ALABAMA. 



9 



the simplicity of our system of government, and 

 have organized an army of officials now attaining a 

 strength which Daniel Webster warned us, forty 

 years ago, would endanger the liberties of our peo- 

 ple. We denounce the methods, the measures, and 

 the men who are responsible for them as unworthy 

 the support of an honest and free people. 



3. We congratulate the whole people of Ala- 

 bama upon the reign of good will and reconcilia- 

 tion, the sense of liberty and security, which per- 

 vade the entire limits of the Stats ; and while we 

 renew the pledges of protection to all the colored 

 people, we recognize and hold essential that, without 

 abridging the rights of any class, these great results 

 have been achieved and can alone be maintained by 

 the union of the great governing race the white 

 people of the land. 



4. That the administration of the State govern- 

 ment has been ably, wisely, and justly administered 

 since the first inauguration of his Excellency George 

 S. Houston ; and we hold that the pledges of the 

 party to retrench expenditures, reform abuses, and 

 improve the laws have been fully redeemed. In 

 support of this assertion we refer with pleasure and 

 confidence to the statute books, the financial condi- 

 tion of the State, and the peace and good order which 

 pervade the whole commonwealth. 



5. That it is the purpose of the Democratic and 

 Conservative party of this State to preserve invio- 

 late its obligations to the people and to the lonafide 

 creditors of the State ; and we congratulate the tax- 

 payers upon the prospect of being able to reduce the 

 rate of taxation without impairing the credit of the 

 State or tarnishing its good name. 



The Republican State Convention assembled 

 at Montgomery on July 4th. Charles Hays was 

 appointed chairman. It was largely composed 

 of colored persons, and many counties of the 

 State were without direct representation. It 

 resolved to make no nominations for State of- 

 ficers, and not to contest with the Democratic 

 party for the control of the State. An address 

 to the Republicans of Alabama was adopted, 

 of which the following is an extract: 



We positively believe that between the time ot 

 the opening and closing of the polls on the fifth day 

 of August next, a greater number of the qualified 

 electors of the State would cast their ballots for the 

 nominees of this Convention for State officers if any 

 were made than for the persons who were nominat- 

 ed by the Democi-atic party. We positively believe 

 that if every qualified elector in the State, who so 

 desired, were to vote on that day, and tlie ballots 

 were honestly counted, our candidates for State of- 

 fices would be elected. The Republicans are as nu- 

 merous to-day as they were in 1872, when they car- 

 ried the State, or as they were in 1374, when they 

 cast more than 97,000 ballots, and more than one 

 half of the honest, legitimate votes of the State. 

 There have been no desertions from their party in 

 number sufficient to be appreciable, or in number 

 greater than its accessions. 



The following resolutions were also adopted : 

 The Republicans of Alabama in Convention as- 

 sembled make the following declaration of princi- 

 ples : 



1. We recognize the equality of all men before the 

 law, and hold that it is the duty of the Government, 

 in its dealings with the people, to mete out equal' 

 and exact justice to all, of whatever nativity, race, 

 color,or persuasion, religious or political. 



2. We pledge ourselves to maintain the union of 

 these States, emancipation and enfranchisement, and 

 to oppose the reopening of the questions settled by 

 the thirteenth, fourteenth, and fifteenth amendments 

 of the Constitution. 



3. We heartily sympathize with the purposes of 

 the President in his efforts to remove all supposed 

 causes of irritation arising from the alleged acts of 

 the National Administration, and thus conduce to 

 establish harmonious relations between the several 

 classes of Southern society ; to eliminate intolerance 

 and animosity from political contests ; and to secure 

 to every citizen the full enjoyment and exercise of 

 his political rights and privileges. We regret that 

 these efforts have not been more successful. Har- 

 monious relations have not been established; citi- 

 zens are denied the exercise and enjoyment of their 

 rights and privileges, and the Democratic party still 

 maintains the terrible race issue by the claim that 

 this is _ a white man's government, established and 

 maintained exclusively for his benefit. 



4. We denounce and condemn the spirit and pur- 

 pose with which the committee of Congress, known 

 as the Potter Committee, are inquiring into the ex- 

 istence and nature of alleged Republican frauds at 

 the late Presidential election in the States of Florida 

 and Louisiana. If this investigation were conducted 

 fully and impartially in the States of Mississippi, 

 Alabama, and South Carolina, as well as those above 

 named, and with reference to both political parties, 

 it would be found that Rutherford B. Hayes was en- 

 titled to a great majority of the popular vote, and to 

 the electoral vote, of all five States. 



5. The financial question having been disposed of 

 by Congress, and the country at present needing re- 

 pose, in order that capital may seek investment, and 

 that industries may revive, thus increasing the de- 

 mand for labor, the situation ought to be accepted ; 

 and we oppose the further agitation of the question 

 at this time as injurious to business and devoid of 

 other than evil results. 



6. We favor the construction of the Southern Pa- 

 cific Railroad by the aid of the General Government. 



7. We favor an amendment to the State Constitu- 

 tion abolishing the provision thereof which permits 

 the waiver of exemptions. 



We arraign the Democratic party before the peo- 

 ple on the following charges : 



1. It has been false to its promises that it would 

 lower the rate of taxation. This rate is in excess of 

 what is necessary to defray the expenses of govern- 

 ment and to meet the obligations to State creditors. 



2. That in the parts of the State where its political 

 opponents were in a majority, it has violated the prin- 

 ciples of local self-government by removing from 

 office the persons elected by the people, and filling 

 their places with officers appointed by the Governor, 

 against the will of the people. 



3. That by almost destroying the free-school sys- 

 tem it has inflicted a cruel blow upon the children 

 of the State committed to her nurture and guardian- 

 ship ; that the money expended for their education, 

 by which ignorant labor would become skilled and 

 diversified, would secure benefits of inestimable 

 value to the State. By its failure to foster the free 

 schools and provide for their maintenance, it has 

 been faithless to its highest and holiest trust. 



4. That the system established by it of hiring con- 

 victs to work outside of the penitentiary is pernicious, 

 because it imposes great hardship and suffering upon 

 the prisoners, and because it is degrading to. honest 

 labor to be placed in competition with the labor of 

 criminals. 



JKesolved, That the Governor of Alabama is deserv- 

 ing of censure for his refusal, on ample notice and 

 full information, and upon the call of the sheriff of 

 the county, to take action to prevent a mob, in April 

 last, from breaking and entering a jail in this State, 

 at midday, taking three prisoners therefrom, and 

 depriving them of life without form or color of law. 



The election for State officers was held on 

 August 15th, and resulted in the success of the 

 Democratic party. The vote was as follows: 

 For Governor, Rufus W. Cobb, 89,571 ; for 



