The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1872-1881, 1872-05-24
HORACE GREELEY
His Acceptance of the Liberal
Nomination for President
of tho United States
A Letter Full of the Salu-
tary Sentiments Of
the Times. u.
Pence, Fraternity and Goodwill.

DEAR SIR-The National Convention
of the Liberal Republicans Of the Uni
ted States have Instructed the undersign.
ed, President, Vice-President, and Secre-
taries ofthe Convention, TO inform you that
youhave been nominated as the candidate
Of the Liberal Republicans for the Presi-
dency Of the United States. We also
submit to you the address and resolutions
unanimously adopted by the conven-
ton. BE pleased 10 signify TO us your
acceptance Of the platform and nomina-
ton, and believe us,
Very truly yours,
(Signed) c. SHURZ, President.
g. W. JULIAN, Vice Pres.
WIN. L MCLEAN,
JNo. g. DAVIDSON,
j. III. RHODES, Secretaries.
Hon. Horace GREELEY, New York.
Mr.. oREELEy's REPLY.
4 NEW YoRK, May 20.
GESTLEMEN-I have chosen not 10
acknowledge your letter Of the third in
slant, until j copld learn how the work
OF your convention was received in all
parts Of our great country, and judge
whether that work was approved and
ratified by the mass of our fellow-citizeps.
Their response has from day to day reach
ed me through telegram, letters, and the
comments of journalist independent Of
official patronage and Indifferent TO the
smile or frowns Of power. The number
and character Of these unconstrained,
unpurcbased, unsolicited utterances sat-
isfy me that the movement which found
expression at Cincinnati has received the
stamp Of public approval, and been hail
ed by majority Of our country as
harbinger of better day for the Repub-
lie.
do not misinterpret this approval as
especially complimentary to myself, nor
even to the chivalrous and justly etseem-
ed gentleman with whose name thank
your convention for associating with mine.
I receive and welcome it as a sponta-
neous and deserved tribute to that admi-
rable platform ofprinciples wherein your
convention 50 tersely, so lucidly, so for
chilly set forth the convictions which i'm
PEELED and the purpose which guided its
course; a platform which, behind it the
wreck and rubbish of worn-out conten-
tons and by-gone feuds, emboddies in fit
and few words the needs and aspirations
of to-day. Though thousands stand ready
to condemn your every act, hardly a syl-
liable ofcriticism or cavil has bean aimed
at your platform, Of which the substance
may be fairly epitomizod as follows:
First-All the political rights and
franchises which have been acquired
through our late bloody convulsion must
and shall be guaranteed. nHffssiaed~ en-
Tedlnrartsf ->elf tTermore.
Second-All tirS psl;sical rights and
yssranchise which 1--we been fos} through
! thst convulsion should and must be
promptly restored and re-established. 50
I there shall be henceforth no prescribed
! class and no DISTINGUISHED caste within
<he limits Of our Union, whose long-es-
tfsaged people shall reunite and frater-
nize uposa the broad basis of universal
amnesty with impartial .r'asge.
Third-That, subject to our solemn
constitutional obligation to maintain
equal rights as citizens, our policy should
aim at selfgovernment and not at Gen.
tralization; that the civil authority should
be supreme over the military; that the writ
of hebeas corpus should be jealously up
held as the safeguard Of personal freedom;
that the individual citizen should enjoy
the largest liberty consistent with public
order, and that there shall be no Federal
supervision of the internal policy of the
several States and municipalities, but
that each shall be left free to enforce the
rights and promote the well being of its
inhabitants by such means as the Judge
ment of its own people shall prescribe.
Fourth-There shall be real and not
merely a simulated reform in the civil
service Of the public. To which end it
is indispensable the chef dispenser of its
vast Official patronage shall be shielded
from the main temptation to use his pow
er selfshly, by a rule inexorably forbid
ding and precluding 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 repre-
sentatives in Congress, whose action
thereon the President must neither over
rule by his acts, attempt to dictate, our
TO presume TO punish, by bestowing Office
only ON those who agree with him or
Withdrawing it from those who do not.
Sixth-That the public lands must be
saeredly reserved for occupation and &C
QUESTION by cultiyators, aud not reckless
ly squandered on projectors Of railroads
for which our people have no present
need, and the premature construction Of
which is annually plunging them into
deeper. deeper abysses of foreign indebt-
edness.
Seventh--That the achievement of
these grand purposes Of universal benih-
oence is expected and sought Of all who
approve them, irrespective Of past affilia-
tons.
Eighth-That the public faith must
at all hazards be maintained and the
national credit reserved.
Ninth-That the patriotic devoted
ness and inestimable service Of our fell
low-citizens, who as soldiers or sailors up
held the flag and maintained the unity
Of the republic, shall ever be gratefully
remembered and honOrably requited.
These propositions. 50 ably and forci-
bly, presented in the platform Of your
have already fixed the atten-
ton and commanded the assent ola large
of our countrymen, who joy
fully adopt them, as | do, rs the basis
Of true benifcent national reconstruc-
ton, of a new departure from the jeal-
Ousies ahd strifes and hates, which have
no longer adequate motive or even
plausible pretext, into an atmosphere of
peace. Of fraternity and Of good will In