KENTUCKY. 



and by decrees constitutional rights will be nmnu- 

 H.l crushed by thu powerful and the arrogant. 

 ii-ky ha* liu.l thriT constitution*. Each of 



tin-in .1. -chin's tli:it "llll elections shall 1)6 free Ulld 



.HKil." We aiv now in the eighty-fourth year i.f 

 tlie existence of the Commonwealth, und through- 

 out ull this time the privilege of free suffrage lias 

 ;ipportrd in all thu cities, town*, districts. and 

 counties of our entire State alike, by uniform laws 

 regulating elections. Bo fur as 1 am informed, there 

 is not a State in tliiu Union where registration of 

 voters is required in a part of the State, and not au- 

 thorized in other parts of the same State. 



Among the joint resolutions of the session 

 was one favoring Government aid to the Texas 

 Pacific Railroad, and others expressing regret 

 at the death of John 0. Breckinridge and ex- 

 Governor Thomas E. Bramlotte. The resolu- 

 tions referring to General Breckinridge were 

 as follows : 



Whereat, The death of John C. Breckinridge has 

 been officially announced to this body : therefore 

 be it 



Retained by the General Assembly of the Common- 

 wealth, of Kentucky, That the nation lias lost a dis- 

 tinguished citizen; the State a wise counselor and 

 trusted servant ; society a shining and brilliant mem- 

 ber. 



The great loss a community sustains in the death 

 of a man so illustrious and beloved cannot be meas- 

 ured with words. We leave the impartial judgment 

 of history to place him among the actors of his time 

 as his talents and his services may entitle him ; feel- 

 ing no apprehension that posterity will depreciate 

 or under-estimate the exalted virtues we knew him 

 to possess. 



We can only extend to our people our sympathy 

 for the loss we have sustained in common, and to 

 his family expressions of condolence for their be- 

 reavement, which not even time can fully assuage. 



That these resolutions be spread upon the journals 



of the Senate and House of Representative*, and 

 that a copy bo engrossed and forwarded to the fami- 

 ly of the deceased. 



That, us an additional mark of respect t the 

 memory of the deceased, this body do now adjoin n. 



There was no election for State office** thin 

 year. The Republicans held a convention at 

 Louisville on the 18th of May. for the purpose 

 of choosing delegates to the National Conven- 

 tion at Cincinnati, and nominating candidates 

 for presidential electors. The platform adopted 

 was as follows: 



The Republicans of Kentucky reaffirm their ad- 

 hesion to the principles and the organization of the 

 Republican party of the United States, endeared aa 

 it is by the sacrifices of war and the blessings of an 

 assure'd Union of States based upon universal liberty. 



We make the following declaration of principles : 



1. The fulfillment in letter und spirit of every 

 promise which the nation has made to the brave sol- 

 diers and sailors who saved the Union against re- 

 bellion. 



2. Thorough retrenchment and the most rigid 

 economy in all departments of the public service. 



8. Sucli reform in the civil service as will prevent 

 the prostitution of public station to selfish end.-, and 

 make honesty and capacity indispensable qualifica- 

 tion for all offices. 



4. Honest men in office, who have the courage to 

 fight corruption wherever it exists, and to bring to 

 punishment all who betray official trusts. 



5. Repudiation is a national crime. 



6. The payment of the public indebtedness ac- 

 cording to both the letter and the spirit of the con- 

 tract. 



7. A speedy return to the money of the Consti- 

 tution, gold and silver, und such paper only as can 

 be converted into coin at the option of the holder. 



8. Opposition to any postponement of the return 

 to specie payments beyond the time now fixed by 

 law. 



VIADUCT BRIDOE AT LOUISVILLE. 



9. Reduction of taxation as rapidly as the public 

 faith will permit. 



10. The common school is an indispensable part 

 of republican institutions^ and opposition should 

 be made to all schemes which tend to place it under 

 other than popular control. One of the highest du- 

 ties of the State is to give all of its children an op- 

 portunity at the public expense to acquire the rudi- 

 ments of knowledge. 



11. Equal rights before the law of all citizens, 

 without regard to race or color, and full and equal 

 protection in the exercise of those rights. 



The deeds of the Republican party make one of 

 the brightest chapters in the country's history, and 

 we honor the names of its leaders in war and peace. 

 As Kentucky gave Abraham Lincoln to his country 

 and to mankind, for the irreat work now done by 

 him, she now presents Benjamin H. Bristow to 

 complete the correction of the ills ever incident to 

 war. His past conduct in office is an earnest of his 

 future course. He has been true to Republican prin- 

 ciples in war and peace, ever manly, calm, and cou- 

 rageous, and ever faithful in the discharge of duty. 



His persistent and successful warfare against cor- 

 ruption deserves the thanks of all friends of honest 

 government. In thus presenting and commencing 

 our fellow-citizen to the Republican National Con- 

 vention, we are not unmindful of the distinguished 

 services and worth of other Republicans. Believing 

 the continuance of the Republican party in power 

 to be essential to the best interests or the whole 

 country, we confidently trust that fie convention 

 will present as candidates men whose allegiance to 

 principle and character have been tried and who 

 have moral courage to enforce the law ; for with such 

 candidates we can surely triumph, and thus save 

 the country from the disastrous results which would 

 follow the return of the Democratic party to power. 

 Resolved, That a debt of gratitude i clue to I". S. 

 Grant for his distinguished services in behalf f the 

 country, and we especially commend the vigor and 

 promptitude with which public offenders have been 

 brought to trial and punishment under the present 

 Republican Administration. The sentiment, "Let 

 no guilty mnn escape," meets the hearty approval 

 of the Republicans of Kentucky. 



