The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-05-23
PRINCIPLES ENUNCIATED BY THE RE-
RIRLICANS OLE VIRGINIA..

The Republicans of Virginia, in Convention
assembled, about to enter upon the canvass for
the election of a President and Yice-President
oil the United States, now formally announce
their principles to the voters of this Common
wealth.
From 1865 to 1872 they have continually and
unwaveringly held and proclaimed the same
principles and they hereby reiterate and re-
affirm the resolutions of their State Conventions
held in 1896, 1867, 1865, 1869, 1870, and 1871.
These principles have been embodied in the
18th, l4th, and 10Th amendments of the national
constitution and in the civil rights act of April
8, 1866, the enforcement act of May 80, 1870 and
the amended enforcement act of April 20, 1871
which principles in brief are:-
l. That slavery shall never exist in this Union
That all native and naturaliZed Inhabitants of
these states shall be citizens of the Union, enti-
tied to absolutely equal rights, civil and politi-
cal;
That the elective franchise and the right of of
fice-holding shall belong to all citizens of proper
age, not guilty of crime irrespective of race,
color, or OF any other proscriptiye qualification;
2. That the laws of Congress passed for the
enforcement of these rights should be diligently
executed; and that it, in practice, these laws
should be found inadequate for this purpose,
other laws should be enacted by Congress effect
ual to that end.
3. That these constitutional amendments and
the kws for their enforcement embody not only
the just principles of equality and right but
those of true Christian liberation and that we
oppose all prescription for opinion sake, and all
endeavors to infuse spirit of hatred and HOSTILE
| ty in the minds of one class of citizens against
| another on political grounds.
4. That we challenge the world to produce
financial results more successful than have been
achieved by the national administration. The
national debt has been diminished three hundred
millions Of dollars while taxation by the nation
al government has been largely and steadily re-
duced Our credit has improved and strength
ened at home and abroad the perpetrators OF
| fraud and embeZzlement have been vigorously
| pursued and promptly punished the revenues
have been collected by officers held by the Presi-
| dent to the most rigid accountability, all OF
which has produced the present Unsatisfactory
condition of the national treasury. .-- ( ".
8. That a well conducted and faithfully adj
ministered system of free Schools in pursuance
of the State constitution, whereby the children
of the people shall be universally educated is a
cardinal policy of the Republican party, and
| necessary to the well being of society; and as
| one means of securing an efficient management
OF the free schools of Virginia. we favor the cleo
| ton of sch DOL trustees by the people in such
manner that the minority as we'll as the major
ity may be represented in the school boards. 4
6. That il is due to the Superintendent of Pub
lie Instruction of Virginia, that this Convention
should express their approval of his late able
port, as giving earnest of his competency and
| fidelity of intention in the discharge of his inn
| portant duties. e #...
| 7. That the so-called Conservative party of
| this State, by its unjust laws and proscriptive
spirit, by its attempts to hold the mass of the
people in ignorance, by its pernicons financial
legiclation and its oppressive taxation has for
| feited all claim to the support of the people of
Virginia. and has shown that a party is unfit to
exist which, like it, is organized on the princi
pie of political and social prescription and held
| together by no common bond but that of hatred
towards the national government and its sup
porters. ."E
s. That the wise provisions of the homestead
clause in our State constitution have been ig-
nored by the Judiciary ruled upon in snch Il
manner as to deny 10 our people its intended
benefits. - .....
! Suffering debtors find no adequate relief upon
| appeal to the State courts or Legislature, but
are compelled to see the little wreck of property
left them by the war sacrificed under the sheriff
hammer at forced sale and themselves and fami-
| lies left homeless beggars
In view of these facts, the Republican party of
Virginia, rs the author of the homestead clause
and its advocate to the present time, believes the
| extension of the exemptions under the general
| bankrupt act so as to include the homestead ex-
emptions under our State constitution to be the
| only means of relief now offered to our people,
/ and they therefore ask Congress to pass the
| amendment to that effect offered in the Senate
/ by the Hon. j. +. Lewis, and hereby pledge
| themselves 10 the support of this measure.
Q. That we extend q hearty welcome to imrnI-
| grafton and capital from abroad, and advocate
| the development in every possible manner of the
| magnificent resources of forest soil, water
| power and mineral wealth in which Virginia
| abounds. " '@- t
| TO- That the national currency given the ma
| ton by the Republican party, has proved a
national blessing that a protective tariff is the
| true policy for the South tending as it does to
produce that variety of employments which we
| 50 much need; and that State and nationul taxa
ton should be reduced rapidlyias possible
consistently with due regard to the public faith
| H. That this Convention, as mark of their
| respect for the Hon. John F. Lewis and as ties,
timonial to his valuable public services, and his
| integrity of character, respectfully offer his
| name to the Republican party of the United
| States, for nomination along with Gen. Grant
/ as candidate for the EicePresidency.
| y. That this Convention unanimously recon-
mend the denomination, General Grant for
| the Presidency, as due, not only to his great
public services in the field and in the Cabinet,
and to his fidelity and honesty, but as measure
of justice to q great and good man who has been
made the object OF ubiquitous assault not only
from his political enemies but from those who
should have been his political friends. I'D.
Supplemental Resolutions
ResolUed, That in the opinion of this Cenven-
| ton Congress should provide for such an extern
sion of the powers of the Federal courts, as to
protect all rights and secure prompt remedies for
all wrongs in the States lately in rebellion where
the partisan character Of the local courts, the
inadequacy of their power, fails to secure pro-
lection to any portion of the people. s- -a
ResoIUed That we are in favor of amend
ment to the Constitution OF the United States
providing for the election of President, Vice
President, and Senators, directly by the people,
and, far possible, for such direct election OF
all other public officers. ss I'D
Resolved That the National domain is the
common heritage of all the people, and should
be sacredly guarded from speculation and mono
poly; sold only for homesteads to actual settlers
in small quantities, and the proceeds applied to
Resolped, That this Convention earnestly re
| commends the establishment of free National
| University in the city OF Washington to utilize
| the immense educational material now collected
| there; such University to be supported from the
| proceeds of sales of the public lands.
ReSotped, That cheap communication by mail
is one of the most precious interests of tie peo-
pie, and we call upon Congress to perfect our
present excellent system by adding there to the
Postal Telegraph thus securing the vast benefits
of Geographic communication to all.
WHEREAS it is of immense commercial nnpor-
lance to the people of the United States that q
public highway be established for cheap trans
portation of freights between the people of
the West and the Atlantic seaboard; therefore,
be it .... M. 40
Resoleed, That the Congress of the United
States be memorialized to complete the James
River and Kanawha canal, and that our Senators
and representatives in Congress be requested to
use all honorable means to secure the completion
of this national highway lalready half compile
ted) as soon possible. ~ fers-f