NEW HAMPSHIRE. 



479 



white or black, of Northern or of Southern birth, on 

 every foot of Southern soil which has been con- 

 quered and dedicated anew to freedom by the valor 

 of the soldiers of the Union. 



Resolved, That we are in favor of impartial suffrage 

 for all loyal citizens in the election of members of 

 Congress and presidential electors, and we call upon 

 Congress to secure it by enacting the necessary laws, 

 or by sending to the Legislatures of the States the 

 necessary constitutional amendment. 



Resolved, That the very existence of republican 

 institutions is endangered by frauds upon the ballot- 

 box like those by which the electoral vote of the 

 State of New York was wrested from Grant and Col- 

 fax and recorded for Seymour and Blair, and that it 

 is the duty of Congress to investigate such frauds, to 

 cause them to be punished, and to enact laws to pre- 

 vent their future perpetration. 



Resolved, That it is the duty of the Kepublicans of 

 New Hampshire, by a majority on the 9th of March, 

 equal to their unprecedented majority in November, 

 to express their confidence in the Administration of 

 General Grant, and their determination to sustain 

 him in carrying out the principles vindicated by his 

 election, and in endeavoring to economize, purify, 

 and reform the public service, and restore peace and 

 prosperity to the country. 



Resolved^ That the people have emphatically de- 

 clared the inviolability and sacredness of the national 

 debt incurred to save the Union, and that they will 

 tolerate no form or device of repudiation ; that, for 

 the purpose of lightening the heavy burden of this 

 indebtedness and of restoring the business of the 

 country to a sound basis, the Government should 

 adopt all possible means to make the paper dollar of 

 the United States worth a dollar in gold, and to fund 

 the outstanding obligations of the Government in 

 new bonds bearing a lower rate of interest. 



Resolved, That the people unmistakably demand 

 the utmost economy in the administration of their 

 State and national Governments ; that all offices made 

 unnecessary by the termination of the war shall be 

 abolished ; that all incompetent and corrupt public 

 officers shall be driven out ; that only the most limit- 

 ed and imperatively necessary appropriations shall 

 be made for internal improvements, and that the tax- 

 ation laws shall be revised and modified so as to as- 

 sure the utmost fairness and justice in the imposition 

 of their burdens. 



Resolved, That the interests of New Hampshire re- 

 quire that the earnest attention of its people, of its 

 Legislature, and of the public men, should be directed 

 toward a fuller development of all the resources of 

 the State, of its agriculture, of its mines, and of its 

 manufactures. With the great West constantly in- 

 creasing its agricultural products, and with the South 

 opened to_ free labor and to manufactures heretofore 

 excluded, it will be necessary to the continued growth 

 of the New England States that they shall husband 

 and develop their natural resources to the fullest 

 possible extent. To this end we demand liberal 

 legislation to encourage the investment of foreign 

 capital in New Hampshire, the continued progress of 

 pur railroads within the State attended with econom- 

 ical management, the cheapest possible fares and 

 freights, and the extension of every possible encour- 

 agement to all attempts at the improvement and de- 

 velopment of the many natural resources of the State. 

 Resolved, That we cordially indorse the administra- 

 tion of his Excellency, Governor Harriman ; his de- 

 votion to the best interests of the State, his efforts 

 for its development, his patriotism as a citizen, as a 

 soldier, and a Governor, merit and will receive the 

 lasting gratitude of the people of New Hampshire. 



Resolved, That we present with the utmost union 

 and harmony our candidates for the coming election, 

 Onslow Stearns for Governor, and Jacob H. Ela 

 Aaron F. Stevens, and Jacob Benton, for reelection to 

 Congress. We challenge criticism upon their character 

 and fitness for the positions for which they are pre 



sented. We have faith in their integrity, their abil- 

 ity, and their patriotism. As the candidates of their 

 choice, the Republicans of New Hampshire propose 

 to elect them by overwhelming majorities. 



The Democratic Convention met at Concord 

 on the 20th of January, and selected Ira E. 

 Eastman, of Concord, as its chairman. Gen- 

 eral John Bedel, of Bath, was nominated for 

 the office of Governor, and General Michael 

 T. Donohoe, of Concord, for that of Railroad 

 Commissioner. The following resolutions were 

 unanimously adopted : 



Resolved, That the Democratic party of New Hamp- 

 shire, in convention assembled, declare their adhe- 

 sion to certain principles by them hitherto main- 

 tained, and which, in victory or defeat, they will 

 never surrender : 1. The paramount and binding 

 authority of the Constitution over all departments of 

 Government and all States of the Union to the extent 

 of the powers therein granted. 2. The exemption of 

 every State from any interference or control not 

 clearly warranted by the Constitution. 3. The right 

 of every State to an equal participation in the Gov- 

 ernment as guaranteed by the Constitution. 4; The 

 separation and proper independence of the Executive, 

 Legislative, and Judicial Departments, as provided 

 by the Constitution. 5. No privileged classes and 

 no privileged capital. 6. An honest and economical 

 administration of the Government for the good of the 

 people, and not in the interest of monopolists, and 

 thieves, and plunderers of the public treasury and 

 the national domain. 



Resolved, That, while all existing contracts entered 

 into in_good faith should be fully kept in the letter 

 and spirit of the contract. Congress should impose 

 such just and equal taxation upon all Government 

 bonds and United States securities as will compel 

 their holders to bear their just share of the burdens 

 of the Government, and all bonds hereafter issued 

 should be made subject to State and municipal tax- 

 ation - A " 



Resolved, That the Democrats of New Hampshire 

 hereby pledge their earnest and united efforts to in- 

 sure the election of the candidates this day nomi- 

 nated. 



The election occurred on the 9th of March, 

 and resulted in the choice of the Republican 

 ticket. The whole vote cast for Governor was 

 67,781, of which 35,777 were for Stearns, and 

 for Bedel 32,004, giving the former a majority 

 of 3,773. 



The Legislature of the State assembled at 

 Concord on the 2d of June, and remained in 

 session about six weeks. The 15th amendment 

 to the Constitution of the United States was 

 ratified on the 1st of July, by a strict party 

 vote of 183 yeas to 130 nays in the House. 

 The subject which occupied the attention of 

 the Legislature more prominently than any 

 other was that of railroads. There are now 

 in the State about 750 miles of railroad, which 

 was built and equipped at a cost of $30,000,- 

 000. The value of these roads is stated to 

 have depreciated since their construction by 

 nearly forty-five per cent, of their cost. Noth- 

 ing has been done by the State to encourage 

 its railroad interest, except to pass a law in 

 1864, enabling towns and cities to appropriate 

 five per cent, of their valuation to aid in the 

 construction of these important public works, 

 and another in 1868 exempting from taxation 



