The semi-weekly Republican. (St. Francisville, La.) 1872-1872, 1872-10-29
THE ADDRESS.

The administration now i'll power
has rendered itself guilty Ut wanton
disregard Of tho law Of the land, and
has usnrped powers moi granted by
the Constitution. 1t has acted as If
the laws had binding force only for
those who are governed, and for
those who govern. 1t has thus struck
blow at the fundamental principles
OF constitutional government, and
the liberties Of tho citizens.
The President Of the United States
has openly used the powers and OPP
portunities Of his high Office for the
promotion Of personal ends. He
has kept notoriousiy corrupt and I'M
worthy men in places Of power and
responsibility, 10 the detrlment CT
the public interest. He has Used the
public service Of the Government as
machinery 81 partisan and person.
al influence, and ;nterferea with ty-
rannical arrogance III the political
affairs Of States and municipalities
He has rewarded witt, influential and
lucrative Offices ruen vino llad &c
CURED his favor BY valuable presents,
Thus stimulating demonstration o:
our political life by his conspicuous
example. Elo has shown himself
derlorabiy unequal to the tosks i'm
posed upon him by the necessities Of
The country, snd culpab'y careless Of
the Responsibilities ef his high Of
flee.
The partisan* OF The ad1linistr;-
ton, assuming to lie the Republican
party and controlling its Organize
ton, have attempted to justify such
wrongs sn,' ra'''aie such abuses, to
the end q maintaining ;@i'ty asct:n-
darcy. They have stoo! i'll the way
OF necessary iavest,sat;oas and i'll
djspens;l','a reforms, pretending t;1at
no ser;ous f.a,,'t cc,,.'ti h. iount! with
the present administration Of public:
affairs, t!,.s seeking to blind The
eyes OF the reovle. Ihe.y hss'o keep;
alive the passions and rase'aJ:ael.;s
OF the late civil VIZ to Use t1leEa tur
their own advantage. .j'ley Lane
resorted 10 arbitrary measures, III
direct conflict With the or55;,ll'''..c LAW,
instead Of appea>in:. to the better
instincts and latent l,5st.iotislo q the
Southern people Ivy restoring t.
them those rights the essjoynel.t Of
which il Indispensable f<!r ia s',eee:sss-
fnl administration q tl,c.2 local a.
f.i.s, aud ~oE.ll Ser(: 20 ',aoge Il "a
trintt:;o an,, hop5;'7: n,tion.l feeling,
They have degraded themselves; a,s<
the 7aa1,l., ri i'.eiI nart..', oaeo justly
entitled 10 tie confidence OF ;isc LII
ton, by u base syco.. jl,;f.cy 70 tLo
dispenser OF e,,evy.iya lNo"sr amt
patronage unworthy Ct Republican
irae,ne;,. They sought to f5;;i.,e ;he
voice Of just criticism, to sti...t9 the
moral sense Of Tie people, And 70
sub;nunte public opinion by tyEan-
meal party discipline. 'lhey are
striving To maintain themselves III
authority sor selfish ends by an un-
acyupu'ons us3 OF tho power which
riyIltial!y belongs to the people, and
should BE- employed only III the ser
Aice OF the county.
Believing that an organization
thus led and controlled can no long
err be CT service TO the best interests
Of tho republic, we haze resolved to
make an independent appeal to the
sober Judgment, conscience, and pa
triotism OF tho American people.
THE nlCLAlAY1oN or rE1sc,E1Es.
Therefore, we, the Liberal Repub-
licans Of tie United States. ia Ma
tiona, Convention assembled at Gin
cinnati, proclaim the following .3,in-
c;pl.s rs essential 10 just Govern
n.elt
l.. We recognize the equality Of
Ill men. before the law, and hold !
that it is the duty OF Government i'll
its dealings with the people to ,ncte
out eqanl aud exact i.,stice to ali, o.
whatever nativity, race, coior, O.,
persuation, religious or political.
2. We pledge ourselves to main
tain the Cn.on OF these States,
emancipation, and acknowledgements,
and to oppose any reopening OF the
questions settled by the. Thirteenth,
Fourteenth and Fifteenth amend /:
lnents to the Constitution.
3. We demand the immediate :
and absolute removal of all disabili-
ties imposed On account Of the re-
bellion which was finally subaued
seven years ago, believing that uni
versal amnesty will result in COM
plete paciication in all sections of
the country.
4. Local self-goyernment, with
suffrage. will guard the
rights of all citizens more securely
!