Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser., 1872-06-07
Letter of Acceptance from Hon. B. Gratz


Brown.
In reply to the notification of his nomina-
ton for Vice President by the Cincinnati
Convention, Governor Brown, of Missouri,
on Friday, wrote a long response, i'll which
he says;
accept the nomination as candidate Tor
Vice President, and endorse most cordially
the resolutions setting forth the principles on
which appeal is made to the whole people Of
the United States. A century is closing upon
our experience of Republican Government,
and while that lapse of time has witnessed a
great expansion of our free institutions, yet it
has not been without illustration also of grave
dangers to the stability of such system. OF
these successfully encountered, it is needless
to speak. OF those which remain to menace
US, the most threatening are provided against,
AS firmly believe, 10 t. wise and pacific
measures proposed by your platform.
1t has come to be the practice of those ele-
waited to the position of national authority to
regard the public service but as means to
retain power. This results in substituting a
mere party organization for government it.
self, which constitutes control amenable to DO
thought; enables the few to ride the many,
vor. 1t requires little forecast to perceive
that this will wreck all liberties, unless there
be interposed with timely reform of admin
istration, from its highest to its lowest station,
which shall not only prevent abuses, but like
wise take away incentives to their prac-
tice. Wearied with the contentious that are
carried on in avarice of spuils, the country
demands repose. The Union is fortified by
more power than ever before. 1t remains ali
imperative duty to cement our nationality by
perfect reconciliation. At the North wide
spread sympathy is aroused in behalf of those
States of the South which, long after the de-
termination of resistance to rightful Federal
authority, are still plundered under the guise
Of loyalty, and tyranized over in the name
of freedom. Along with this feeling is present
too the recognition that in complete amnesty
alone can be found the hope Of any return to
Constitutional Government as Of old, or any
development of more enduring unity and
broader national life 10 the future. Amnesty,
however, to make it efficacious, must be real
and not nominal-genuine and not evasive. 1t
must carry along with it equal rights as we'll
disabilities as to some with enforcement as to
others, leaves room for suspicion that pardon
is measured by political gain ; and Especially
will such professed clemency be futile in the
presence of renewed attempt at prolonging
the suspension of the habeas corpus. and per-
sistent resort to martial rather than civil law
n upholding those agescies used to ALLEVIATE
the races, when concord is most essential and
in preparing another elaborate campaign on
basis of dead issues and arbitrary nterven-
ton. All will rightly credit such conduct as
but mockery of amnesty, and demand an
administration which can give better war
rant of honesty in the real work of reconstruc-
ton and reform. In the array of sectional
interests Republic so wide as ours is never
entirely safe from serious conflicts. These
become still more dangerous when complica-
ted with questions of taxation, where unequal
burdens are believed to be imposed on one
part at the expense of another part. 1t was
bold as we'll as an admirable policy 10 the
interest of the present as we'll as future tran
guilty to withdraw the decision of industrial
and revenue matters from the virtual arbitra-
ton of an electoral college, chosen with the
single animating purpose of party ascendency,
and refer them for more direct popular ex-
preston to each Congressional district, instead
of being muzzled by some evasive declaration
The country is thereby invited to frankest
uttcrance, and sections which would revolt
at being denied voice, out of Difference to
others success, would be content to acqniesce
in general Judgment, "honestly elected" II
local government be, as it undoubtedly is
the most vital principle of our institutions
much advance will be made toward establish
ing it by enabling the people to pass upon
questions so nearly affecting their we'll being
dispassionately, through their local represen.
tatives. The precipitance which would force
the controlling declaration on the tax or tariff
through the Presidential candidacy is only g
disguised form of Capitalization, involving
hazardous reaches of Executive influence.
conclusion will be much more impartialy de.
| termined, and with less disturbance to trade
and finance, by appealing to the most truth
ful and diversified local expression. Indus.
trial issues can be likewise emancipated from
the power of great monopolies, and each re.
preventative held to fidelity towards his i'm.
mediate constituents. These are the mos
prominent features of that general concert o
action which proposes to replace the present
Administration by one more in sympathy
with the aspirations of the masses of oul
countrymen. Of course such concert cannot
be obtained by thrusting every minor or pas
difference into the foreground, and it will bs
for the people to determine whether these OBJ.
jects are of such magnitude and present ur'
gency as to justify them in deferring adjust
meuts until the country shall be first restored
to free suffrage, uniofuenced by official dig
tation, and ours becomes in fact free Repub
lie, released from appehensions of central do
mination. Without referring in detail t.
various other propositions embraced in the
resolutions of the Convention, but seeing how
they all contemplated restoration of power
to the people, peace to the nation and purity
to the Government; that they condemn th'
attempt to establish an ascendency of military
over civil rule, and affirm with explcitness
the maintenance of equal freedom of all citi
zens, irrespective Of race, previous condition
or pending disabilities, have only to pledge
again my sincere cooperation.
| l have the honor to remain, very respect
fully, yours, B. GRATz Brown.
The Defaulters' Law.
| The public officers in the State, whose duty
it is to collect the revenue of the State or coun
1 ty will find chanter 800 of the Acts passed