The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1873-08-14

tianity. combinations are formed by party
chiefs TO secufe the election Of party
taols.
To remedy these daily growing eFiis.
and VITA view Of maintaining for o.r-
selves and posterlty the blessings Of .
free government by firm adherence -
justice, moderation, temperance, irugait-
ty, and virtue, and by a frequent recu.r
enee to fundamental principles, we citi-
Zens OF 0Isconsin, representing all sec
tieus OF the State. have this day assem-
bied in mass convention. without regard
to former political party, and have or
1 ganized under the name of American
| Constitutional Union on basis Of the f.!
lowing
PLATFORM
ARTICLE l. The baliot-box is the es-
sential agercy placed in the hands OF the
| people for the protection of their lIber-
ties Organization is necessary to req
der that agency effective Bat while We
concede the existence of poll tical parties
TO be eminently ptoper, yet we deem in
tcgriiy of character and general fitness af
candidates for ofnce TO he considerations
| higher than PARTY dictates
| ART. 2. Corrupt administration is the
| trnlt Of. and breeds in turn corrupt elee-
tions Positions of public trust ought to
be less sought than rendered. The pay
ment of fees and perquisities should lie
/ abolished, and every public officer receive
| an adequate fixed salary. not to be in
creased during the term for which he is
elected or appointed. The action Of our
| late Congress by which the representa-
| tives OF the people -faithless to our con
hdence, which placed them in Office =
voted the peoples money TO themselves.
for services already past and Femunerat-
ed, we deem the highest evidence of
| political corruption. aud the attemnt 10
defend and justify such conduct, we look
upon as the worst kind of effroutery and
as an Insult to the intelligence of our
people.
ART. g. Church and State ought to be
kept separate Fully endorsing the poll
cy OF the first amendment to the Federal
Constitution. which provides that Con-
gress should make no law respecting an
establishment OF religion, or prohibiting
the free exercise thereof, we accordingly
insist upon the utmost liberty of con
science Man is not responsible to others
for his religious belief or opinions on re-
ligion and while it is the duty of the
state to protect every individual in the
exercise Of his religion. it should
especially prefer no religious establish
ment or mode Of worship.
ART. 4. Freedom of industry and free
dom of trade are essential elements of
republican form of government. There
fore, while we deeply deplore the evils Of
habitual and excessive drinking, as we'll
as intemperate habits and excess in any
other mode Of life, and while we are
ready and willing to use all reasonable
means to eradicate them we earnestly op-
pose all laws which, under the pretense
of police regulations, or Of reinedyins
moral evils, interfere with the inherent
rights and fundamental privileges Of
American citizens, as guaranteed By our
Constitution.
ART 5. We consider the interests of
people at large to be identical. q The
wealth of our State lies chiefly 10 its ag
ricultural products Consolidation Uf
competing railroad lines and arbitrary
tariffs must under no circumstances be
tolerated and the development of new,
easy and cheap means of transportation
ought to be made one Of the prominent
features of coming legislation.
ART 6. The right Of individual and
| local self government ought to be jeal
ously guarded Every munici pality
should be left to regulate its domestic af
fairs at pleasure, as far as compatible
with the public good. Special legislation
ought TO be discounteuancel, and all at
tempts al Capitalization of ROVER in
national as we'll as State affairs ought to
be promptly repudiated.
Res0trca, That all the good people of
this State, without discrimination as to
birthplace, party or religious belief, be
| cordially invited to join with US in State
and local organizations that for the pur
pose of more effectual work to secure
more systematical action throughout the
country there be appointed State Exc
cutive Committee Of eleven members one
| from each Congressional district and
| three for the State at large, whose duty
| it shall be to carry into effect all resolu-
| tions Of this convention. and in all mat
| ters and things not specifically provi led
| FOX, to guard and promote the interests
| of the organization, as in their letter
| judgment and discretion may be deemed
| proper ; and that this American Consti
tutlonal Union, now organized. be de
clared and made permanent body, from
! time to time to meet in State convention
| whenever occasion shall require, not less,
| however than once every year.
Resolued, That as early as practicable,
and before the 18th day of September
next by the several delegations here rep
resented, meetings be called in the AS
sembly Districts of this State, for the
| purposes of local organization, form for
which is herewith submitted
The resolutions called one of the dele
! ln l. l.
why a certain section declaring in favor
of taxing church property was stricken
| out.
Mr. Paul Schuengel said the movement
was for the repeal of the Gra aham Law
aud Leland amendment. and not for
| political purposes. He was sorry to tind
that the resolutions were not more
neutral in sentiment politically.
The speaker was Kissed for his honest
expression of sentiment by his fellow ad-
vocates of personal liberty"
Further olamor for that clause.
brought Mr.. Cotzhausen to the front in
support of the report of the committed
| He spoke earnestly and eloquentiy and
| had the satisfaction of their adoption.
| Three or four voices were heard in the
NEGATIVE.
The Catholic representatives had got
a clue to the object Of the free-thinking
/ element of the convention, and with the
conservative element votes! them out IF
! countenanGe.
| SAM RINDsKOPF RISES
The irreprt ssib,e Sam Rindsl OPT ask i
| the privilege of presenting resolution,
| which was granted. 1t reflected severe
| ly upon Governor Washbnrn. and threat
eaed to withdraw all political support in
case he failed to pledge himself to lend
his influence to repeal the liquor law.
Mr.. Massing hoped Mr.. Rindskopf
| would withdraw his resolution. Those
who iudersed the platform Of the Union
could not consistently vote for Governor
Washburn Mr. RiEdskopf Withdrew
the offending document as requested.
| On the appointment of Z, Special E.xe
cutive Committee consisting of Messrs
lC J. Paime, Milwaukee; Gustave
! Gaetze. Ozaukee; Joseph Phillips and
Peter Bickler, of Milwaukee, and Valen-
tine kohlman. of Oshkosh, the Conyen-
ton adjourned, with three cheers for tie
American Constitutional Union.
Thus closed the first convention of the
American Constitutional Union, big with
| ,rar1S h,t IF Etfla olairo ta ipnnartop.o