The weekly clarion., 1872-07-18
B'he mississippi Delegation and
dIRe PLATFORM.

B'he mississippi Delegation and
tIRe Platform.
As the explanation is not entirely clear
on the face Of the proceedings of the
Baltimore Convention why the vote OF
the Mississippi delegation was cast against
the majority upon the question of the
Platform, we will publish a brief state
ment of the facts, prefacing it with the
remark, the truth Of which will be appa-
rent, that there was 10 disagreement
whatever in reference to the living and
practical issues involved in the election.
In the Committee on Resolutions which
was composed of delegate from each
State, who was designated for the place
by the delegation thereof-AFr Cassedy
Of New York, proposed literally to adopt
the Platform Of the Cincinnati Conven-
ton, the same as if it had been an origi-
nal propostim-with the following in
PRODUCTION: I'VE the Democratic elec-
''tors of the United States in Convention
Assembled, do present the following
principles already adopted at Cincinnati
''as essential to just government :"
FirsC-We recognize the equality of all
! men before the law, aud hold that il is the
/ duty of the governmental its dealings with
| the people. to mete out equal and exact
/ justice TO all, Of. whatever nativity. race.
! color persuation. religious or political.
/ Sccoud-We pledge ourselves to maintain
( the union OF these States emancipation and
cntraucHisemcnt. and 10 oppose any reoDen-
/ ing Ofthe questions settled by the thirteenth.
| fourteenth and fifteenth amendments Of the
| constitution.
/ Third-We demand the immediate and
I absolute removal of all disabilities imposed
/ on account of the rebellion, which was
/ finally Subdued seven years ego, believing
! that universal amnesty will result in the
4 complete pacilication OF all sections of the
| country.
| Eourth-Local f-government. with i'm
| partial suffrage. viii 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 the freedom of persons under
the protection OF the habeas rornUs We
demand for the individual the largest Iiber-
ty consistent with public order for the States
self-govcrnmenf. and for the nation a return
to the methods of peace and the constitu-
| tiOndl limitations & power.
ment has become mere instrument of
partisan tyranny and personal ambition.
and an object of selfish gr aed II is a
scandal aud rcprOach upon our free institu-
tions, and breeds Il decentralization DANCE
TOus to the pefpetuItY of republican govern
mcnt. We therefore regard Il. thOroUoh
reform OF the civil service as one of the most
pressin" necessities of the hour; that hon
esty, capacity and fidelity constitute the
only valid claims to public employment:
70,
be a matter of arbitrary faVoritism and
patronage, and that public stations become
again posts OF honor. To this end it is
mperatively required that no President
shall be a candidate for reelection.
SiXCh-Wc demand Il system of federal
taxation which shall not unnecessarily
interfere with the industry of the people.
and which shall provide means necessary to
pay the expenses of the government, eco
ironically administered, pensions. the
Interest ON the public debt. and moderate
reduction. annually, of the principal there
Of aud recognizing that there are in our |
midst honest, but irreCOnCilable differences
OF opinion " it'll regard to the respective
systems of protection and free trade we |
remit discussion of the subject to the people
IN their congressional districts, and to the |
decision OF Congress thereon. wholly free |
OF executive Interference or dictation
Seventh-The public credit must be sa- |
cfedIy maintained, and we deuOuncc repu-
diatlOn in every and 9uise.
EIghth-A speedy return to specie pay
ments is demanded alike by the highest |
considerations of commercial morality and |
honest government.
-FtHtb-tt TeH.eDtJr lcith gratitude the hero
sSa and sacrifice Of The S0ldierS and sailors 0f
The rePHbhc, aud no dct Qf Ours shall euer de-
tract rom He!rJaStly earRed t0me or the JuH
Felcdrd of hetr patriOtiSDt.
Ienth-Ne are opposed to all further
grants of land to rail- Dads or other corpo-
-ations. The pubic domain should be held
sacred to actual settlers.
Eleventh-Wc hold that it is the duty of
the government, in its intercourse with
foreign nations, to cultivate the friendship
OF peace by treating with all on fair and
equal terms, regarding it alike dishonorable
either to demand what is not right or to
submit to what is wrong.
Iwelith-tor the promotion and success
OF these vital principles, and the support of
the candidates nominated by this c0nven-
ton, we invite and cordially welcome the
cooperation of all patriotic citizens without
regard to previous political af1ilation.
In lieu of this proposition, the men,
bers of the Committee from Alabama,
Tennessee, Georgia, Texas, Kansas,
Oregon, Delaware, Mississippi, and we
believe, Maine, advocated a Platform
the Grant Administration for
IS misdeeds, and purely declaratory of
he vital and essential issues of the can i
rass, divested of all irrelevant matter t
whatever. The committeeman from
Mississippi (E. Barksdale) advocated I
his plan and insisted that the ninth res /
tuition containing an expression of t
gratitude to the Northern soldiers for t
he part borne by them in the civil war
vas not declaration of political faith,
ut purely Il matter Of sentiment and feel t
lg, and was wholly out of place in the j
'latiorm Of an organization to which the +
zen OF the North and of the South were u
arties equally. He insisted that in the q
,ue spirit of the covenant between these \
arties, to let the dead bury its dead-to h
and on the present-and to look to the n
lture and take care of ia resolution W
avlng reference wholly to the past and ~
hich implied Il reflection on the soldiers II
4 the Southern side of the civil conflict Of
should not be adopted O..
The motion of the member from New ii
ork, we regret to say, prevailed by the ri
most united vote of the North and
embers from Kentucky, Virginia and !,
obablv one or two other Southern =,
ates And the Platform, in the form - =
'ove presented, was reported by the -
with instructions. to the =
hallman to move the previous question :.
rs to cut off debate, exclude amend IL
ents, and to force a vote on the Resolu-
ms as whole