The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1872-09-04
NEsDAY MORNING. SEPTEMBER 4. 1872.

oppression; and If, as some contend, war Is
the normal condition of mankind, posterity
viii have its own wars to sustain, and It Is
therefore unreasonable to burden posterity
with debt for the cost of ours. Deeply in
terested In suppressing these ideas, tie rulers
Of the people will, Of course, treat them with
derision. Still, it Must suffice for the present
thus to submit them, nakedly. on
their own merits. and without Detailed
vindieition. Although this principle IL al
ready accepted in substance by some western
States In recent constitutions. their advocacy
must In the main be deferred until the facts
and fables of the pending canvass shall have
ceased to engross attention. A few brief
suggestions wilt, nevertheless, he offered.
The power to borrow money is mischevous
Just Ill proportion as the government
Is liberal in form and as the nation is pros
porous. The very constitution of human
nature precludes any effectual regulation of
it. In monarchy there may be some supcr-
vision, but in q republic the tendency TO
abuse is absolutely incorrigible. No hui
man skill can devise, or human dill
gence put in force, adequate checks
upon its exercise. If allowed to en-
list 1t must inevitably he abused. and
abuse must progress to an extent absolutely
intolerable. The mere burden of taxation
induced by it is the most evil among its foul
progeny. Fraud and corruption will be-
come virtues under its influence. Statues,
to be set up as objects of popular
reverence, and similar lionors, have
been proposed for its cutivatols and
If it be not extirpated will hereafter
te decreed to.them. The Government, re-.
strained within the limits of absolute neces-
sity, may be supported by moderate taxation !:
still the nature and anlonnt of taxes imposed
should always be patent. They should be
plain, visible, and palpable. The deceit
ful and fraudulent methods which have
been devised to draw money from the
pockets of the people without their con.
sciollsncss of imposition should be abolished
Such further methods of obtaining money
should be known through prosecutions
against criminals. 1t is asserted that the
difficulty OF sustaining the Government
under such n system is unreal. The public
expenses need not he great, and the npces-
sity for raising all revenue by taxation
ut the moment of expenditure, or be-
fore it, is susceptible to be utilized
and made source of great public
benefit. However true it may be in n cer-
tain view Of the matter that all taxes are ul.
tilnatelv borne bv the laboring class. they
are, nevertheless. in the first instance col
lccted from these who possess property and
if, by uniform, usaSes every dollar required
Tor the expenses Of government should be at
once eXacted from taxpayers, a powerful
class would be enlisted in the duty of
guarding against official extravaganza.
Government mortgages upon labor, the
most safe and desirable of investments,
would cease, and in their place afrightcd
capitalists could contemplate only the al-
preaching taX-gatheTers. In self-defencc
they would then perform the public duty
hitherto neglected. Legislative corruption
would be effectively opposed under their
keen scrutiny. No man whose record was
tainted could pa>s the ordeal of IN election.
Long. patient study has convinced me that
on the pr;,ctiGabihty Of establishing pre-
cisely this popular surveillance rests the last
hope of our Republic. Patcrnal governments is
not necessarily miSchicvous in a monarchy,
but in republic, based upon universal sui.
fragc, it cannot fail to foster innumerab!e evils.
1t is. in fact. the SUM of all vilainics. A Gov
ernment which devOteS some of its powers to
putting money in mems pockets must en-
ploy Others i'll the eXtortion policy. 2nd i'll
wolves continuous cart CT of rapine and ia
voritisln.
My deep aversion to all these things his
induced me to encourage the movement
which you represent, and doubtless my name
will be presented for your consideration
for nominee. In that event | beg
leave respectfully to withdraw it. The
strength and emphasis which have marked
the language employed by some gentle
men in addressing NE on this sub
iect must be my excuse for saying
what follows. Success should Of course he
the object. In the present condition Of af-
fairs other leadership will afford better
prospect of attaining it. Choice can be made
from many equally reliable as reformers,
probably more CAPABLE Of public Office and
vet less likely to combine the formidable ele-
ments of opposition. / could not consent
to subscribe platform containing either II
profession Of faith or recantation of errors
and promise of amendment. The existing
practice requires this, and that practice may
not be abruptly set uside. Love of that all
solute Independence which can hardly
be maintained In public office, de-
sire to promote your success instead Of
impeding it. and belief that can thus best
perform the individual citizens quota of pub
lie service, have created in my mind an I'M
aIterable resolve to remain in private station.
Yours, truly, G. II. OCoEoR.
Mr.. O'Conor's letter was referred to the
Committee on Platform.
4 committee on credentials was appointed.
and a committee OH permanent organization.
to consist Of one from each State, was Oh
dered,
To this twenty -four States responded.
Bayard, of Now Jersey, represents Califor-
MIA on the last-namcd committee.
4 recess was taken to halt-past 4, and
when the Convention reassembled the Com
mittee on Credentials asked for more time I;
which was gllnted. The chairman. how
ever, made III Informal report that there was
entire harmony In the body.
PERMANENT ORGANIZATION.
The Committee Oh Permanent OrganiZp.
ton reported, recommending James Lyons, OF
Virginia, for permanent president, and Mr..
Richards, of Illinois. for first vice-president; !;
also one vice-president from each State re-
presented.
Mr.. Bayard, of New Jersey. moved that
BIanton Duncan be first vice-president; !;
which was adopted
Mr.. Lyons, when conducted to the chair.
rdiculcd the Greeley party as the "DolIy
Warden party"
A committee on resolutions was appointed.
A motion to add a Labor delegate from
New York to the resolutions committee caused
great confusion. The chairman refused to
entertain any motion, and the Convention
thcreupon adjourned until 0 O'Clock to-lnor-
row.
HEALTH OF Mr.. MARBLE.-The New York
World of the Both VI, imo has Il paragraph
rectifyiug what it pronounces the very Arro-
neor,s impressions respecting the health of
a. .,,rnnr;etnr NIr Marble which have been