The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1872-09-14

| Liberal Republican Platform
Address md Declaration d Principle,
Adopted BY the Convention Of Libera
Republicans in Cincinnati, May 3rd
1872.
THE ADDRESS.
The administration now in power has rend
cred itself guilty Of wanton disregard Of thu
| laws OF the land, and has usilrpel powers
not granted by the Constitution. 1t has
acted as if the laws had binding force only
| for those who are governed, and not for those
who govern. 1t has thus struck blow a,
the Fundamental principles Of constitutional
government: and the liberties Of the citizens
The President Of the United States has
openly used the powers and opportunities Of
his high afice for the promotion OF personal
ends. He has kept n0torionsly corrupt and
unworthy men in places Of power and re.
sp0nsibility, to the detrilnent Of the public
interest. He has used the public service OF
the Government rs machinery Of partisan
and personal influence, and interfered with
tyrannical arrogance in the political affairs
Of States and municipalities. He has re-
warded with influential and lucrative Offices
men who had acquired his favor by valuable
presents, thu stinluEst ting decentralization of
our political life by his conspicuous example.
He las shown himself deplolably unequal to
the tasks imposed upon him by the nceessi-
ties Of the country, and culpably careless of
the responsibilities OF his high office.
The partisans of the administration, as
summing to be the Republican party and con-
trolling its organization, have attempted to
justify such wrongs and palliate such abuses,
to the end OF maintaining party ascendancy.
They have stood in the way Of necessary in
designations and Indispensable reforms, pre-
tending 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
aud rescntinents Of the late civil war to use
them for their own advantage. They have
resOrted to arbitrary measures. in direct con-
ftict with the organic law, instead of appeal
ing to the better instincts and latent patriot
ism of the Southern people by restoring to
them those rights the enjoyment OF which is
OF their local affairs, and would tend to move
u patriotic and hopeful national feeling.
They have degraded themselves and the
name OF their party, once justly entitled to
the confidence of the nation, by Il base syco-
phancy to the dispenser Of executive power
and patronage unworthy of Republican free
men. They sought to stifle the voice Of Just
criticism. to stitie the moral sense Of the peo-
pie, and to suhjugate public opinion by
tyrannical party discipline. They are striy-
ing to maintain themselves in authority for
selfish ends by an INSCRIPTIONS use Of the
power which rightfuily belongs to the people,
and should be employed 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 re-
solved to make an independent appeal to the
sober judgment, conscience, and patriotism
OF the American people
THE DECLARATION OF PRINCIPLES.
Therefore. we, the Liberal Republicans of
the United States, in National Convention
assembled at Cincinnati, proclaim the fol-
lowing principles as essential to just Govern
mcnt:
!. We recognize the equality Of all mcn
before the law, and hold that u is the duty
Of Government in its dealings with the PEG
pie to mctc out equal aud exact Justice to all,
Of whatever nativity, race, color, or persua-
sion, religious or political.
z. We pledge ourselves to maintain the
Union of these States, emancipation, and ell
and to oppose any reopeuing
81 the questions settled by the Thirteenth.
and Fifteenth amendments TO
The Constitution.
3: We demand the immediate and abso-
ute removal OF all disabilitiesimposedn Oh ac-
count Of the rebellion which was finally sub
tued seven years ago, believing that uni
versal amnesty will result in complete paci-
lc:ltion in all sections OF the country.
T. Local selfgovernment, with impartial
suffrage, will guard the rights of all citizens
nore securely than any centralized power
The public welfare requires the supremacy
II the civil over the military authority. and
freedom OF person under the protection of
he habeas corpus. We demand for the in
lividual the largest liberty consistent with
public order, for the State selEgovcrnment, |
md for the nation a return to the methods Of |
,eace and the constitutional limitations of
,ower.
5. The civil service Of the Government has |
become 4 mere instrument Of partisan tyr
nny and personal ambition, and an object |
II selfish greed. 1t is 4 scandal and reproach |
lpon free institutions. and breeds a demoral- |
zation dangerous to the peRpetnity of repub- |
lean government. Wethcrefore regard such |
borough reforms Of civil service as are of !
nc most pressing necessities of the hour:
hat honesty. capacity, and fidelity consti- |
ute the only valid claims to public employ |
nent; that the Offices of the Government |
ease to be q matter Of arbitrary favoritism |
nd patronage, and that public station be-
$ imperatiyely required that no President
hall pc candidate for reelection
.. We demand a system of Federal tax
ton which shall not unnecessarily inter
ere with the industry Of the people, and
which shall provide the means necessary to
ay the expenses of the Government, ccouo.
nically administered; the pensions, the in
crest on the public debt, and moderate re-
uction annually of the principal thereof;
nd, recognizing that there ar. in our midst
onest but irreconciIable differences of opin-
'ns with regard to the respective systems OF
rejection and free trade. we remit the dis
usslon OF the subject to the people, in their
'onsressional districts, and to the decision
+ Congress thereon, wholly free Of Execu-
We interference or dictation
Z. The public credit must be sacredlv
and We denounce reputation in
very form and g1lise.
8. steady return to specie payment is
emanded alike by the highest considera-
"ns Of commercial morality and honest
pvernment
9. We remember with gratitude the hero
IN and sacrifices Of the soldiers and sailors
the republic, and no act Of ours shall ever
etract from their justiy-earned fame, or the
Ill reward Of their patriotism
III