The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1876-07-01
DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION.

chill man VI 'ho Nu'louai COmnlltce, anu Oh
his motion Mr.. Henry NJ Watterson, of Louis
vile, was made temporary chairman. The pro.
ceedings were opened with prayer by Bishop
Marion. Frederick o. Prince, of Mass, was
appointed temporary secetary.
On motion the rules of the last democratic
national convention were adopted to govern
this.
The usual committees on credentials, resol
utions, and permanent organization were ap
pointed.
AT this point Miss Phebe Cozzens, of st
Louis, representative of the women's rights
national convention, appeared on the stand
and on leave of the convention made short
speech in behalf OF women's rights, after
which the convention took recess to
clock p. NJ.
On reassembllng at 5 O'Clock, the com
mittee on organization reported the name OF
Hon. j. A McClernand, of Ill, as permanent
chairman, with a vice president from each
state and four secretaries, which report hav
ing been adopted, Gen. McClernand was es
corted to the char and made the usual speech
on such occasions.
The committee on credentials reported that
there were no contested seats. Several reso
lutions were presented and referred to the
committee on platform, upon which the con
vention adjourned to II O'Clock next day.
The convention re-assembled at II O'Clock
on Wednesday morning, pursuant TO adjourn
ment and was opened with prayer by Rev
Father Brady.
Several resolutions were offered approving
the stand taken by the house at Washington
in favor of retrenchment, and referred to the
committee on resolutions under the rule.
Mclean, OF Maryland, and several others
tried to have the convention proceed to make
nom nations before the committee on plat
form had reported but all such efforts failed
until finally it was announced that the plat
form committee had agreed and would ne
ready to report by two O'Clock, upon Wien
the convention took recess to that hour.
Promptly at 2 o'clock the convention re-as
sembled, and as soon as order was secured
Mr.. Meredith, of Va, presented the report OF
the committee on platform, which, after slight
but Intellectual attempts at amendment, was
adopted as follows:
REFORM WANTED.
We, the delegates of the democratic party
of the United States in national convention
assembled do hereby declare the adminlstra-
tlon of the federal government to be in urgent
need of immediate reform, do hereby enjoln
upon the nominees of each state Jealous
effort and cooperation to this end, and do
hereby appeal to our fellow.citiZens of every
former political connection to undertake with
us this first and most pressing patriotic duty.
WHAT THEY BELIEVE.
For the democracy of the whole country
we do hereby re-affifm our faith IN the per.
nance of the federal union, and devotion to
the constitution of the United States, with Its
amendments, universally accepted us final
settlement of the controversies that engender-
ed civil war; and do here record our steadtast
confidence in the perpetulty of republican
governments in absolute acquescence
in the will of the majority, the vital princi-
pie of the republic; in the supremacy of the
civil over the military authority, the total
separation of church and state for the sake
of civil and religious freedom; in the equal
enactment; in the liberty of individual con-
duct, unvexed by sumptuary laws; in the
faithful education of the rising generation,
that they may preserve, enjoy, and transmit
these best conditions ofhuman happiness and
behold the noblest products of hundred
years of changeful history. But while up
holding the bond of our union and the great
charter ofthese, our rights, it behooves free
people to practice also that eternal vigilaI ce
which is the price of liberty.
THE CAUSE OF HARD TIMES.
Reform is necessary to rebuild and estab-
lish in the hearts of the whole people the un-
ion II years ago happily rescued from the
danger of d secession of states, but now to be
saved from a corrupt centralism which, after
lnficting upon ten states the rapacity OF car.
pet-bag fyrannies, has honeycombed the Off.
ces of the federal government itself with inca
paclty, waste, and fraud, infected states and
municipalities with the contagon 0: misrule
and locked fast the prosperity Of an indus,ri
Gus people in the paralysis OF hard times.
Reform is necessary to establish sound
currency, restore the public credit, and main
tain the national honor.
FAILURE.
We deuounce the failure OF the republican
party Tor all these II years to make good the
promise of the le CALENDER notes which are a
changing standard Of value in the hands of the
people, and the non-payment of which is a
disregard of the pledged faith of the nation.
IMPRovIDENCE.
We denounce the improvidence which in
II years OF peace has taken from the peo-
pie IN federal taxes - times the whole
amount of the legal.tender notes, and squan-
dered four times this sum In reckless expense,
without accumulating any reserve for their
redemption.
FINANCIAL IMBECILIrY.
We denounce the financial lmbecility and
immortality of that party which, during III
years of peace, has made no advance toward
resumption, no preparation tor resumption,
but instead has INSTRUCTED resumption by
wasting our resources and exhausting all our
surplus income, and while annually profess
ing To intend speedy return to specie pay
ments has annually enacted fresh hlndrances
thereto
Trtr DESU-MpTJON ACT.