Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1874-03-03
INDEPENDENT CHANGERS.

At meeting held in Albany, II. Y, on
the 18th ult., q new order was instituted uu-
der the title of "Indrpendens Changers,
which, some of our exchanges predict will
overslaugh nnd swallow up the order here
tofore in existence. 4 declaration of prin.
ciples was adopted, officers elected, &C., and
the meeting adjourned to the 9Th OF March.
The following is the declaration of principles:
The undersigned citizens of tho State of
| New York, mindful of our obligations in the
exercise of political rights. aud especially of
our responsibility for the proper discharge of
the highest prerogative of citizenship, the
| elective franchise, and impressed with a deep
sense of the industrial, commercial. and cor
porate abuses weighing upon the State, do
hereby declare our purpose to unite in law
full and peaceable manner among ourselves and
with those who may BE- heresfter associated
with US for the following object. viz:
FirSt-To secure to the cultivation Of the
soil the reward justly due to the first and most
vital of industries, lying at the foundation of
the prosperity of every common ealth and
to insure such cheap and equitable rates in
the transit from the field to the market as
will guarantee fair remuneration tt the pro-
| ducer and reasonable terms to the consumer
SccOnd-To prevent unjust discrimination
in the charges for transporting the products
of the farm and the factory and to cooperate
with every we'll considered movement. whether
within the State or among the several States
to secure fairness and equality in the tariffs
established upon the great channels Of inter-
| nal commerce.
Third-To resist the encroachmcnts Of cor
| pnrato mnnnpolies upon the rights of the peo-
| pie from whom they derive their corporate
existence, while at the same time discoun-
tenancing ill-advised combinations and unjust
expressions against corporate Interests which
would impair their usefulness and cnure to
tie common injury.
Four!h-To aid Industry in its unequal
struggle against the expressions and cxactions
! of organized capital, to secure ennity and JUS
ticc in ell the relations between capital and
| labor, and to allay the unfortunate spirit of
antngonism between the two, which cripplcs
the energies of both, and can result only in
injury to the material interests of the people.
Fifth-To obtain a REIMBURSEMENT of the
system of taxation so that all property shall
contribute its equitable proportion of the cx-
| penses of government.
Sixth-To resist the demands of bankers
and money lenders for the repeal of the laws
forbidding the exaction of oppressive rates of
interest from borrowers, wisely enacted to pro
tect the poor and the unfortunate from the
grasping avarice of boarded wealth
Seventh-Tn secure the application of the
strictest principles of economy in the admins
istration of government, with just but not ex-
cessive compensation for the discharge of of.
fetal duties
Eighth-To elevate the standard of politi>
cal parties by educating their members to a
full appreciation of their responsibilities in
reference to the management Of public affairs.
And
FinalIy-To secure better Legislation and
purer administration of law, by restricting
the influence of partnership in both. by
seeking the nomination of competent and in
corruptible candidates for public Office in the
conventions of all political parties, and by
lahoriug to make honesty, capacity and fidel,
ity the highest standard of qualification.
And to this end we do now organize our
selves into body to be known as the New
York State Council of Independent Gran
gers" hereby voluntarily binding ourselves
SO long our membership shall continue to
obey, promptly and cordially, the constitu-
tons and laws of the order, and all constitu-
tional and legal requirements made and pro-
mulgated by its executive authority.