Democratic enquirer. [volume] (M'arthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1867-1873, 1872-05-15
ADDRESS AND RESOLUTIONS

ADDRESS AND RESOLUTIONS
Liberal Republicans of the United States
ADOPTED AT THEIR
NATIONAL CONVENTION
CINCINNATI, OHIO, MAY ], 1872
WHICH NOMINATED
HORACE GREELEY for President
Il. GRATz BROWN for Vice President
ADDRESS TO THE PEOPLE OF THE UNI
.t TED STATES.
The Administration now in poweI
has rendered itself guilty of wan
ton disregard of the laws O
the land in the exercise 0
powers not granted by the Con
stitution. 1t has acted as if th,
laws had binding force only fo
/. those who are governed, and no
for those who govern. 1t has thu
struck q blow at the Fundamental
principle of constitutional gov
ernment and the liberties of tht
citizen.
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 notoriously
corrupt and unworthy men in
places Of power and responsibility
to the dctriment of thepublic in,
forest.
He has used the public service Of
the Government as a machinery
of partisan and personal infu-
once, and intcrfered, with tyran.
meal arrogance, in the political
affairs Of States and municipali-
ties.
He has rewarded with influential
and lucrative offices men who had
acquired his favor by valuable
presents, thus stimulating the de.
moralization of our political life
by his conspicuous example.
He has shown himself deplorably
unequal to the task imposed up
on him by the eeccsstios of the
country, and culpably careless Of
the responsibilities Of his high
Office.
The partisans of tho Administra.
tion, assuming to be the Repub'
lican party and controlling its or
ganization, have attempted to jus.
tify such wrongs and palliate
abuses, to tho end of maintaining
partisan ascendency.
They have stood in the way of nee
essary investigations and indis
pensable reforms, pretending tina
no serious fault could be founC
with the present administration
of public affairs, thus seeking tt
blind the eyes of the peop!c.
They have kept alive tho pas
sions and rcsontments Of thu
late civil war. to use them fol-
their own advantage. They have
resorted to arbitrary measures
and direct conflict with the or
gOnic law, instead Of appealing
to the better instincts and latent
patriotism of the Southern people
by restoring to them those rights
the enjoyment of which is indis'
pensablc for successful admin
istration Of their local affairs, anG
would tend to restore q patriotic
National feeling. They have dc
graded themselves and the name
Of their party, one justly entitled
to the confidence of the nationI
by a base sycophancy to the dis
pcnser of Executive power and
patronage unworthy Of Republi-
can freemen, They have sought
to silence the voice of just criti-
cism, to stifo the moral scnse Of
the people, and to subjugato pub
lie opinion by tyrannical party
discipline; they are striving to
maintain themselves in authority
for sefsh ends by an unscrupu.
lous use of the power which
rightfully belongs to the people
and should be employed only in
tho service of the country.
Believing that no organization thus
led and controlled can longer
be of service to the best interests
of the Republic, We have resolved
to make an independent appeal
to the sober judgment, conscience
and patriotism of tho American
people.
RESOLUTIONS.
We, the Liberal Republicans of til,
United States, in National ConUen
ton assembled at Cincinnati, pro
claim the fOlo,cing principles al
essential to just government;
/. We recognize the equality O.
all before the law, and hold that i
is the duty of Government. in it
dealings with the people to metC
out equal and exact justice to all o
whatever nativity, race, color OF
persuasion, religious or political.
2. We pledge ourselves to main
tain the Union of the States, eman
cipation and enfranchisement, and
oppose any reopening of the ques
tions settled by the Thirteenth
Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amend
ments of tho Constitution.
3. We demand immediate ant
81 Lzo1,,lo ,,o,,,ouol nP oil dioo hill