542 



NEW JERSEY. 



important questions to be adjusted in the ap- 

 proaching campaign, confident that it will be sus- 

 tained by the calm judgment and patriotic sentiment 

 of the people of the State, and the gracious approval 

 of Almighty God." 



And whereas, upon so vital an issue, New Jersey 

 should not occupy an uncertain position, therefore be 



Resolved, By the House of Assembly of the State 

 of New Jersey, that we deem it incompatible with 

 the best interests of the people of the United States 

 to place the negro upon a political equality with the 

 white man, by extending to the negro the elective 

 franchise. 



Resolved, That we are unalterably opposed to the 

 establishment of negro suffrage in New Jersey by 

 congressional legislation, because we hold that each 

 State has* the exclusive right to regulate the qualifi- 

 cations of its own voters. 



Resolved, That we are opposed to striking out the 

 word " white" from the constitution of New Jersey, 

 by an amendment thereto. 



The registry law of New Jersey was re- 

 pealed by the Legislature and a new elec- 

 tion law enacted, to take its place. This 

 provides for a division of the townships and 

 city wards of the State into election districts, 

 each of which shall contain not more than 

 eight hundred voters. The division is to be 

 made by the mayor and Common Council of 

 cities and the committees of townships, who 

 are also to choose a clerk and their judges of 

 election for each district to perform the duties 

 already prescribed by law for "clerks and 

 judges of election in wards and townships which 

 are not divided into election districts." In 

 addition to these duties, the clerk at each poll- 

 ing-place in incorporated cities and towns is 

 required to enter on the list the place of resi- 

 dence of each person offering to vote ; and, if 

 such person refuses to state the street and 

 house in which he resides, his vote is to be re- 

 jected. These are the only new features in the 

 law. 



The Republicans of New Jersey held a Con- 

 vention at Trenton on the 18th of March, to 

 choose delegates to the National Convention 

 of the party, which was to meet at Chicago in 

 May. Resolutions were adopted, asserting : 



1. The right and duty of Congress to declare the 

 terms on which the rebel States shall be restored, 

 and commending their efforts to that end, although 

 thwarted at all points by a faithless Executive. 



2. That in repudiating the consent of New Jersey 

 to the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution, 

 the Democratic Legislature transcended their powers 

 and reversed the expressed will of the State, and 

 they appeal from this action to the people. 



3. Indorsing impeachment as the only constitu- 

 tional mode of removing an Executive who abrogates 

 the Constitution, and desiring he shall have a fair 

 and speedy trial. 



4. Anticipating and desiring the early establish- 

 ment of the revolted States upon a sound and per- 

 manent basis, and a resumption of national prosperity. 



5. Favoring General Grant for the presidency 

 deserving, as he does, the highest honors of his 

 country lor ^his services in maintaining her honor and 

 her institutions in all his official acts. 



6. Warned by sad experience, they ask that the 

 candidate for the vice-presidency may be a man of 

 unblemished character and incorruptible integrity. 



7. Indorsing the official acts of Governor Ward. 



The regular convention, for the nomination 

 of candidates for Governor and other State 

 officers, met at Taylor Hall, in Trenton, on 

 the_ 9th of July. John J. Blair, a citizen of 

 Blairstown, in Warren County, was unani- 

 mously nominated for Governor, and a Board 

 of presidential electors was named at the same 

 convention. The platform of the party, as 

 laid down on this occasion, was embraced in 

 the following series of resolutions : 



Resolved, That we indorse fully and heartily the 

 declaration of political principles promulgated by the 

 National Convention of the Republican party, and 

 the nominations then made of Ulysses S. Grant as 

 President and Schuyler Colfax as Vice-President of 

 the United States, and we pledge to them our most 

 hearty and active support, feeling assured that with 

 such standard-bearers, and the principles they rep- 

 resent, New Jersey will not hesitate to give them 

 her electoral vote. 



Resolved, That the proposition of the Democratic 

 party to pave the way for the extinction of the na- 

 tional debt by compelling national creditors to accept 

 in payment of the national obligations a depreciated 

 currency and to tax Government securities, when 

 they were disposed of with the specific agreement that 

 they should not be taxed, is a dishonest and infamous 

 measure, tending directly to destroy our national 

 credit, depreciate the value of our country's securi- 

 ties, and dishonor us in the eyes of the civilized world, 

 and that such action is but in accordance with the ef- 

 forts of the Democratic party- during and since the 

 rebellion to destroy the credit of our Government. 



Resolved, That the people of New Jersey owe it to 

 themselves to drive from power in this State the so- 

 called Democratic party, who, by removing the ob- 

 stacles to fraudulent voting, by attempting to undo 

 the ratification of the Fourteenth Article of the Consti 

 tution, by which only the Union could be safely con- 

 structed, and by their wasteful expenditure from the 

 public funds of the State during the last session of 

 the Legislature, have proved false to the interests 

 committed to their charge and utterly unworthy of 

 the public confidence. 



Resolved, That we congratulate the country, and 

 especially the people in the States lately in revolt 

 against the Government, on the rapid restoration of 

 those States to their former position of equality of 

 representation and rights in the Union on the basis 

 of justice, equality, and the intrusting the powers and 

 administration of government only to the hands of 

 loyal and patriotic citizens, and that the thanks of 

 the people are due to our Senators and Representa- 

 tives in Congress assembled who have faithfully ac- 

 complished this difficult and important national work. 



Resolved, That the brave boys in blue nobly up- 

 held the flag of the Republic amid the storms of war. 

 We call upon them to rally once again around the 

 standard of the great soldier who led them to > victory, 

 feeling assurred that with their aid we will again 

 weave the conqueror's chaplet around the brow of the 

 hero and patriot who conquered the hosts of the re- 

 bellion. 



Resolved, That we recognize and appreciate the 

 eminent and faithful services of Hon. Marcus L. 

 Ward, Governor of the State, during his term of of- 

 fice, and we heartily tender him the thanks of the 

 Union Republican party of this State for the same. 



The Democratic Convention, for the appoint- 

 ment of delegates to the National Convention, 

 was held at the capital of the State on the 

 10th of June. The following resolutions were 

 unanimously adopted : 



Resolved, That the Democracy of the State of New 

 Jersey, by their representatives here assembled, pro- 

 claim their continued adherence and devotion to the 



