The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-06-05
rRfNCIPLES ENUNCIArED BS The NE-
PUBLiCANS OF VIRGINIA.

The Republicans Of Virginia, in Convention
assem- bled, 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 1855 to 1872 they have continually aud
unwaveringly held and proclaimed the same
principles and they hereby reiterate and re-
affirm the resolutions of their State Conventions
held in 1866, 1867, 1865 1869, 1870, and 1871.
These principles have been embodied in the
18th, l4th, and 18th amendments of the national
constitution and in the civil rights act of April
., 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, ent-
| tied to absolutely equal rights, civil and politi
| cal;
That the elective franchise and the right Of of
tice-holding shall belong to all citizens of proper
| age, not gnilty 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 il, in practice, these laws
should be found inadequate for this purpo,e,
other laws should be enacted by Congress effect
ual to that end
3. 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
eDdeavors to infuse a spirit of hatred and hosti-
| ty in the minds of one class of citizens against
| another on political grounds.
e. 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 embezZlenent have been vigorously
pursued and promptly punished the revenues
have been collected by officers held by tho Presi-
dent to the most rigid accountability, all OF
which has produced the present satisfactory
| condition OF the national treasury.
6. That well conducted and faithfully ad-
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
| one means of securing an efficient management
| of the free schools of Virginia. we favor the cleo
| ton of sch ool trustees by the people in such
manner that the minority as well as the major
| ity may be represented IN the school boards.
6. That it is due to the Superintendent of Pub
lie instruction of Virginia, that this Convention
should express their approval of his late able re-
port, giving earnest of his competency and
fidelity OF intention in the discharge of his i'm
| portant duties.
z. That the so-called Conservative party of
| this State, by its unjust laws and proscrlptive
| spirit, by its attempts to hold the mass of the
| people in ignorance, by its pernicious financial
legiClation 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 1t, is organized on the prnci-
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 or ruled upon in such
| 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 fa1n
| lies left homeless beggars.
| In view of these facts the Republican party of
| Virginia. as the author of the homestead clause
and its advocate to the present time, believes the
extension of the exemptions under the general
bankrupt act as to include the homestead
emptions under our State constitution to be the
only means of relief now offered TO people
and they therefore ask Congress TO pass the
amendment to that effect offered in the Senate
by the Hon. J. Z. Lewis, and hereby pledge
themselves to the support of this measure.
8. That we extend Il hearty welcome 10 imm
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
tion by the Republican party, has proved .
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 nationnl taxa
ton should be reduced as rapidly!as possible,
consistently with due regard to the public faith
IL. That this Convention, as Il mark of their
) respect for the Hon. John +. Lewis and as tes
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 Vice-Presidency.
IL. That this Convention nanimously 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 inquitous assault not only
from his political enemies but from those who
/. | should have been his political friends