Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1872-05-22
Mr.. Gretley's Acceptance.

Mr.. uretieys Acceptance.
We give below Mr.. Greclcy's letter Of accept.
ance Of his nomination at the Cincinnati Con-
yentiou. We have neither time nor space for
comment on this cunnngy worded production
this week, but shall do 80 in full hereafter.
NEw YoRK, May 20, 1879.
Gcnf'cmea Il have chosen not to acknowledge
your letter Of the 81, until could learn how the
work OF your convention was received In all parts
of our great country, and Judge whether that
work was approved and ratified by the mass Of
our fellow citizens. Their response from day TO
day has reached me through kilograms and let
tiers, and the comments Of journalists, indie
pendent Of official patronage and Indifferent to
the smiles or irowns OF power. The number and
character Of these uncOnstrnined, unpurchased
and unsolicited utterances, satisfy me that the
movement which found expression at Cincinnati
has received the stamp Of public approval, and is
hailed by n majority OF our oOuntrymen ms a
harbingcr of n better day for our republic. do
not misnterpret the approval as especially com
plimentary 70 myself nor even TO the chivarous
and justly esteemed gentleman with whose name
thank the convention for associating mine. |
receive and welcome it as n spontaneous and de.
served tribute 10 that admirable platform Of prin-
cpes, wherein your convention 30 tenderly, 80
ucidly 70 iorcibly set forth the conviction which
impeed, and the purposes which guided its
course platform which, casting behind il the
wreck and rubbish Of rn-out, continuous and
bygone ieuds embodes in fit and few words the
needs and aspirations of to-day. Though thou
sands stand ready 10 condemn your every act
hardly syllable Of criticism OF cavsi has been
aimed az your platform, of which the substance
may be epitOmised A. follows
first-All the political rights and franchises
which have been acquired through our late bloody
CONFUSION, must and shall be granted, main
tanned, enjoyed and respected ever more.
Second-All the political rights and franchises
which have been lost through the convulsion should
and must be promptly restored and re-establshcd,
so that there shall be hencefurth no prescribed
claims and M DISTINGUISHED caste within the linn
it, Of our union, whose long estranged people
shall renniie and fmternise upon the broad
basis Of universal amnesty, with impartial SUI
fmgc.
Third That subject to our solemn constitution
al obligation 10 maintain the equal rights Of all
citizens, our policy should aim at local self govern
ment and not at Capitalization That the civil
authority should be supreme over the military.
That the habens corpus should be jealOusly upheld
as the safeguard Of personal freedom. That the
individual citizen should enjoy the largest liberty
consistent with the public order, and that there
should he no federal subversion of the internal
policy OF the several States and municipalities,
but that each shall be left free TO enforce the
rights and promote the well being Of it, inhahit-
pc pie shall prescribe
Fourth-1here shall he a real and not merely
simulated reform In the civil servi e of the re-
public to which end it is indispensable that the
chief dispenser Of the vast official patronage shall
be shielded from the main temptation to use his
power sefshly, by rule inexoraby iorbidding
and precluding his re collection.
fiith-That the raising OF revenue, whether by
tariff or otherwise shall be recognized and treated
as the peoples immediate business TO be shaped
and directed by them through their representa-
tives in Congress, whose action thereon the Pres
ldent must neither override by his yetOes attempt
10 dictate nor presume to punish by bestowing
Offices only on those who agree with him, or with
drawing them from those who do not.
Sixth-That the public lands must BE- sicredly
reserved for occupation and acquisition by culti-
vators and not recklessy squandered on the pro-
iectors Of railroads for which our people have no
present need, and the premature construction of
which is annually plunging US deeper and deeper
in abysses Of foreign Indebtedness.
Seyenth-IhAt the achievement Of these grand
purposes Of universal benefcence is expected and
sought at the hands Of all who uphold them, ir-
respective of past affiliations.
Eighth-lhat the public faith must a, all haz-
ards be maintained, and the national credit pre-
served.
Ninth--Thnt the patriotic deyotednc.s and in
estimable services of our fellow citizens who as
soldiers and sailors upheld the flag and main.
tanned the unity Of there public shall ever be
gratefully remembered and honorably requited.
These propositions, 80 ably and forclhly pre-
scnted in the platform Of your convention, have
already fixed the attention and commanded the
assent Of large majority Of our countrymen,
who oyfllly adopt them, as DO, as the basis of
a true, benshcent, national reconstruction and
new departure from the iealOusies, strifes and
hates which have no longer adequate motives or
plausible pretext, into the atmosphere Of peace,
fraternity, and mutual good will. In vain do the
drill sergeants Of decUying organizations flourish
menacingly their truncheOns, and angrily insist
that the files shall be closed and straig htened
/ In vain do the whippers-n Of parties once vital.
because rooted in the vital needs OF the pure pro-
test against straying and boiling, denounce men
no-wi-e their interiors as traitors and renegades
and threaten them with iniamy and ruin. / am
confident that the American people have already
made your cause their own, fully resolved that
their brave hearts and strong arms shall bear il
on to triumph, In these facts, and with the dis
tinct understanding that il elected, shall be
| the president, not of party but of the whole
| people, accept your nomination in the confident
/ trust that the masses Of our cOuntrymen. north
and south. are cage to clasp hands across the
/ bloody chasm which has too long divided them,
forgetting that they have been enemies, in the
joyful Consciousness that they are and must hence
forth remain brethren.
Yours gratefully,
HORACE GREELEY.
To Hon. Carl Schurz, President Hon c. N.
Julian, Vice President, and MeSsrs. w. +. Nc
! Lean, John G. Davidson, and j. II. Rhodes
Secretaries Of the National Convention Of the
Liberal RcDublicans of the United States