Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1876-06-22

vide for the enforcement OF tne prin-
ciples embodied in the recent Con-
stitutional amendments is vested by
those amendments in the Congress of
the United States, and we declare it
to be the solemn obligation Of the
legislative and executiyed departments
of the government to put into imme-
diate and vigorous exercise all their
constitutional powers for removing
any just causes of discomfort on the
part of any class, and for securing
to every American citizen complete
liberty and exact equality in the ex-
ercise of all civil, political and pub
lie rights. To this end, we impera-
lively demand Congress and Chief
Executive, whose courage and fidelity
to these duties shall not falter until
these results are placed beyond dis
pute or recall.
Fourth-In the first act of Con-
gress signed by President Grant, the
National government assumed to re-
move any doubts of its purpose to
discharge all just obligations to the
public creditors, and "solemnly
pledged its faith to make provision
at the earliest practicable period for
the redemption of the United States
notes in coin" Commercial pros
perity, public morals, and national
credit demand that the promise be
fulfilled by continuous and steady
progress to specie payment.
Fifth-Under the Constitution, the
President and heads of departments
are to make nominations for office,
the Senate is to advise and consent
to appointments, and the House of
Representatives is to accuse and
prosecute faithless officers. The best
interest of the public service de-
mands that these distinctions be re-
spected; that Senators and Repre-
sentatives who may be judges and
accusers, should not dictate appoint
ments to office. The invariable rule
in appointments should have refer
ence to the honesty, fidelity, and ca
pacity of the appointees, giving to
the party in power those places where
harmony and vigor of administra-
tion require its policy to be repre-
sented, but permitting all others to
be filled by persons selected with
sole reference to the efficiency to the
public service, and the right of all
citizens to share in the honor of rem
dering faithful service to the coun-
try. y
Sixth-We rejoice in the quicken
ed conscience of the people concern
ing political affairs, and will hold all
public officers to rigid responsible
ty, and engage that the prosecu-
tion and punishment Of all who be-
tray official trusts shall be swift,
thorough, and unsparing.
Seventh-The public school sys-
tenn of the several States is the bull
wark of the American Republic, and
with view to its security and per-
manence, we recommend an amend
ment to the Constitution Of the Uni
ted States forbidding the application
of any public funds or property for
the benefit of any schools or institu-
tions under sectarian control.
Eighth-the revenue necessary for
current expenditures and the obliga-
tions of the public debt, must be
largely derived from duties upon i'm
portations, which, so far as possible,
should be adjusted to promote the in
terests of American labor and adj
vance the prosperity of the whole
country.
Ninth-We reaffirm our opposition
to further grants of the public lands
to corporations and monopolies, and
demand that the National domain be
devoted to the free uses of the peo-
pie.
Tenth--It is the imperative duty
Of the government so to modify ex-
isting treaties with European gov
ernments that the same protection
shall be afforded to the adopted
citizen that is given to the
native born, and that all necessary
laws should be passed to protect emf
grants, in the absence of power in the
States for that purpose.
Eleventh-It is the immediate du-
5y of Congress to fully investigate
the effect of the immigration and i'm
portation of Mongolians upon the
moral and material interests of the
country.
Twelfth-The Republican party
recognizes with approval the sub
advances recently made to-
ward the establishment Of equal
tights for women by the many impor-
amt amendments effected by Repub
ican Legislatures, in the laws which
the personal and property
relations of wives, mothers and wild
,ws, and by the appointment and
election Of women to the superin-
;endence of education, charities, and
,ther public trusts. The honest de-
nands of this class of citizens for ad-
litional rights, privileges, and immu-
lities should be treated with respect
'ul consideration.
Thirteenth-The Constitution con-
ers upon Congress sovereign power
'ver the Territories of the Uni
ed States for their government, and |
n the exercise of this power it is
he right and duty of Congress to
and extirpate in the Terri
ories that relict of barbarism, po-
ygamy; and we demand such legis-
alton as shall secure this end and the
upremacy of American institutions
n all the Territories.
Fourteenth-The pledges which
he Nation has given to her soldiers
nd sailors must be fulfilled, and a
.rateful people will always hold those
rho imperilled their lives for the
ountry's preservation in the kind
st remembrance.