TKNNKSSKK. 



787 



that we are for the abolition of all useless and un- 

 neoesaary offices ; for the proper reduction of all ex- 

 cessive salaries ; for the moat rigid economy in tint 

 ttdminiHtrution of the State government; j-,, r K \\ ne . 

 oessarv i, I..MM- in tlm law to ait to make ita execu- 

 1'oedy. just, and certain; that we will hold tin: 

 nue to a strict accountability in the 

 n,l u]i|>liaition of xuid rev. -Hue; that we 

 ..|' nil indebtedness, Federal, 

 . , ami municipal, and demand that no 



M.ves nliall In- luid U|>OI1 the people thlHI shall 



-.ntiiilly necessary for the support 

 ^ovcrnment administered on prii. 

 f th'- in t rigid economy, und lor the payment of 

 its just debts and obligations, and the preservation 

 .iv. lit and honor untarnished, and therefore 

 an opposed to an increase of taxation. 



6. That wo favor the abolition of the present odious 

 national bunking system and the payment of the 

 >f tlm Government by issuance of its non- 

 W.'irinir-interest notes according to the contract ex- 

 pressed and implied at the time of the creation of 

 such obligation, und a repeul of the present oppres- 

 turiil', and the enactment of a luw solely 

 with a view to the collection of the necessary rev- 

 enue. 



6. That we denounce all legislation that seeks to 

 interfere with the individual right of the citizen to 

 select his own associates, and particularly what is 

 known as the supplementary civil-rights bill pend- 

 ing before the Federal Congress, as a palpable viola- 

 tion of the Constitution, intended to vex. harass, 

 oppress, and degrade the people of the Southern 

 States, and productive of untold social and political 

 evils to both races, and which we should resist by all 

 legal and constitutional means in our power. 



The Republicans held their State Conven- 

 tion at Chattanooga, on the 16th of September, 

 white and colored delegates being in attend- 

 ance. A disagreement on important matters 

 manifested itself between the representatives 

 of the two races; the white delegates being 

 against nominating any candidate for Governor, 

 and against the civil-rights bill; the colored 

 advocating and insisting upon both points, 

 chiefly upon their civil rights. In reference to 

 this they intimated that the white Republicans, 

 who were not in favor of the civil-rights bill, 

 should leave the party. They seem to have 

 subsequently relented somewhat in regard to 

 certain parts understood as included within the 

 meaning of that bill, declaring that " they did 

 not care for mixed schools or social equality," 

 but insisted upon their right of getting equal 

 accommodations with the whites in hotels, cars, 

 steamboats, and other public places. Between 

 the members of the Committee on Platform, 

 also, a long debate took place, with the result 

 that the members of opposite views finally 

 agreed to a sort of compromise, whose terras 

 are set down in. the third paragraph of the fol- 

 lowing platform, reported from the said com- 

 mittee and adopted by the convention : 



The Republicans of Tennessee, in State Conven- 

 tion assembled, make the following declaration of 

 principles : 



1. We reaffirm the platform of principles set forth 

 by the National Republican Convention of the Re- 

 publican party in the year 1872, and commend it to 

 the favorable consideration of the voters of Ten- 

 nessee. 



2. That the system of national currency founded 

 by the Republican party has proved the best ever 

 devised for the purpose intended, and while we would 



favor no violent change which might be oppresaive 

 i tli<- debtor or uri'ditor class, we would recom- 

 mend a system of free national banking, baned upon 

 a safe plan for redemption, and a return to specie 

 payment at the earliest practicable period oon*Utnt 

 with a Hutllcieut supply of currency to meet the rea- 

 sonable want* of business. 



8. We are in favor of the full and equal enjoyments 

 of accommodations, advantages, rights, ana privi- 

 leges, by all citizens and other persons within tliu 

 jurisdiction of the United States, without regard to 

 race, creed, or color, and at the same, time wo deem 

 it unnecessary and unwise to attempt, by congres- 

 sional legislation, or otherwise, to compel, as between 

 such races, creeds, or colors, the joint exercise of 

 such accommodations, advantages, rights, or privi- 

 leges. But we recognize the principle, which is old- 

 er than our Constitution, that every man's house is 

 his castle, and that, under our Government, every 

 citizen, white or black, has the right to bear arms in 

 conformity to law, and to express his opinions with- 

 out interference or molestation. 



4. We favor the calling, by the next Legislature, 

 of a Constitutional Convention for the follow ing pur- 

 poses: 1. To reform our present cumbersome and 

 expensive judicial system ; 2. To do away with use- 

 less offices, and with the great abuses which have 

 grown up under our present unwise system of fee* 

 and salaries, and to make such other useful altera- 

 tions in the present organic law as will tend to lessen 

 the expenses and advance the interests of the State. 



6. That we are opposed to the payment of the 

 "new issue" of the Bank of Tennessee; that we fa- 

 vor the payment of the public debt, both State and 

 national : that we alike are opposed to the iniquitous 

 funding-bill passed by the late Democratic Legisla- 

 ture, and to the present assessment law, because of 

 its unjust and inquisitorial provisions, and we de- 

 mand a thorough reform in our present mode of as- 

 sessing property, and collecting it. 



6. That, as an enlightened public opinion is the 

 only safeguard of civil and religious liberty, we fa- 

 vor, by the means of free schools, the education of 

 every child within the limits of the State of Ten- 

 nessee. 



7. That the opening of our great rivers and water- 

 courses, especially the mouth of the Mississippi and 

 the navigable streams of Tennessee, being oftne ut- 

 most importance to the development of our country, 

 we ask tnat such appropriations may be made from 

 time to time, by the General Government, as will ac- 

 complish this result. 



8. That we denounce the administration of Gov- 

 ernor John C. Brown, in its inefficiency in enforcing 

 the laws and protecting life and property ; in its 

 fraudulent disposition of the property of the State ; 

 in its corrupt lease of the penitentiary ; and in its 

 many shortcomings and general mismanagement, aa 

 unworthy of the great State of Tennessee, and as dis- 

 astrous in the extreme to the best interests of her 

 citizens. 



9. That we earnestly appeal to all citizens of Ten- 

 nessee, whatever their past political associations, 

 who revere the sacred majesty of the law and the 

 dignitvof the Commonwealth, to aid the Republican 

 partv in an effort to restore tranquillity within her 

 borders, to invite immigration, and uphold the ma- 

 terial interests of our people. 



Horace Maynard was nominated by acclama- 

 tion as the 'candidate of the Republican party 

 for Governor. 



The result of the election, on November 8d, 

 was the success of the Democratic candidates, 

 with few exceptions. The whole number of 

 votes polled for Governor was about 158,904, 

 of which 108,061 were cast for the Democratic 

 nominee, 55,848 for the Republican ; thus giv- 

 ing Mr. Porter a majority of 47,218 over Mr. 



