The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1872-04-18
POLITICAL ITEMS.

POLITICAL ITEMS.
In the South Carolina Ku Klux trials on
Friday, three Of the accused plead guilty to
conspiracy. The charge Of murder against
them was Withdrawn.
Alta meeting of the Democratic State con-
vention of New York, at Albany, the feeling
manifested was decidedly in favor of a passive
policy, looking to the Liberal Republican
Convention, at Cincinnati, to initiate the pro-
gramme for the party in the Presidential
campaign.
A meeting Of Republicans favoring the
| Cincinnati Convention was held in New York
city, on Friday last. Col. +. Conklirg, bro
Their Of the T. S. Senator Of that name, pre-
sided. Horace Greeley, Moses Fl Grinnell,
G. A. Dana Marshall O'Roberts, Judge
Batchtord and Gen j. A. Dix, were among
the Vice Presidents. Senators Trumbull and
Sehuz addressed the large concourse. The
speeches were preceded by the following dec
'aration Of principles,
THAT political action in individuals and
| conventions should be free from the Influence
of political patronage; that business men
should not, under the fear Of unjust official
Interference il the affairs, be compelled to
pay tribute for political purposes that pub
lie offices are, or should be, created for pub
lie convenience, not as rewards Tor partisan
services nor for personal ACKNOWLEDGMENT;
that the acts Of officials should be confined
within the strict letter of the law ; that the
triumph of republican principles is Of para
mount importance to the country that the
success Of these priu c;pes in the approaching
national election should not depend upon any
one individual; that the prosperity OF the
country demands a thorough, radical, and
immediate reform 10 all the departments Of
the public service, civil, military and naval,
aud that the sone-term' principle for the
presidential office will conduce more to that
end than any other measure"
The Republican State Convention Of Penn
syl7a.lia has nominated Gen. J. E. Hartcanft
for Governor There is considerable dissat-
isfacton in the party on account Of it, and
it is expected that Col. Nc lure will be
brought out by the liberals Of that party, aud
the Democrats, and run Us opposition.
The Washington correspondent Of the Bal
timore Sun, dated April ] lth, says:
''The discussion in the House yesterday
and to-day en- the proposition Of the Senate to
appropriate fifty thousand dollars for the ex-
penses Of the civil service reform commission
/ indicated an almost unanimous opposition to
the new reform among the republican mem
bers. The result was that the appropriation
was reduced to ten thousand dollars 10 COM
mittee of the whole, aud will probably be
struck out entirely when vote is reached in
the House. Members do not relish the idea
! of goingssinto the canvass for reelection this
fail on the policy Of reforming the civil ser
vice by ignoring political considerations. In
the face Of this action the administration will
probably abandon the new project.
The democratic members of Congress are
consulting among themselves regarding their
political course, in view Of the Cincinnati
/ Convention Some Of them freely express
their willingness to vote for the nominee OF
that convention, provided the demonstration
there shall give promise Of success, and the
platform be Of such acharacter that they can
endorse it. They say they want Gully the
enumeration Of few general principles Some
of the anti-adnlnIstration republicans have
i been privately exchanging views with them
in order to arrange basis OF coalition. 1t
is generally agreed, however, by the demo-
Gratis that tn cir course will be governed by
the national democratic convention. whether
it shall agree to support the Cincinnati nom
inee or make nomination of its own
Delegates to the republican national con-
vention, to be held in Philadelphia on We'd
nesday, June 5, have now been regularly
chosen in the States Of Connecticut, Florida,
| Indiana, Iowa. Kansas. Kentucky, Maine,
Massachusetts, Missouri, Ohio, Oregon, Penn
sylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina and
| Wisconsin. Ehe conventions in all these
States unreservedly endorsed the administra-
ton Of President Grant, and the delegates
/ from twelve Of the fifteen we're expressly
instructed TO vote for his nomination for
second term.
Gov. WALKER.-Frauk Lesle's Tllustra-
ted newspaper has long editorial article,
presenting the claims Of Gov. Walker, Of Vir-
ginia, for the position Of Vice President, to
the consideration Of the Cincinnati Con
ton. The writer isvors the nomination of
Senator TrumbulI, of Illinois, for President,
and Gov. Walker of Virginia, for Vice Pres
idcnt.
The vote will be taken in West Virginia
on the adoption Of the Constitution recently
framed in that State, on the ed Of August.
If adopted it will soilto effect LIST ofOctobcr,
1872.