The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1872-06-08
Liberal Republican Platform
Address and Declaration Of Principles
Adopted by the Convention of Liberal
Republicans in Cincinnati, May Ord,
THE ADDRESS.

not granted by the Constitution. 1t has
| acted as if the laws had binding force only
for those who are governed, and not for those
who govern. 1t has thus struck a blow at
the fundamental principles of constitutional
government, and the liberties of the citizens.
The President of the United States has
openly used the powers and opportunities OF
his high Office for the promotion of personal
ends. He has kept VIGOROUSLY corrupt and
unworthy men IN places of power and re
| spOnsibility. to the detriment of the public
interest. He has used the public service of
the Government as ii machinery of partisan
and personal influence, and interfered with
|. tyrannical arrogance in the political affairs
of States and municipalities. He has re-
warded with influential and lucrative offices
men who had acquired his favor by valuable
presents thus stimulating decentralization of
our political life by his conspicuous example
He has shown himself deplorably unequal to
the tasks imposed upon him by the neccssi-
| ties of the country, and eulpably careless of
the responsibilities of his high office.
| The partisans of the administration, as
! Stunning TO be the Republican party and con
| trolling its organization, have attempted to
justify such wrongs and palliate such abuses
to the end of maintaining party ascendancy.
| They have stood i'll the way of necessary in
| Yestigations and indispensable reforms, pre-
| tending that no serious fault could be found
with the present administration of public
| affairs, thus seeking to blind the eyes OF the
| people They have kept alive the passions
and resentments of the late civil war to use
| them for their own advantage. They have
| resorted to arbitrary measures i'll direct con-
| fiict with the organic law, instead of appeal
ing to the better instincts and latent patriot
ism of the Southern people by restoring to
! them those rights the enjoyment of which is
| Indispensable for successful administration
| of their local affairs, and would tend to move
| II patriotic and hopeful national feeling.
| They have degraded themselves and the
name of their party, once justly entitled to
| the confidence of the nation, by IL base syco-
| phancy to the dispenser of executive power
and patronage unworthy of Republican free
men. They sought to stifie the voice of just
criticism, TO stitie the moral sense of the peO
! pie, and to subjugatc public opinion by
| tyrannical party discipline. They are striy-
| ing to maintain themselves i'll authority for
selfish ends by an INSCRIPTIONS use of the
| power which rightfully belongs to the people,
and should be employed only i'll the service
| Of the country.
| Believing that an organization thus led and
controlled can no longer be OF service to the
| best interests of the republic, we have re-
solved to make an independent appeal to the
| sober alignment, conscience, and patriotism
OF the American people.
TIE DECLARATION OF PRINCIPLES.
| Therefore. we, the Liberal Republicans of
| the United States, in National Convention
assembled at Cincinnati, proclaim the fol-
| lowing principles us essential to just Govern
! ment: &
L. we recognize the equality of all men
| before the law. and hold that it is the duty
OF Government i'll its dealings with the poo
pie to mete out equal and exact Justice to all,
! of whatever nativity, race, color, or persua-
sion, religious or political.
/ q We pledge ourselves to maintain the
| Union of these States, emancipation, aud en-
/ reimbursement. and to oppose amy reopening
of the questions settled by the Thirteenth,
| Fourteenth, and Fifteenth amendments to
/ the Constitution.
| 3. We demand the immediate and abso-
lutte removal OF all disabilities imposed ON ac-
count of the rebellion which was finally sub
tlued seven Years ago, believing that uni
! versal amnesty will result III complete paci-
ticltion in all sections of the country.
| A. Local selfgovernment, with impartial
suffrage. will guard the rights of all citizens
more securely than any centralized power.
The public welfare requires the supremacy
| of the civil over the military authority, and
freedom of person under the protection of
the habeas corpus. We demand for the in
dividual the largest liberty consistent with
public order, for the State selfgovernment,
and for the nation return to the methods of
peace and the constitutional limitations OF
power.
). The civil service of the Government has
become Il mere instrument of partisan tyr
amy and personal ambition, and an object
of selfish greed. 1t is ascandal and reproach
upon free institutions, and breeds a democrat
ization dangerous to the perpetuity OF rcpub-
Hcan government Wetherefore regard such
thorough reforms of civil service as are OF
the most pressing necessities OF the hour;
that honesty, capacity, and fidelity consti
tutc the only valid claims TO public employ
! that fhn ntfippS Uf the Government
cease to be q matter of arbitrary fitvoritisn
and patronage, and that public station be
come again Il post of honor. To this end il
is inpcratively required that no President
shall he Il candidate for reelection.
g. We demand system OF Federal tax
, | alton which shall not unnecessarily inter
fere with the industry of the people, ant
which shall provide the means necessary tt
nav the expenses of the Government, econe
1nieaIly administered; the pensions the in
terest on the public debt, and a moderate re
duction annually of the principal thereof
and, recognizing that there are Ill our mlds
honest but irTeeoncilable differences Of opin
ions with regard to the respective systems o
f protection and free trade, we remit the dis
cussion of the subject to the people, i'll thei
Congressional districts and to the decision
of Congress thereon wholly free of Execu
: tive interference or dietation.
T. The public credit must be sacredl,
every form and guise.
q 6. A steady return to specie payment i
demanded alike by the highest consdera
tons of commercial morality and homes
government.
9. We remember with gratitude the hero
ism and sacrifices of the soldiers and sailor
of the republic, and no act of ours shall eve
detract from their justly-carned fame, or til
a full reward of their patriotism.
10. We are opposed to all further grants 0
lands to railroads or other corporations
The public domain should be held sacred t
actual settlers.
Ii. We hold that it is the duty of the Gov
, eminent, in its intercourse with foreign na
tions. to cultivate the friendship of peace, b.
treating with all ON fair and equal terms, II
gartIing it alike dishonorable either to do
9 inand what is not right, or to submit to wha
:. is wrong.
l H. For the promotion and success of thes
vital principles and the support of the cal
+ didate5 nominated by this Convention, "
i invite and cordially welcome the co-operf
ton of all patriotic citizens, without regar
: to previous affiliations
Post-office Notice.