The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1872-05-04
part Of the immense hall, the following
platform Of the Republican Convention:
Indictment OF the Administrator

|
Indictment OF the Administration.
a4-AEE l.. K ET
Address OF COMMITTEE on RRsoLuT1oNs,
The administration now In power has
rendered itself guilty Of 0 wanton dire-
gard OF the laws Of the land and Of the
powers not granted by the constitution.
It has acted as II the laws had binding
force only for those who are governed,
and not tor those who govern. Il has
thus struck a blow at tho iundamen.
tai principles Of constitutional govern.
ment and the liberties oil the citizens. The
President Of the United States has openly
used the powers and appointments ol his
high Office for the promotion Of personal
ends, He has kept notoriously corrupt
and unauthorized men IN places OF power
and responsibility TO the detriment Of the
public interest. BE has used the public
service Of the government as a machine OF
partisan and personal influence, and In.
terfered with technical arrogance In the
political affairs OF the States and muni.
cipalitiea. He has rewarded with inhu.
tial and lucrative offices men who had
acquired his favor by valuable presents,
thus stimulating the decentralization Of our
political life by his conspicuous example.
BE has shown himself depl unequal
to the tasks imposed upon him by the
necessities Of the country, and culpably
careless ot the responsibilities OF his high
Office. -
|. The partizans OF the Administration,
assdming TO be the Republican party and
controlling its organization, have attempt,
ed to justify such wrongs, and palliate
such abuses TO the end Of maintaining
partizan ascendancy. They have stood
In the way oi necessary investigation and
indispensable reform, claiming that no 90.
rious fault could be found with the pres
sent administration Of public affairs; thus
seeking to blind the eyes OF the people.
They have kept alive the passions and 70.
sentiments Of the late civil war, to use
them for their own advantage. They have
resorted to arbitrary measures In direct
conflict with the organic law, instead Of
appealing to the better instincts and Ia.
tent patriotism Of the Southern people, by
restoring TO them those rights the enjoy.
ment oil which Is indispensable for sue.
cessful administration Of their local at.
fairs, and wonld tend 10 inspire them
witha more patriotic andhopeful national
feeling. They have degraded them
selves, till the name OF their .par-
ty Is no more Justly entitled to the
confidence Of the nation, by base sy-
cophancy 10 the dictates OF executive
power and patronage unworthy Of Repub.
lican freemen. They have sought to 81.
Hence the voice Of Just criticism and stifle
the moral sense Of the people, and ID sub
I]ugate public opinion BY tyrannical party
discipline They are striving to main.
tain themselves In authority for selfish
ends, by an inscriptions use Of the
power which rightfully belongs to the
people, and should be employed only in
the service Of the country.
Believing that an organization thus led
and controlled cannot longer be Of service
to the best interests oI the republic, we
have resolved TO make an independent
appeal to the sober judgment, conscience
and patriotism OF The American people.
Platform.
We, the Liberal Republicans Of the Uni.
ted States, IN National Convention assem-.
bled at Cincinnati, proclaim the following
principles as essential 10 just government :
1st. We recognize the equality OF all
men before the law. and hold that 1t Is the
duty of the government, In It's dealings
with the people, to mete out equal and
exact justice to all, OF whatever nativity,
race, color or persuasion, religion or poll.
tics. .g.,.s- .-.-,-.
Cd. We pledge ourselves 10 maintain the
Union Of the States, emancipation and en-.
lranchisement, and to oppose any reopen.
ing Of the questions settled by the 18th,
l4th and 18th amendments Of the Consti.
tuition. W. " ~ p " @1a''-F
Sd. We demand the immediate and ab.
solute removal Of all the disabilities i'm.
posed on account Of the rebellion, which
was finally subdued seven years ago,
believing that universal amnesty will re.
suit in complete paciacation in all sections
Of the country. .sl r..a
4th, Local self.government with impair.
tial suffrage will guard the rights of all
citizens more securely than any centrali.
cation OF power. The public welfare
requires supremacy Of the civil over
the military authority, and the free.
dom Of person under protection oil
habeaa corpus. We demand for in.
dividuals the largest liberty consistent
with public order, for the State self. govern.
ment, and for the nation to return to the
method Of peace and constitutional limi.
ations Of power. ssz
| 9th. The civil service Of the govern.
ment has become q nIere instrument ol
partizan tyranny and personal ambition,
and an object OF selfish greed; 1t Is a scan.
dal and areproach upon Iree institutions
and tends 10 q decentralization dangerous
to the perpetuity.ots Republican Govern.
ment.
9th. therefore regard d thorough re.
form Of the civil service as one Of the
most pressing necessities of the hour; thai
honesty, capacity and fidelity to the Con-
stitution Is the only valid clam to public
4, employment; that the offices Of the Il Gov
ernment cease to be matter Of arbitrary
iavoritism and patronage, and that public
station become again post Of honor; Il
this end tits imperadvely required that
no President shall not be a candidate for
re. election. :, S ~. .' as 81 r. -.
9Th. We demand a system Of federal
taxation which shall not necessarily inter,
fere with the industry Of the people, and
which shall provide the means necessary
to pay the expenses or the government
economically administered, the pensions
the interest on the public debt, and mod
crate annual reduction Of the principal
thereof and recognizing that there are il
our midst honest but, ,irreco concilable differ
ences Of opinion with regard to the re-
spechye System Of protection and iireG
trade, We remit the discussion Of the sub
lect to the people in their Congressiona
districts, and the decision Of Congress
thereon wholly free Of executive interfer
ence or dictation,I g q TJr3f