The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-05-03
REUNION AND REFORM CONVENTION.
Speech Of Judge Ranney-Down with Military
Government and Nepotism- from
500, 900 French-Speaking Citizens.

CINCINNATI May ?, 1872.
The Reunion and Reform Convention reassen-
bled at three O'Clock p NJ, with an attendance OF
about two hundred. The permanent organization
was perfected, as already Indicated except that
committee to look after the proceedings OF the Lib
eral Convention and report to this Convention was
dispensed with.
JUDGE RUFUS r. RANNEY,
on taking the chair, made'an extended speech, In
which he defined what he understood to be the OBJ
ject OF this movement. lie declared that 1t was not
to attack any man, except that man stood in the
way of truth and true principles of government
II 1t mere contest for otice, merely to turn
out one set OF officers and put in another, he would
not turn over his hand In the matter. The great
danger was Capitalization Of power in
the general government and the deprivation
Of the power Of local sefgovernment
In the states. No existing party was able to stem
the current now setting towards Capitalization and
corruption. II was treason to consciences tn
remain at the tail Of existing political parties
while the country's interests are ut stake. With
ont referring to the whole catalogue Of
abuses now existing in the administration
he instanced the effort TO swallow up
the genuine sovereignty of the States on
prcteNt OF II horror of secession All the statesmen
of the administration dccried State sovereignty,
aud celebrated Minister, who comes from tho
pulpit to the rostrum whenever his party gets In
tight place, admitted that the States have rights,
but no sovereignty. He thanked God that
sovereignty resided in the people and not in the
State or general government. The people delegated
certain powers to the state and certain powers tn
the general government but reserved other powers
to themselves The great danger was corruption
II thirst Tor power to gain gold The longer the
which foul birds from the four winds may settle Az
ter the heavy expenditure OF the war
trne craftsmanship would have dictated econ
omy; but what had been d0ney BY heavy
taxation they had reduced the national debt, but
while paying one dollar OF the national debt tho
! nrfu hp.l nlnn thn ndpht tad
ness ten dollars. The weight of debt had ruined
the states Of the south These states had beer!
the country, and they had utterly bank
rupted tile governments. They had under
south but, in the North. came inteIipenco
that legislators have been bought to do this that
There was mo department OF the general, state and
municipal governments In which corruption did not
exist IL had even invaded our Courts Was there
not sufficient occasion for honest men to come to-
gcther aud consult how best to stop itY And that.
all this organization proposed to DO. 1t
seemed That President Grant considered MS still
under the rules Of war, for have had
elections under The bayonct in the South ana in th3
North. lie would not detact from the military
fame OF The President, but for that oice
needed who, while he was soldicr in war, could b,
q citizen in peace Such men We have had. Wash
Washington establishing military family about
him 10 feed and fatten ut the White House,
OF prey, to feed the mercantile com
munity OF neighborng city. Or fancy OF our
early Presidents fitting out a government steamer
of a General: But there was not only reckless ex-
penditurc Of public money; there was positive cor
ruption as in the Custom House. What seen
when an attempt was made to investigate that
CASEY NituperatiOn ard abuse fell all in tho
Senate who insisted in the exposure as wen as on
the brains OF the republican press who took tho
same view. There was no hope for reform In
the dominant party, nor was there hope In
the democratic party; though 1t HAD had
few spots in the national vineyard to cultivate. He
submitted to his democratic friends, ami It had
cultivated these spots pretty well. The only hope
was in the vigilance OF honest men, determined tn
reap the benefits of true and honest government.
This determination involved action, intelligent,
united vigilance, which the price OF all liberty.
After the conclusion Of Judge Ranney's address
the following committee resolutions was APP
pointed:-
IyiscOnsi,,-J0scph Stark and Gabriel Bauch.
Wh0is-General II. Tech ana William CoggsweL
OhiO---Charles Remelin and Il. w. kutredge.
FlOyidu-W. w. Mccall.
MissOu,1-Carl Deutzlcr ana Warren Kelsey.
heatuhy-R Is. Warden and DR.. Klacrenauer.
Vest Vf,giaid-J. M. Phelps.
General Iieb OF Illinois, presented resolutions
from French speaking citizens, representing 800, 600
voters from twenty-five states favoring Lyman
Trunbul Tor President, with Southern man for
Vice President which were referred to the Com
mittee on Resolutions. The Convention then adj
journcd III ten O'Clock Tomorrow.