Year: 1871




In order to settle some questions of


policy, about which there was a differ
ence of opinion in the party, and es-


pecially that concerning the time of


holding State Convention, the Cen
tral Committee recently invited the
several Congressional District Com
mittees to meet with them in Joint
Convention for counsel and consulta-


tiOn. That Convention was held on


the 10th instant (all the Committees


being present in full representation
and, through its wise deliberations
and results arrived at, which, If they
do not reflect the unanimous sentl-
ments of the party, it is hoped and
confidently believed, will be cheerful


ly accepted and acqnieseed in by eV-
cry member who has the good of the
party and his country at heart.


1t was the opinion OF majority Of


the District Committees, and finally
acquiesced in by unanimous vote of
OF all, that ii would be inexpedient
and unWise TO call a State Convention


until after the National Democratic
COMMITTEES had published a call for
the meeting of a National Convention


to inaugurate the campaign of 1872.


Accepting the declaration of that
opinion as rejecting the predominant
views and sentiments of the party,
we have accordingly declared it mex
pedient TO call State Convention for
the present.


In regard to the matter of promul-
eating a platform, the convention,
though recommending a favorable
consideration of the platforms re-
Gently adopted by the Democracy of
Ohio and Pennsylvania, wisely de-
clared that it was not lawful or expe-
dent for either the CENTRAL or DIS
TRICT COMMITTEES to provide a plat |
form of principles for the party-that |
right and privilege being within the |
eCcLlGSiDe province of the national and
State conventions. Fully coinciding |
in the correctness of that opinion, we |
shall not attempt to forestall public |
opinion, or go in advance of the au-
thOritauve declarations of the party, |
by asserting any new doctrine or lay
ing down any new line of policy, in |
reference to federal politics, at vari- |
ance with the previously declared prin-
ciples of the party; deeming it the bet
ter and safer course to leave the peO-
pie and press perfectly free and un-
trammeled to discuss any and all new |
issues that may have arisen, and |
which are to beregarded as open ques-
tiOns, until such time as the party /
shall meet in national convention and |
pr0mulgate a platform for the gov
erance of the party, satisfied,
as we are, that in the as
sembled wisdom and patriotism OF
the approaching national convention
OF our party, composed as it will be of
delegates from every section, and
representing every interest of our
broad land and UuiOn, all animated
by the same lofty sentiments of
patriotism and love for pure republi-
can government and constitutional
sharing in the same COM
mon sense OF 8 common danger, and
impressed with the same common
of the absolute necessity
for speedy deliverance from the dam
gers that threaten to engulf us all in
one common ruin, that such wise,
prudent and cOnsiderate
c0unsels will prevail as will result in
the adoption of a platform entirely
acceptable to the whole party, and on
which we can all stand without any
or compromise OF principle
or honor, and wage a successful war
fare against the common enemy,
Radicalism.


We know that many of our friends
are so dispirlted and discouraged by
the previous infamous conduct of the
INSCRIPTIONS and unprinci-
Piled party in power, in heretofore de-
ieating, by force, fraud and forgery,
like fair expression OF pub
lie sentiment through the ballot-box,
as to be almost hopeless of success in
any future contest with that despOtic
and tyrannic power. But in connec-
ton with this matter, it is a consider
alton which ought greatly To encOur-
age us in the work Of recognizing for
another campaign 20 know that the
Democratic ana Conservative party
have never heretofore exerted their
full strength, or been fnlly aroused in
any OF their previous conflicts with
the Radical party. 1t is true that we
have always pOlled votes enough, had
they been fairly and honestly counted,
10 beat the enemy in every election
held in the State since the commence
ment of reconstruction but it is also
true that we have never pOlled any
thing like our full vote, or exerted
barely more than One-half of our full
strength. We, therefore, do not know
what we can do until we try to do our
best, nor what will be the effect upon
our adVersaries when we arise in the
full might and majesty of
our power, and strike with all the
strength and vigor Of
our united and combined viii and en-
argies. Were we to poll, or attempt to
register and poll, the full strength of
our party vote, the moral influence
alone, exerted by so large and over
popular demonstration IS