the vast benefits
of telegraphic communication to all.
WHEREAS il is of immense commercial impor-
lance to the people of the United States that a
public highway be established for cheap trans
portation of freights between the people of
the West and the Atlantic seaboard therefore,
be 1t
Rcsolced, That the Congress of the United
States be lneinorialiZed to complete the James
River and Kanawha canal and that our Senators
and representatives in Congress be requested to
use all honorable means to secure the completion
of this national highway (aiready half compile
ted) as soon as possible. ~ ..sf