The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1872-07-20

huul6sS duu Ueclafatl0n OF sfl0clpleS
II Adopted by the Convention of Liberal
Republicans in Cincinnati, May 3rd
1872. y
THE ADDRESS.
The administration now in power has rend.
} cred itself guilty of wanton disregard of the
laws OF the land, and has rsulped powers
not granted by the Constitution. 1t has
acted as If the laws had binding force only
LOT those who are governed, and not for those
who govern. 1t has thus struck q blow 1T
the fundamental principles of constitutions
government, and the liberties of the citizens.
The President of the United States has
openly used the powers and opportunities of
his high office for the promotion of personal
ends. he has kept VIGOROUSLY corrupt and
llllWo!lny men IN places of power and re-
sponsiplilty, to the detriment of the public
interest. He has used the public service of
the Government as a maehinery OF. p,rtisarf
ana personal influence, and interfered with
tyralinlcal arrogance in the political affair.
OF States and municipalities. He has re-
warded with influential and lucrative Offices
men VINO had acquired his favor by valuable
{, presents, thus stimula ting decentralization af
our political life by his conspicuous example.
He has shown himself deplorably unequal to
i the tasks imposed upon him by the necessi-
ties OF the country, and culpably careless of
the responsibilities of his high Office M
The parfisans of the administration. as.
suinihg TO pe the republican party and con
ironing ITS organization, have attempted to
justify such wrongs and palliate such abuses
e, the end OF maintaining party aseendaney.
| They have stood in the way of necessary in
Vestlsaflons and Indispensable reforms, pre-
tending that no serious fault could be found
/ with the present administration of public
AFFAIRS, thus seeking to blind the. eyes of the
/ people. They have kept alive the passions
and resentments of the late civil war to use
them for their own advantage They have
resorted to arbitrary measures. in direct con-
mes with the organic law, instead of appeal
! ing to the better instincts and latent patriot
Ism on the southern people by restoring to
them those rights the enjoyment of which is
Indispensable for a, successful administration
OF their local affairs, and would tend to move
q patriotic and hopeful national feeling.
| They have degraded themselves and tie
| name of their party, once justly entitled to
the confidence OF the nation, by a base syeo-
phancy to the dispenser of executives power ,
| and patronage unworthy of Republican free
| men. They sought to stifle the voice of lust
criticism, to stife the moral sense of fhess,ao
pie, and TO subjugate public opinion by
tyranncal party discipline. They are striv-
ing 10 MAINTAIN themselves in authority for
selfish ends by an unscr,lprlous use If tbe
power which rightfully belongs TO the f,eopIe.
and should be employed only in the service
OF the country. s,f 80
Relieving that an organization thus led and
controlled can no longer be of service to the
best interests of the republic, We have re-
solved TO make an independents appeal to the i
seo .. 1laldginenf, conscience, and patriotism
OF the American people
TIE DECLARATION OF pRIScIPIEs. a.
Therefore, we, the Liberal Republicans of
the United States, in National Convention
assembled at Cincinnati proclaim the fol
lowing principles as essential to just Govern
ment s III E3t5tE94fs5s5, - +.
J.. We recognize the equality of all men
before the law, and hold that It is the duty
OF Government IN its dealings with the pe6-
Pile to mete out equal and exact Justice to all,
OF whatever nativity, race, color, or pcrsna-
sion, religious or political.
2 We pledge ourselves to maintain the
Union OF these States, emancipation, and en-
franchisement, and to oppose any reopeuiig
OF the questions settled by the Thirteenth,
Fourteenth, and Fifteenth amendments to
the Constitution
3. We demand the Immediate and abso-
lutte removal OF all disabilitiesimposed on ao-
count of the rebellion which was finally SUBJ :
dued seven years ago, believing that. uni
yersal amnesty viii result in complete paci-
hc;iti0ilin all sections of the country. - .I5
4. Local elfgoyernmenf, with impartial
suffrage, will guard the rights of all citizens
more securely than any centralized power.
The public welfare requires the stIprc,n;,cy
OF the civil over the military authority and
freedom of person under the protection of
the habeas coTpits. We demand for the IN
elyiduai the largest liberty consistent with
public order for the State selfgovernlnent,
and for the nation d return TO the methods Of
peace and the constitutional limitations Of
power. &c.
5. The civil service of the Government has
become n mere instrument of partisan tyr
amy and personal ambition, and an object
nj IflStaa n -. Ill
upon free institutions, and breeds democrat
lzation dangerous TO the perpetuity of repub-
lican government. We thereforc regard such
thorough reforms of civil service as are of
the most pressing necessities of the hour:s
that honesty, capacity, and fidelity consti-
tute the only valid claims TO public employ
ment; that the Offices of the Government
cease to be n matter of arbitrary favoritisin
and patronage, and that public station be-.
come again post of honor To this end IL
is imheratiyely required that no President
shall he a candidate for reelection
.. We demand u system of Federal tax
alton which shall not unnecessarily inter.
fere with the industry of the people, and
which shall provide the means necessary to
pay the expenses of the Government ecOno-G
mically administered; the pensions, the in
terest ON the public debt, and d moderate re-
duetioI annually OF the principal thereof;
and, recognizing that there are in our midst
ions with regard TO the respective systenls OF
protection and free trade, we remit the dis
eussion of the subject 60 Che people, in their
Congressional districts, and to the decision.
OF Congress thereon, wholly free of Exec,l-
tive interference or dictation.
2. The public credit must be sacrediy
maintained, and we sleiio,tnee Reputation in
every form and guise. IS fsi.fsiilt - ~ "a
g. A steady return to specie PAYMENT ia
demanded alike by the highest considera-
tions of commercial morality and honest
government. ~ sa 6t5 vs.
.. We reanember.with gratitude the hero-
ism and sacrifices of the soldiers and sailors
of the republic, and no act of ours shall ever
detiact from their justly earned fame, Oh the
full reward of their patriotism 20 ss
10. We are opposed to al further grants of
lands to railroads or other corporations.
The public domain should be held sacred to
actIlitl settlers. 1. = - stlt ~
IL. We hold that it Is the duty OF. the Gev4l
i'll its intercourse with foreign ma
tions to cultivate the friendship of neace lv