Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1885-07-31
JOHN E. MASSEY
Nominated by the Virginia Democracy
for LeutenantGOyernOr, and Tsufus
A. Ayres for Attorney.
report of che Committee on Resolutions
"A Severe Arrangement OF the
Republican Party.
What the Democracy Has Done for
the State-Speeches by the
Nominees.

RIcr foND, Va. July 30.-The Dem
ocratic State Convention assembled at
l0:l5 o lock this morning, and John T..
Massey and Capt Phil Mckinney ad,
dressed the convention.
Inc report OF the Copinlttee on Reso-
lutions, was then sSomitted The plat
form pledges opposition to any increase
OF taAa1rsn; opposes all further agitation
ol 1%e debt question and reiterates the
, acceptance as a final settlement of the
Riddleberger bill: renews the pledge of
continued support of the public school
systemi recommends change in the rev
enue laws which will require the speedy
settlement Of the collecting officers;
recommends supervision by the Legisla-
ture of the operation of the railroads of
the State SO as to prevent unjust or dis
eliminating charges; advocates liberal
support to insane asylums and continued
aid to needy and disabled Confed-
crate soldiers; recommends the pass
age of such laws as will per-
NIT each county or district to hold
special election upon the question
of the sale of spirituous liquors; favors
the amendment of existing oyster laws;
favors changes in the election laws so
as to relieve the people of the burden of
too frequent elections; favors the equal
distribution of public patronage among
all sections; opposes the employment of
convict labor IN competition with free
labor, and favors laws compelling
the government contracts service
to be performed by free labor;
favors . the eight hour law; ad-
vOcates the complete and uncondi-
tional abolition of the internal revenue
system; reaffirms the declarations of
the National Democratic party in its
last convention on the subject of the
tariff, and especially maintains that nee
essary reduction in taxation can and
must be made without depriving Ameri-
can labor of the ability to compete sue
cessfully with foreign labor; indorses
civil service reform, while at the same
time it opposes the appointment to or re-
tention in Office of offensive partisans !;
commends the administration Of Presi-
dent Cleveland, and especially the Presi-
dents action in removing offensive Fed
eral officers in Virginia.
The platform concludes as follows: We
must not overlook the vast Importance
of Democratic control of the Federal
government, and we exhoTt every Vlr-
ginian to remember that the success OF
every Democratic policy in Virginia may
be of vital interest in confirming and
STRENGTHENING the auspicious hold on the
confidence of the country now
happily, established in the pure
| and enlightened administration of Mr..
| Cleveland. We therefore proudly pro-
claim our allegiance to the constitution
and union of States and to the National
| Democratic party as their interpreter
| aud defender. To that great party is sDe-
cially confded the future maintainanc'
of those principles of local sei' - -
ment administered bv -, s..1ss s..seVeln I'm
tn the .bn limited Z i%~.perisi pewer intruste,
" 'uo ederal administration, which
can alone by their harmoniou
working secure and perpetuate tn
free institutions of a territory so ex
tensive and populations so vast; as tina
fundamental idea of the Democratic part
is summed up our final condemnation o
our opponents is the only denunciation W
mean here to visit on their heads. Othel
times and other places will serve for de
tailed criticism of their men and meas
ures. Let this suffice here-they wer
at ilrst allies, they now proclaim them
selves full and accepted members o
the National Republican party. Patriot
| NOttES Vi tuC COmuOuWedltH Will UcNc
surrender its destinies to that party @
sectional hate and constitutional heresy
Confident as of old that the true heart q
the people will utter its real voice in tn
free and untrammeled elections whic
recent legislation secures, and that tn
virtue aud intelligence of the State VIZ
be awarded due influence in its govern
ment, the Democratic party solemnly re
mits the issue now joined to the voter
of Virginia.
The reading of the platform was FIRE
quently interrupted by applause.
A resolution was adopted by risin
vote expressing sorrow at the death {
Gen. U. S. Grant, and qualification a
the thought that he, in trying hours
bore himself toward the people of tn
South with such magnanimity and goo
faith as can never be forgotten, and tend
ering sincere sympathy to his family.
John Z. Massey was then nominate,
for Northumberland on the frs
ballot. Rufus A. Ayres was nominate
on the second ballot for Attorney Gen
eral.
The Hon. Jno. S. Barbour was unan
mously elected chairman of the Stat
and Executive Committee.
Speeches were then made by Nj
Ayres, the newly elected candidate fc
Attorney General, Gen. Jas. A. Wake
and the Hon. Jno. w. Daniel, aft,
which the convention, at $50 o'clOC
pm, adjourned sine de.