The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1876-09-11
Republican, P\NtSovm,

the Republican State Convention at Purk,r.
burg, July 81, 1876. 1t Is IN indictmtn,
against the Democracy which they capnot
clear up. We hope that every citizen viii
cad Il carefully;
The Republicans Of West virrinia. in co,-
Tention assembled, do adopt The iolIoTins
platform Of principles, and ask for il H.
candid and careful consideration OF the pnos
pie OF this State. We arraign tho Dennc-
raey Of this State on the following charger:
Nearly six Yeas age that party came Into
power, under the most solemn PLEDGE In
economist and reform. II has not redeeusi
single promise they made but on tue con-
trary, has increased tho taxes, multiplied Ina
number Of paid officials, raised salaries and
wasted the substance Of the people.
It has imposed upon the people . Coustit-
ution unwise In Its provisions. and iuimic.l
to our best interests, and which has ALREADY
cost US half q million Of dollars. which, b.
its incongruities and Vagueness oflanguare
has been constant source Of conflict Be-.
tween the legislative, executive and judicial
departments Of the Government, thereby
necessitating the expenditure Of large sums
Of money IS fees 10 lawyers, TO ascertain ID,
separate powers Of each.
1t has given us Il mass Of Legislature I,,.
gon, unintelIigible 10 judges, lawyers and
litiganss, and endless litigation 10 tho result,
1t has changed tho road law so as 10 mako
Is oppressive, In consequence Of Its unjust
Determinations, and 10 the application H.
provision, TO bolog lawyers and road our.
veyors alike.
I In The re-establisbnent of lhs aatiau,t,d
County Court, II has rendered our Judiciary
system costly, cumbersome and oppressive.
It has extosted large sums Of money ftop
tho people, and spent the samo in the con.
struc tior Of peniientiary. unnecessarily
large, that il might GIL it with importation,
of conyieI found guilty by the Federal
Courts in other States, whose compulsory
and cheap labor should be brought into COM
petition with the honest toll OF oar mechans
ics and laborers, thus reducing tho alrends
diminished wages oil this claGs Of our citi.
zens, and swelling the profits Of coasasto.s
and jobbers.
1t has 80 tempered with tho school law q,
10 naakeit contradictory, complicated, aud
confused, and has converted the schools
themselves into rnerr shuttle.cock for con-
leading local factions, aud has enabled Shy
locks 10 speculate on tie wages Of teachers,
BY tho unwarranted withholding Of their
payment.
II has given us q homestead exemption
law, which, 10 It's enforcement, permits The
landlord to attip the unfortunate tenant of
the last p:eco Of household furniture, and
even to rob him Of the seanty clothing
which covers bis furnishing children.
II has covered up tho frauds aud pecula-
tons ofpublic officials; has defended their
perpetralion rewarded them with their 10.
kenI Of favor, and sheltered than from ID,
legitimate consequences OF their crimes.
lthas, BY discriminating, legislation and
heavy taxes, driven many Of our best eiti.
Gems TO seek new homes 10 The far West.
1t has destroyed local .self.gorernmen,,
concentrated power In the hands Of c!iauss
af the court-houses, and has 50 arranged for
the collection aud disbursement of county
moneys as 10 greatly Inconvenience the hoi-
ders Of claims, and 10 foster at the county
seat class Of money changers, sharers and
Iharpers.
Il has with wastefal extfaragance appro.
pristsd money for bogus railroads, boom
com :Enies, and the Ike, with unusual priv.
ileges, for the exclusive benefit Of bankrupt
corporations.
We therefore demand such amend mer,s,e
the Constitution rs will relieve Il from edi-
UNI incongluiaes and absurditiss.
The occasion which once existed for test
oaths having passed away, we declare our.
selve1 opposed to their restoration, notwith.
standing the charges Of our opponents 10 thu
contrary.
The general depression Of values and In
dustre5 being such Us 10 make the presen,
rate OF State taxation burdensome, W.
pledge ourselves 10 u reduction of the
amount Of taxation for general Sta,e pur-
poses.
We demand tho abolition Of the County
Court; the restoration oftownships and To-
cal sslf.gorernment; the exclusion of every.
thing of sertarian or partisan chAlA:te.
from our schools
We demand the selection, 70, places ofpub-
lie positions, of % who are capable, honest
and sober, and the prompt. and vigorous
punishment ofall public men guilty fraud,
peculatiou, or Official misconduct.
We demand The enactment Of just home
stead law.
We endorse the principles Of the platform
ot The National Republican Convention, and
we pledge 10 its nominees our cordial and
undivided support, recognizing in the selec.
ton Of Hayes aud Wheeler an endorsement.
Of patriotism, integrity and true worth,
which has been written on every page OF
their history. 10 their nomination as eau.
didates for the position Of President and
Yiee-PreSident, We sec the exallation Of real
merit, and accord 10 them tho character Of
devoted patriots and not the writer's Of peace
resolutions; the friends Of honest laboi, AID
not the mauipulators Of political iutr;gLcs,
Of real reformets, and II pretendsrs; SiAt.I.
men, not politicians.
Resolved, That we welcome the co-opera.
| ton Of all men, ofall parties who will units
With us in relieving the people of this State
from existing evils, and In the future e,tAb-
lishnent Of good Government.
The combined agitation and discussion BY
the Legislature Of the location Of the Capital
Of The State, without the possibility Of ArriT-
Ing at any final or permanent conclusion, 10
detrimental to the best interests Of the State,
expensive 10 the loss Of time that should b
devoted 10 legitimate legislative duties, and
has ecrrupting tendency IN promoting q
spirit OF trade aud traffic in local legislation
and appropriations. These considerations
and Others demand the settlement Of this
question, and We hereby pledge ourselves 10
secure the permanent location Of the Capital
In accordance with tho will Of q majority o.
the voters Of the State at the polls.