Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1880-01-14
Greenback National Convention.

The national Greenback-labor party held
a conference at Washington on Thursday Of
last week, about one hundred and twenty
five delegates attending from the various
sections of the country. r. II. Murch, Green
back congressman from Maine, was made
chairman, and called on Rev. DE La Matyr
another Greenback congressman, to offer
prayer-whereupo there were Kisses and
cries of I'VE come here for business every
man to his own trade" A motion was made
that prayer be dispensed with. Murch said
he called on De La Matyr at the suggestion
of some delegates, and would put the motion.
It was lost, and De La Matyr offered prayer
for the blessing Of God on the party. The
conference appointed committee to report
upon time and place for the meeting of
the presidential nominating convention
which committee subsequently reported, and
their report, fixing upon June 9th and
Chicago as the time and place for meeting
Of the national convention, was received and
adopted by unanimous rising vote. The fol.
lowing is the preamble and call as adopted
1--WE have reached a crisis in our countrys his
tory and an epoch In human aifaiis. Oar govern
ment, which was designed for the political veal
OF mankind, has passed under the control OF
bankers stock jobbers, land grabbers and pro-
fessional politicians to the exclusion of those
whose labor produces its wealth and pays its
taxes. The constitutional rights OF the people are
denied or usurped by the money power The
fruits OF productive enterprise are grasped by cor
porate monopolics. The larger share of the ac-
cumulated wealth and undeveloped resources OF
the nation are concentrated in small class, and
all property interest In the stability Of our insi-
buttons the part Of a large majority of the vot-
ers IL dissipated luxurious interest and enforced
idleness have filled the land with paupersm, mis-
cry and crime and there are ninons murmurs OF
discomfort. The very foundations OF popular gov
eminent are questioned and assaed, and the re-
public itself Is in imminent peril. The people OF
the District OF Columbia, containing a populations
OF 10000 souls, have been by act OF congress
wholly DISTINGUISHED, and laws have been en-
acted in various states to cuitail this sacred right
OF suffrage the very corner stnHe of our republic
Deeply impressed with the .ravity Of this crisis.
we cheerfully sacrifice all MINOR differences and
unite for the purpose OF restoring the control of
the government to the whole people through rep
resentatives chosen by them, unnhuenced by
bribery, intimidation or sectional hate; recover
ing their complete sovereignty over their cleo
tions, currency, lands and lines of internal COM
munication, and finally to e,nbody in the law and
enforce the right of each laaOrer to the results Of
his toll.
That the convention OF the national Greenback
labor party be held at Chicago Illinois, on We'd
nesday, the 9th day Of June, 1880, and that the
basis OF representation shall be from each state
four delegates and four alteInates at large, and
two delegates and two alternates from each con-
gressional district, and two delegates and two al
ternates from each territory and the District Of
Columbia