Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1878-07-13
The Greenback Convention.

A correspondent writing to the
Wheeling Standard, giving an account
OF the Greenback Convention, held at
Charleston, Kanawha County this State,
ON the 4th of July, says
The Greenbackers had State Con-
vent;on here TO- day. Delegates were
here from kanawha, Putnam, Jefferson
and Berkeley counties, and the attend
ance OF outsiders was sufficient to fiji
the Court House and not crowd it.
Hon. Jno. A. Thompson, OF Jefferson
county, was the permanent President,
and the Vice Presidents were FIVE in
number. The Secretaries were a. w.
Burnett of the Greenback League, r.
p Warren of the Courier, and j. 7.
Brodt, Esq. Only Burnett served. ].
M. Quieley, Esq, was Chairman of the
Committee on Platform. Speeches were
made by President Thompson, T. Z.
Atkinson, of Putnam, Judge J. II. Fer
guson, S. q. Burdett, of Charleston, and
Mr.. Smith from one of the coal mines
on the &. & o. railroad above Charles
ton.
During his remarks, Judge Ferguson
said he was in favor of the platform
which had been adopted, except that he
did not believe the Government should
issue paper money without the stamp of
the promise to pay on it. He did not
know but that he should be with the
Greenback party when it comes to vot-
ing in 1850. He would if the Demo
cratic party did not adopt the right
kind OF platform. Smith and Bur-
dett, who followed Ferguson, were IN.
grateful enough to make fun of the
Judge, and rather ridiculed his position,
as OF one who was waiting to see which
party could be the strongest.
Ferguson also said in the course Of
bis speech that he thought the railroad
strikers in this State were right last
year, and if he had been Governor and
had been called on for help, he would
have replied TO the railroads officials to
do justice to the railroad laborers first,
and then he would see about atfording
protection to the property of the en-
| ployers. The rights of the laborer
should be considered and not entirely
ignored.
The synopsis of the platform is:
They declare that the members of the
Greenback party are neither office seek
ers nor politicians, and only want more
and cheap money as remedy for the
bad Legislation of the past IL years
which has been against the interests OF
the many, and for the benefit of the
few.
That $40 per capita of money circu-
lation is not enough for the want OF the
people. The money is now in the
hands of those who use it not to give
impetus to the industries of the country,
and the Greenback party will continue
to agitate the subject till the Govern
ment policy and legislation is moulded
| TO their views.
Contracts must be invaluable; but
bonds shall be paid in circulating medi-
um, as originally provided.
''PromiSe to pay" should mol be
stamped on Government paper any
more than on the gold and silver coin.
IL is not good morals for the Govern
inent to promise to pay more than it
has the ability to pay, any more than 1t
is for an Individual to do so.
Labor is the wealth of the country,
and there should be legislation to Pro-
tect the interests OF labor
Abundance of money was never
know to hurt nation it never entailed
oppression, and the Government would
not err if the interest bearing debt
should be paid in full by legal tender
paper money.
If there is in this country. any com
muuisin in property it is the natural
offspring of vicious legislation which
has made oilers, tramps and beggars Of
many thousands of our population.
Grcenbacks should be decreed to be
equal to gold and silver, ard this should
in the future be the American system
OF finance The bonds of the national
banks should be paid Immediately, and
no interest bearing obligations should
be issued hereafter. Green5acks should
be increased till they are equal in
amount TO the national debt.
The name of the party shall be "The
National Grcenback Labor Party"
We demand that the system of con-
tracts, letting out the labor of the con-
victs in the penitentiary shall be abol-
ished.
We demand that the Legislature
shall provide for the health and safety
of those engaged in mining, manutac-
turing and building.
We demand the enactment of laws
giving mechanics and laborers first
lien on their work for their full wages.
We recommend that the Constitution
be amended so that the President and
Vice President and Senators shall be
elected by direct vote of the people.
The Convention adjourned at five
o'clock.
AN INDIGNANT PosTMAsTER.-W. A.