Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1872-04-13

POLTICAI.-Ihe meeting or the L,berai lie
publicans, held at Cooper Institute, New York,
last night, is said to have been one OF the most
imposing demonstrations of the kind ever made
in that city. The building was crowded to its
utmost capacity. and large numbers were I'M
able to gain admission f. A. Conkling, broth
err of Senator Conkling, presided, and among
the Vice Presidents were Horace Greeley.
Sinclair Tousey, Moses II. Griunell, Hiram
Barney. Charles A. Dana, Marshall O. Roberts,
judge B'atchlord, Samuel Sinclair and Gen.
J. A. Dix. THE principles adopted, eouched IN
strong and terse language, every paragraph OF
which express unqualified antagonisln to the
denomination Of Grant, declare that political
action il individuals and conventions should lie
free from the influence of political patronage:
that business men should not, under the fear
of unjust official interference in their affairs, be
compelled to pay tribute for political purposes
that public Offices are, or should be, created for
public convenience, not as rewards Tor partisan
services nor for personal ACKNOWLEDGEMENT; that
the acts of officials should be confined within
the strict letter of the law that the triumph OF
Republican principles is of paramount import
ance to the county; that the success OF these
principles 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 in all
the departments Of the public service, civil:
military and naval and that the ':onc-term'
principle for the Presidential Office will con-
duce more to that end that any other measure.
Messrs. SchuIz and Trumbull we're present
aud gave in their final adhesion to the Liberal
| movement, aud Mr. Greeley announced that
he would attend the Cincinnati Convention
Ia the course of his speech, Mr.. Trumbull,
abiding to the South said zone cause of COM
plant, which produces the alienation OF the
late insurrectioua,y States, and keeps alive the
hates and anmo<ities engeudercd by the war,
is the continuance of political disabilities after
the occasion for them has passed away. In
consequence of this continuance the govern
ments in the late insurrectionary States have
fallen into the hands of inexperienced, and, in
many instances, corrupt adventures, who have
plundered the people OF these States scarcely
less than you, in the city Of New York, have
been plundered by your former city government.
| Applause. Why are these disabilities contiuu,
ed? Why are they not removed aud all the
people enfranchised? | thiuk there are two
causes, and two alone, which prevent it: one
mercenary, the other political. Applause.
The mercenary one is that these adventures
exclude from offices in all these States former
leading men of large experience and capacity,
who, although they were traitors during the
war, were not thieves nor plunderers. Their ex-
clusion has thrown these governments into the
hands Of men who have used their power to
plumber the people over whom they rule, and
the debts of the Southern States have been
swollen in some instances twenty-fold from
what they were before the war began. One great
measure, then which is demanded in the name
of honesty, in the name of peace, aud best in
terests of all, is the passage of general bill
removing political disabilities.
| Referring to the tendency to Capitalization
Mr.. T. said IF this system of encroach-
meut is permitted to 60 on, the day is not far
distant when our republican system, based on
the idea Of division of powers between the
Federal Government and the States, will be
transformed into one imperial despotism, with
| all the power at Washington: and | care not
whether that power is exercised by a single per-
sou as monarch or by 500 persons called
Congress, it is equally a despoism. Applause
and the doctrine is pow boldly proclaimed by
men high iu authority that the States Of this
Union have such powers only as are conferred
by the Constitution of the United States, when
directly the reverse is true.
Mr.. Schurz in concluding his remarks said
Il am not an over-sangulne man, nor yet quite
inexperienced in Judging of the growth of pub
lie opinion in this country, and [ venture to
predict in all soberness to all who hear me that
before the year is over you will see that the
banner of constitutional government and reform
which we now bear will be planted over the
Capitol of the Republic
Lewis H. Bryant, member Of the House
of Delegates from Grayson, has brought suit
against the Auditor of Public Accounts,
for constructive mileage for attendance at the
late extra session of the General Assembly, up
on the plea that the General Assembly cannot
by Joint resolution set aside the constitutional
provision which entities members to mileage.
| rho o,,o,,,t ,pyoIvod &c S1lo The Richmond