The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-05-06
PRINCIPLES ENUNCIATED by THE RE.
PUDLlCANS OF VIRGINIA.

PRINCIPLES ENUNCIATED by THE RE-
PUDLICANS OF VIRGINIA.
The Republicans of Virginia, In Convention
assembled, about to enter upon the canvass for
the election of a President and Vice-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 1885, 1867, 1868, 1869, 1870, and 1871.
These principles have been embodied in the
18th, 14th, 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 =
/. That slavery shall never exist in this Union !;
That all native and naturalized inhabitants of
these states shall be citizens of the Union, ent-
tied to absolutely equal rights, civil and politi-
cal;
That the elective franchise and the right of Of
ficeholding shall belong to all citizens of proper
age, not guilty of crime, irrespective of race,
color, or Of any other proscrptive qualification;
enforcement of these rights should be diligently
executed; and that if, in practice, these laws
should be found inadequate for this purpose,
other laws should be enacted by Congress effect
ual to that end.
8. That these constitutional amendments and
the laws 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
epdeayors 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 satisfactory
condition of the national treasury.
s. That 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 Il
cardinal policy of the Republican party, and
necessary to the well being of society; and
one means Of securing an efficient management
of the free schools of Virginia, favor the cleo
ton of sch DOL trustees by the people in such
manner that the minority as well as the major
ity may be represented in the school boards.
8. That 1t il due to the Superintendent of Pub
lie Instruction of Virginia, that this Convention
should express their approval of his late able re,
fidelity OF intention in the discharge of his inn
portantduties
7. That the so-calied Con servative 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 pernicous financial
legi lation and its oppressive taxation, has for
feited all claim to the support OF the people of
Virginia; and has shown that 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.
s. That the wise provisions of the homestead
clause in our State constitution have been ig-
nored by the judiciary ruled upon in such a
manner as to deny to 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. f. Lewis, and hereby pledge
themselves to the support of this measure.
8. That we extend a hearty welcome to imml-
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.
10. 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
So much need and that State and nationul taxa
ton should be reduced as rapidlyias possible,
IL. That this Convention, AS Il mark OF their
respect for the Hon. John f. Lewis and as ties,
tmonial 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 Weep residency.
mend the he 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 a 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.
Supplemental Resolutions.
Resolued That in the opinion of this Cenyen-
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, or the
inadequacy of their power fails to secure pro-
lection to any portion of the people
RESOLVED That we are in favor Of an amend
ment to the Constitution of the United States
providing for the election OF President, Vice
President and Senators, directly by the people,
and so far as possible, for such direct election OF
all other public officers.
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
education.
RESOLVED 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.
RESOLVED, That cheap communication by mail
is one of the most precious interests of the 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 teiegraphic Communication to all.
WHEREAS it is of immense commercial mpor-
lance to the people of the United States that a
public highway be established for cheap trans
portation of freights between the people of
the West and the Atlantic seaboard; therefore,
be it
Resolved, That the Congress of the United
States be memorialized to complete the James
River and Kanawha canal and that our Senators