800 



VIRGINIA. 



pute, specie payments should be resumed at the ear- 

 liest practicable moment. 



5. We believe free schools to be the palladium of 

 civil liberty, and that they should be supported by 

 the general taxation of the people ; and we are op- 

 posed to any division of the school-money for the 

 benefit of any sect or denomination whatever, or to 

 any interference with the schools by any sect or de- 

 nomination. We denounce the action of the Demo- 

 cratic authorities of this State, by whom the money 

 raised for free-school purposes has been taken for 

 other purposes, thus robbing the children of the 

 State of that which will best nt them for becoming 

 good citizens. 



6. We believe the safety of free institutions de- 

 pends upon the purity of the ballot; and we ask the 

 Congress of the United States to pass a law for the 

 protection of its citizens in tlie right of the elec- 

 tive franchise, by which they may obtain the benefit 

 thereof, and be certain that the ballot deposited 

 for the candidate of their choice will be counted 

 for him and them, and not substituted by a stutfed 

 ballot. 



7. We indorse the Administration of the President 

 as distinguished throughout by measures that will 

 preeminently redound to the honor and credit of 

 this nation, and mark a new era in the history of 

 our republic ; and especially do we commend the 

 determination expressed by the President to ferret 

 out the guilty and dishonest officials, in the memo- 

 rable saying, " Let no guilty man escape." 



8. We cordially invite all citizens of Virginia, who 

 are in favor of making this centennial year 1876 a 

 year of peace and good-will, to help us in electing 

 the candidate that will be nominated by the Na- 

 tional Republican Convention to be held in Cincin- 

 nati in June next. 



The Democratic Convention took place in 

 Richmond on the 31st of May. 



Debgates to the National Convention at St. 

 Louis were chosen, an electoral ticket was 

 nominated, and a State Central Committee ap- 

 pointed. Several speeches were made, ex- 

 pressing the sentiments of prominent delegates, 

 but no platform was adopted. Some resolu- 

 tions relating to finance and reform were 

 tabled, the majority opposing any declarations 

 whatever. Later in the canvass, on the 31st 

 of August, the State Conservative Commit- 

 tee issued an address defining the position 

 of the party, and discussing the issues of the 

 day. 



The total vote for presidential electors in 

 November was 235,228, of which the Demo- 

 cratic candidates received 139,670, and the Re- 

 publicans 95,558 ; Democratic majority, 44,112. 

 The total vote on the Constitutional amend- 

 ments was 227,732, of which 129,373 were in 

 favor of ratification, and 98,559 against it. 

 The amendments were very generally favored 

 by the Conservatives, and opposed by the Re- 

 publicans. Of eleven members of Congress 

 chosen, all but one are Democrats. The Legis- 

 lature of 1876-'77 is composed of 37 Demo- 

 crats and 6 Republicans in the Senate, and 101 

 Democrats, 25 Republicans, and 6 Indepen- 

 dents in the House of Representatives. This 

 makes the Democratic majority 31 in the Sen- 

 ate and 70 in the House, or 101 on joint 

 ballot. 



One of the constitutional amendments rati- 

 fied requires that all persons, before voting, 



shall pay a capitation-tax, and disfranchises all 

 who have been convicted of bribery at any 

 election, embezzlement of public funds, treason, 

 felony, or petit larceny. The registration pro- 

 vision of the constitution was struck out. 

 Another amendment authorizes the Legislature 

 by a two-thirds vote to enfranchise persons who 

 have been disfranchised for engaging in duels. 

 Another restores to the Legislature its author- 

 ity to restrict the debt and taxation of cities 

 and towns, and to limit the exercise of munici- 

 pal powers generally. 



Some excitement was occasioned by the 

 sending of a detachment of Federal troops to 

 Petersburg just prior to the election, and keep- 

 ing it there until the 13th of November. On 

 hearing of this action the Governor of the 

 State issued the following proclamation : 



To the People of Virginia: Information has just 

 been received, from authentic sources, that a detach- 

 ment of the United States Army was this day quar- 

 tered at Petersburg, with orders to remain until after 

 the elections, and to be under the sole direction of 

 Federal otficials. The voting- places at Petersburg 

 are being surrounded with a cordon of bayonets on 

 the eve of the elections. 



It is provided by the Constitution of the United 

 States that the Government thereof shall protect 

 each of the States, on the application of the Legisla- 

 ture (or the Executive, when the Legislature cannot 

 be convened), against domestic violence. 



No domestic violence, no breach of the peace, no 

 molestation of any citizen in the exercise of any 

 right, exists, or is threatened, or apprehended, or 

 likely to arise, in this Commonwealth. Perfect 



Eeace, order, and security, reign throughout all our 

 orders. Every citizen, of whatever race, color, or 

 condition, is protected, can be protected, and will 

 be protected, in all his personal and political rights, 

 privileges, and immunities, by all the authorities of 

 this State. 



No application, by the Legislature or by the Ex- 

 ecutive, has been made to the President for protec- 

 tion against domestic or other violence. 



No complaint is made, anywhere, that the rights 

 of any citizen are assailed or threatened. Never- 

 theless, in the midst of profound peace, and with- 

 out a constitutional requisition from any quarter, 

 the President of the United States has stationed 

 troops in a city of this Commonwealth, witli the 

 design, as cannot be doubted, of intimidating the 

 people, and controlling the pending elections for 

 partisan purposes. 



And, whereas, so flagrant a usurpation of un- 

 granted authority endangers the liberties of the 

 people, and the integrity of the government, im- 

 perils the freedom of the elective franchise, and is 

 well calculated, as it is doubtless designed, to incite 

 and foment the domestic violence which is falsely 

 pretended to be threatened : 



Now ; therefore, I, James L. Kemper, Governor of 

 Virginia, solemnly protesting before the States of 

 the Union, and in the name of the Constitution, 

 aarainst this despotic invasion of our guaranteed 

 rights, do call upon the good people of this Com- 

 monwealth, and I command the authorities and 

 officers thereof, to keep the peace at any cost, and to 

 persevere in abstaining from every act and manifes- 

 tation which might be made a pretext for the em- 

 ployment of armed force in our midst r and I enjoin 

 upon all such moderation and self-denying forbear- 

 ance, such patience and composure, as will prevent 

 tho possibility of any disturbance of the public 

 order. 



Done at Richmond, this fourth day of November. 

 in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred 



