Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1872-05-11
rHE Liberal CONVEyTToN.

As a part OF the current history
Of the times, and as embodying the
principles upon which the Presiden-
tial election next November is TO
turn, we copy below the address
Of the Convention to the American
people, and the platform OF the Lib
eral Republican party. 1t may not
be amiss to say, in passing, that the
platform is as nearly unexceptiOna-
BILE as it was possible to have made
it. IL it docs not contain all we
could wish, il is unquestiOnably a
long shot more favorable to that
"pcace" which is essential to the
happiness and prosperity Of the
American people than any political
document which has emanated from
any respectable Convention in this
country within the last ten years.
Address 10 the People.
The Administration, now In pow
er, has rendered itself guilty of a
wanton disregard of the laws OF the
land and Of powers not granted by
the constitution. 1t has acted as If
the laws had binding force only for
those who are governed and not for
those who govern. 1t has thus
struck blow at the fundamental
principles of constitutional govern
ment and the liberties of the citi-
zens. 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
unworthy men in places OF power
and responsibility to the detriment
of the public interest. He has used
the public service Of the govern
ment as a machinery of partizan and
personal influence, and interfered
with technical arrogance in the po-
litical affairs Of the States and mu-
inequalities. He has rewarded, with
influential and lucrative Office, men
who had acquired his fIvor by Valu-
able presents, thus stimulating the
decentralization OF our political life
by his conspicuous example; he has
shown himself deplorably unequal
to the tasks imposed upon him by
the necessities of the country, and
culpably careless of the responsible
tiles of his high office. The parti-
sans Of the administration, assum-
ing to be the Republican party, and
controlling its organization, have
attempted to Justify such wrongs
and palliate such abuses to the end
of maintaining partisan ascendancy.
They have stood in the way of ne
cessary investigation and indispen-
sable reform; that as serious q fault
as could be found with the present
administration of public affairs is
the seeking to blind the eyes of the
people by keeping alive the pas
sions and resentments of the late
civil war for their own advantage;
they have resorted TO arbitrary
measures, in direct conflict with the
organic law, instead of appealing to
the better instincts and latent pa
triotism of the Southern people by
restoring those rights the enjoyment
of which is indispensable for a sue
cessful administration of local af-
fairs, and would tend to n patriotic
and hopeful national feeling. They
have degraded themselves and the
name of their party, and are justly
entitled to the confidence of the ma
ton by base sychophancy to Exc
cutive power and patronage I'M
worthy of republican fresmen.
They have sought to silence the
sense of the people, and to subju-
gate public opinion by 9 tyrannical
party discipline. They are striving
to maintain them selves in authority,
for selfish auda nv ON upacrupuIoIs
use of the power which rightfully
belongs to the people and should be
employed only in the service of the
country. Believing that an organi-
cation thus led and Controlled can no
longer be of service to the best in
terests of the republic, we have re-
solved to make an independent APP
peal to the sober judgement, con-
science and patriotism of the Amer
lean people.