New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-05-30
Address and Resolutions of the Liberal
Republican Convention, Held at Cin-
nfunnti NInw D md 2 1SHn-

Address and Resolutions of the Liberal
Republican Convention, Held at Gin,
cinnati May 4, 2 and 3, 1872.
Now that the Presidential campaign il
fairly opening, and angry discussions have
already begun, which may draw people
away from the substantial points at issue
it is well enough to invite their attention
again to the actual platform of principles
presented by the Cincinnati convention, on
which its candidates stand, and for the ap
proval of which they appeal to the people.
Republicans are specially invited to con
slider whether or not this is good Repub'
licanism:
ADDRESS TO THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED
STATES.
The administration now in power has rem.
dered itself guilty Of wantOn disregard OF
the laws of the land and of usurping pow.
ers not granted by the constitution; it has
acted as if the laws had binding force only
for those who are governed and not for
those who govern. 1t has struck blow at
the fundamental principles of constitu-
tiOnal government and the liberties Of the
citizen.
The President of the United States has
openly used the powers and opportunities
of his high Office for the promotion Of per-
sonal ends.
He has kept VIGOROUSLY corrupt and I'M
worthy men in places of power and re-
sponsibility, to the detriment of the public
interest.
He has used the public service of the gov
eminent as a machinery of corruption and
personal influence, and has interfered, with
tyrannical arrogance, in the political affairs
of States and municipalities.
He has rewarded with influential and lu-
crative offices men who had acquired his
favor by valuable presents, thus stimulat-
ing the Generalization of our political life
by his conspicuous example.
He has shown himself deplOrably unequal
to the tasks imposed upon him by the ne
cessities of the country, and culpably care
less of the responsibilities of his high office.
The partisans Of the administration,
assuming 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 necessary
Investigations and indispensable reforms,
pretending 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
conflict with the organic law, instead of
appealing to the better instincts and latent
patriotism of the Southern people by re-
storing to them these rights, the enjoyment
of which is indispensable to successful
administration of their local affairs, and
would tend to revive q patriotic and hope
full national feeling.
They have degraded themselves and the
name of their party, once justly entitled to
the confidence of the nation, by base sycO-
phancy to the dispenser of executive power
and patronage unworthy of republican free
men; they have sought to silence the voice
of Just criticism and stife the moral sense
of the people, and to subjugate public opin-
ion by tyrannical party discipline.
They are striving to maintain themselves
in authority, for selfish ends, by an unscru-
pulous use of the power which rightfully
belongs to the people, and should be en-
ployed only in the service of the country.
Believing that an organization thus led
and controlled can no longer be of service
to the best interests of the republic, we
have resolved to make an independent APP
peal to the sober judgment, conscience and
patriotism OF the American people.
RESOLUTIONS.
We. the Liberal Republicans Of the United
States in national convention assembled at
Cincinnati, proclaim the following prin-
ciples as essential to just government:
We recognize the equality Of all men
before the law, and hold that it is the duty
Of government, in its dealings with the
reonle. TO mete out equal and exact justice
to all, Of whatever nativity, race, color or
persuasion, religious or political.
3. we pledge ourselves to maintain the
union of these States, emancipation and en-
reimbursement, and to oppose any reopen
ing of the questions settled by the thlr-
teenth, fourteenth and fifteenth amend
ments Of the constitution.
3. We demand the immediate and absO-
Lutte removal of all disabilities imposed on
account of the rebellion, which was finally
Bubdued seven years ago, believing thab
universal amnesty will result in complete
modification in all sections of the country.
"A. A local selfgovernment with impair
tiaI suffrage will guard the rights of all
citizens more securely than any centralized
mower. The public welfare requires the
Supremacy of the civil over the military
authority, and the freedom of person under
the protection of the habeas corpus. We
demand for the individual the largest liber-
ty consistent with public order, for the
State selfgovernment, and for the nation
return to the methods of peace and the
constitutional limitations of power.
5. The civil service of the government
has become a mere instrument of partisan
tyranny and personal ambition, and an OBJ
iect of selfish greed. 1t is scandal and
Teproach upon free institutions, and breeds
q decentralization dangerous to the per
petuity of republican government.
6. We therefore regard thorough reform
of the civil service as one of the most press
ing necessities of the hour; that honesty,
capacity and fidelity constitute the only
valid claims to public employment; that the
offices of the government cease to be mat
feT If arbitrary favoritism and patronage,
and that public station shall become again
: Mace of honor. To this end it is impefa-
lively required that no President shall be
candidate for reelection.
7. We demand a system Of federal taxa
ton which shall not unnecessarily inter-
fere with the industry of the people, and
which shall provide the means necessary to
nay the expenses of the government eco