Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1872-05-07
ON SPECTATOR AND GENERA ADVERTISER.

uaue W duJournment, ana after dispensing fth
he reading of the journal, proceeded at 400 70
BUSINESS. A resolution was offered and. adont-
ID that when the point of ballotting for .cand;-
lates should be reached, the Conv ention sbould
proceed to vote without a formal presentation |
It names. The proposition. was sustained on |
ne ground that it was d. ,sirabe to avoid mere
PERSONAL euiogies. Mr.. Horace White Pom
rom the Committee on Platform, then Present.
"a the following address and series .of resolu-
IONS which were unanimously ado .nted amid
QUO and continued cheering:
ADDRESS OF COMMITTEE ON y, .u,on,.
The Administration now IL, no,par hos re,-
dered itself guilty of wantc N d;sraaard If tbe
laws OF TIE land, and of surpation Of mowers
not canted by the Const' ,tution r has acted
as if the laws had bind .ng force onIv for those
who are governed, an'A not for those who gov
ern. 1t has thus stuck blow at the fund
amental principles of constitutional government
and the liberties of citizens The President of
the United States, has openly used the powers
and opportunities OF his high Office for the pro-
motion Of personal ends. He has kept notori-
ously corrupt and unworthy men Ia places of
power and responsibilities the detrirnent of the
public interests. @
He has used the public service of the Govern
ment as machinery of partisan and personal in
fuence, and interfered with tyraunical arrogance
In the political affairs of States and municipal
| ties. He has rewarded with Influential and lu-
crative Offices men who had acquired bis favor
| by valuable presents, thus stimulating democrat
izatiou 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 responsibilities of his high Office.
The partisans 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 ascendency.
| They have stood in the way Of necessary in
vestigations and indispensable reforms, pretend
| ing 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 to their, own
advantage They have resorted to arbitrary
measures, in direct conflict with the organic
law instead ofappeaing to the better instincts
and latent patriotism of the Southern people,
by restoring to them those rights, the enjoy
ment of which is Indispensable to a successful
administration Of their local affairs, and would
tend to promote patriotic and hopeful nation
al feeling. They have degraded themselves and
the name of their party, once justly entitled to
the confidence of the nation, by base syco-
pbancy to the dispenser of Executive power and
patronage, unworthy of Republican Freemen
They have sought to stife the voice of just
criticism, to stihe the moral sense of the peo-
pie and to subjugate public opinion by tyran-
nical party discipline. They are striving to
maintain themselves in authority for selfish ends
by an INSCRIPTIONS use Of power which right.
fully 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 tc
make an Independent appeal to the sober judy
ment, conscience and patriotism of the Ameri-
can people.
The following are the resolutions in full:
We, the Liberal Republicans of the United
States in National Convention assembled al
Cincinnati, proclaim the following principles as
essential to a just Government:
Eirst-We recognize the equality of all men
before the law, and hold that it is the duty oil
the Government in its dealings with the people
| to mete out equal.and exact justice to all, of
whatever nativity, race, color or persuasion, re-
ligious Or political.
Second-We pledge ourselves to maintain the
Union of these States, emancipation and en-
Establishment, and to oppose any reopening of
the questions settled by the Thirteenth. Four
| tenth aud Fifteenth Amendments of the Con-
stitution aa5
Third-We demand the immediate and alb
solue removal of ali disabilities imposed on ac-
count of the rebellion, which was finally subdu-
| ed seven years ago, believing that universal
amnesty viii result In the complete pacifcation
| of all sections of the country.
Fourth-Local self government, with i'm
partial suffrage will guard the rights Of all citi-
gems more securely than centralized power. The
public welfare requires the supremacy of the
civil over the military authority, and the free
! dom of person under the protection OF the ha-
! beas corpus We demand for the individual
the largest liberty consistent with public order,
| for the States self government, and for the ma
ton return to the methods of peace, and the
constitutional limitations ofpower.
Fifth--The civil service of the Government
has become mere instrument partisan tyran-
ny and personal ambition, and All object OF sell
/ fish greed. It is scandal and reproach upon
cur institutions, and breeds decentralization
dangerous to the perpetuity Of republican gov
ernment We, therefore, regard thorough
reform Of the civil service as one of the most
pressing 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 a
matter Of arbitrary favoritism and patronage,
and that public stations become again posts of
honor. 70 this end it is imperativey required
that no President shall be a candidate for re-
election.
| Sixth-We demand system Of Federal tax
alton which shall not unnecessarily interfere
with the industry of the people, and which shall
provide means necessary to pay the expenses Of
| the Government, economically administered
pensions, the interest on the public debt, and a
moderate reduction annually of the principal
/ thereof, and recognizing that there are in our
midst honest, but irreconcilable differences OF
| opinion with regard to the respective systems
of protection and free trade, we remit discussion
| Of the subject to the people in their Congress
| sional districts, and to the decision Of Congress
thereon, wholly free Of Executive interference
or dictation.
Seventh-The public credit must be sacredly
maintained, and we denounce reputation in
every form and guise.
| Eighth-A speedy return tospecie payments
is demanded alike by the highest considerations
of commercial morality and honest government.
| Ninth-We remember with gratitude the
heroism and sacrifices Of the soldiers and sailors
of the Republic, and no act of ours shall ever
detract from their justly earned fame or the full
reward of their patriotism.
| Tenth--We are opposed to all further grants
of lands to railroads or other corporations. The
public domain should be held sacred to actual
| settlers.
Eleventh-We hold that it is the duty of the
Government In it's intercourse with foreign ma
tons to cultivate the friendship of peace by
treating with all on fair and equal terms, re-
gardiag it alike dshonorable either TO demand