Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1872-05-28

nation:
CINCINNATI, May, 3, 1872.
DEAR SIR The National Convention of
Liberal Republicans of the United States have
instructed the undersigned to inform you that
you have been nominated as the candidate of
the Liberal Republicans for the Presidency of
the United States. We also submit to YOU the
address and resolutions, unanimously adopted
by the Convention Be pleased to signify to
us your acceptance of the platform and nomi-
nation, and believe us, very truly, yours
G. SCHURZ, President.
GEO. w. JULIAN, Vice President
VIM. E. MCLEAN,
JNo. G. DAVIDSON,
j. FL. RHODES, Secretaries
To Hon. Horace Greeley, New York City"
MIR. GREELEY's REPLY.
New YORK, May 20, 1872.
GENTLEMEN ! have chosen not to acknow-
ledge your letter of the Sd instant until could
learn how the work of your Convention was re-
ceived 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 has from day to day reached me
through kilograms letters and comments of
journalists Independent of official patronage and
Indifferent to the smiles or frown of power
The number and character of these unconstrain-
ed, Impoverished, unsolicited utterances satisfy
me that the movement which found expression
at Cincinnati has received the stamp of public
approval, and has been hailed by the majority
of our countrymen as the harbinger of better
days for the republic. l do not misinterpret
this approval, as especially complimentary to
myself, nor even to the chivalrous and Justly
esteemed gentleman with whose name [ thank
your convention for associating mine
l receive and welcome 1t as spontaneous and
deserved tribute to that admirable platform of
principles wherein your Convention so terseIy,
so lucidy and forcibly set forth the convictions
which impeled and the purposes which guided
its course, a platform which, casting behind it
the wreck and rubbish of worn out contentious
and by-gone feuds, embodies 10 fit and few
words the needs and aspirations OF to-day
Though thousands stand ready to condemn your
has been aimed at your platform, of which the
substance may be fairly epitomized as follows:
First. All the political rights and franchises
which have been acquired through our late
bloody CONFUSION must and shall be guaran-
teed, maintained, enjoyed and respected ever
more.
Second. Ali the political rights and fran
chises which have been lost through that con-
yulsion, should, and must be promptly restored
and re-established, SO that there shall be hence
forth no prescribed class, and no disfranchised
caste, within the limits of our Union, whose
long estTaDged people shall reunite and frater-
nize upon the broad basis of universal amnesty
with impartial suffrage.
Third. That subject to our solemn constitu-
tional obligation to maintain the equal rights
of all citizens, our policy should aim at local
self government and not at Capitalization ; that
the civil authority should be supreme over the
military that the writ of habeas corpus should
be jealousy upheld as the safeguard of personal
freedom; that the individual should enjoy the
largest liberty consistent with public order, and
that there shall be no Federal subyersion Of the
internal polity of the several States and munic-
qualities, but that each shall be left free to en-
force the rights and promote the well-being of
the inhabitants by such means as the judgment
of its own people shall prescribe.
Fourth. There shall be real and not merely
simulated reform in the civil service of the Re-
public, to which end it is indispensable the
chief dispenser of its vast official patronage
shall be shielded from the main temptation to
use his power selfshly by a rule inexoraby for
bidding and preeluding his reelection.
Fifth. 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
representatives in Congress, whose action there
on the President must neither .oyerrule by his
veto, attempt to dictate. nor presume to punish
by bestowing Office only on those who agree
with him, or withdrawing it from those who do
not.
tSiDth That the public lands must be sacred
ly reserved for acquisition and occupation by
cultivators and not recklessly squandered on
the projectors of railroads. for which our peo-
pie have no present need, and the premature
construction of which is annually plunging us
into deeper and deeper abysses of foreign in
debtedness.
SeUenM. That the achievement of these
grand purposes of universal benefcence is ex-
pected and sought of all who approve them, ir-
respective of past affiliations.
Eighth. That the public faith must, at all
hazards, be maintained, and the national credit
be preserved.
Ninth That the patriotic devotedness and
lnestlmable services of our fellow citizens who.
as soldiers or sailors, upheld the flag and main
tanned the unity of the Republic, shall ever be
gratefully remembered and honorably requited.
These propositions, so ably and forcibly pre-
sented in the platform of your Convention,
have already fixed the attention and command
ed the assent of large majority of our country
men, who joyfuly adopt them, as do as the
basis OF a true. benefceDt National reconstruc-
ton of new departure from jeaousies, strifes
and hates, which have NO longer an adequate
motive, or even plausible pretext into an at
mosphere CT peace, fraternity and mutual good
will La vain do the drill sergeants of decaying
organizations flourish menacingy their trunch-
cons, and angrily insist that the files shall be
closed and Strengthened. In vain do the whip
pers in of parties once vital, because rooted In
the vital needs of the hour, protest against
straying and boiling, denounce men nowise
their interiors as traitors and .renegades, and
threaten them with nfamy and ruin. / am
confident that the American people have al
ready made your cause their own, fully resolv-
ed that their brave hearts and strong arms shall
bear II on to triumph.
In this faith, and with the distinct under |
standing that, if elected, | shall be the Presi-
dent, not oil party, but of the whole people, I |
accept your nomination in the confident trust |
that the masses of our countrymen, North and |
South, are eager 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
henceforth remain brethren
Signed HORACE GREELEY.
10 the Hon. Carl schurz, President; Hon.
Geo. ". Julian, Vice President, and Messrs.
VIM. Il. Mclean, John G. Davidson and j.
ID. Rhodes, Secretaries of the National Con-
gyention Of Liberal Republicans of the United
States. 81 s1s s. s9'lo.I -. - -