Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1872-04-13
Meeting of the Liberal Republicans
tn New York.


to its utmost capacity tonight with supper
tiers of the liberal republican policy, while
thousands were unable to obtain admittance.
Before the formal proceedings, the names Of
sgners of the call for the Cincinnati conven-
ton and the platform of the Missouri con-
vention were read and greeted with tremend-
Gus cheers. The meeting was called to order
by Hon. Ethan Allen, and nominated Col.
Frederick A. Conkling for President, who
took the chair and made brief address.
The list of vice presidents includes Horace
Greeley, Waldo Hutchins, Moses II. Grim
nell, Chas. A. Dana. Parke Goodwin, f. L.
Godkin, Marshall o. Roberts, r. NJ. Blach-
ford, j. X. Porter, John A. Dix.
AT quarter before eight Schurz and Trum-
bull arrived and were enthusiastically re-
ceived. and at eight o'clock the latter was in
troduced to the meeting. Trumbull after a
| brief recountal of events Of the past, spoke
of the causes of public dissatisfaction, one of
which was the continuance of political disa-
bilities after occasion for them had passed
away. Causes therefore were both mercenary
and political. The mercenary cause was ad-
venturers who plundered the people of the
Southern States, as the people of New York
were plundered by the former city govern
ment. The political cause is retention of
power by such men as Gov. Bullock, who
was compelled to fly from Georgia to escape
punishment for fraudulent debt which he
fastened upon the State. At this point
Horace Greeley heartily cheered, Trum.
bull saying, glad to hear such cheers in
honor of the first champion of universal am
nesty, great measure which is demanded in
the name OF honesty, OF peace, and of the
best interests of all, and their cause of COM
plant and use of patronage of the govern.
ment in carrying elections in the interest of
the action of party. Your custom house is
filled with men appointed not for capacity,
but because of the influence it is supposed
they can exert at some primary election or
State convention, or in teaching you how to
vote. He spoke of the action of the military
officer in command in Georgia, prohibiting
certain men to sit in the legislature, and al
lowing others to take seats in direct defiance
| of the law of Congress, in which there was
no other notice taken than mild report by
the Senate judiciary committee, that his &C.
ton was contrary to law. A few years ago
Congress passed law that no officer of the
army should discharge the functions of civil
officers and yet who does not know that
while the House is filled with army officers
the safety of citizens and property is to be
found in local laws which the people them
selves administer, and not in central govern
ment. If this system of encroachment is
permitted to go on, the day is not distant
when our republican system will be trans.
ferred into on imperial despotism, and wheth-
err it is exercised by a single person or by
900 called Congress, it is equally des-
potism
In speaking of Controller Hubbard who
was permitted to go out Of office honorably
| on resignation, when a few years ago the
question was asked the sub-treasury depart
ment what would be done with the man who
took down the American flag on the custom
house building, the reply was, ''shoot him on
the spot" Had the Controller neglected to
pay party assent or TO use influence to pack
primary meeting, on control the election in
the interest of some favorate, the political
guilotine would have taken off his head.
Trumbull next spoke Of the Secretary of
the Navy who not only violated the law by
paying money on an account that had been
settled, but also by taking money that had
never been appropriated for such purposes.
times relate to encroachment by the federal
government upon the rights Of State and
local governments to amnesty, and to secur-
ing equal rights of all the great principles
| lying at the foundation of the republican par
| ty, to reform in our revenue system by
which taxation be reduced and SO arranged
as to bear equally as far as possible upon all
branches of industry, to purihcation OF the
civil service and the administration of the
government by which plunderers be driven
from power.
The speaker concluded by declaring that
the only remedy is in the people themselves,
and in convention of the best elements of the
republican party at Cincinnati.
Mr.. Schurz was then introduced and re-
ceived with prolonged cheers. He spoke
upon the same strain for about an hour, wher
the meeting broke up. s...s