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13. Fixes the salary of the district_judges | however, that the adoption of this article at not exceeding $5,000 a year in New-Or- shall not be construed as applying to any leans, and not less than $2,000 nor more fund received in trust by said city or town, than $3,000 in other parts of the State. nor to any loan for the purpose of renewing 14. Abolishes the office of District-At-existing loans, or for war, or to temporary torney and establishes a State's-Attorney in loans to be paid out of money raised by taxlieu of it. ation during the year in which they are made."

15. Where the judge may be recused. and when he is not personally interested in the matters in contestation, he shall select a lawyer, with qualifications described, to try such cases.

16. Provides against the evils of an interregnum, and fixes the time when the new system shall take effect.

17. Abrogates Article 132 of the Constitution of 1868.

18. Provides a salary of $3,500 for the Superintendent of Public Education.

19. Prohibits a license tax by the State, parish or municipal authority on any mechanical trade, manufactory, or factory, except such as may require police regulation in towns and cities.

20. Authorizes the Legislature to exempt from taxation household goods not exceed ing $500.

The vote on the former was: For, 20,530; against, 25,242; and it was rejected. The latter was adopted: For, 89,300; against, 5,882.

MICHIGAN.-Two amendments were submitted to vote of the people, April 1, 1878. Section 12 of article 6, as follows:

"The clerk of each county organized for Judicial purposes shall be the clerk of the Circuit Court of such county, and of the Supreme Court when held within the same." Was proposed to be amended so as to read thus:

"The justices of the Supreme Court shall appoint the clerk of said court, and the clerk of each county organized for judicial pur poses shall be clerk of the Circuit Court of such county."

Section 7 of Article 15, as follows:

21. Provides for maintaining the University, to be composed of a law, a medical, and an academical department; the law and medical to be in New-Orleans, and the aca-poration or association." demical and other elsewhere in the State. MAINE. These two proposed amendments were submitted at the election in September, 1877:

"The stockholders of all corporations and joint stock associations shall be individually liable for all labor performed for such cor

"No person shall vote at any election in this State, unless he has paid a poll-tax within two years preceding the election in which he proposes to vote, provided said tax has been legaliy assessed upon him."

"No city or town shall hereafter create any debt or liability, which, singly, or in the aggregate with previous debts or liabilities, shall exceed 5 per cent of the last regular valuation of said city or town; provided,

Was proposed to be amended so as to read thus:

"The stockholders in all corporations and joint stock associations shall be individually liable in an amount equal to the par value of their respective shares which they own or have owned in such corporations or associations for all labor done in behalf of such corporation or joint stock association during the time of their being such stockholders.”

They were both defeated. The vote on the former was: Yeas. 30.313; nays, 84.712. On the latter: Yeas, 27,770; nays, 42,064.

PARTY PLATFORMS,

Connecticut Republican.
[Adopted September 23.]

That the bonds of the United States and the legal-tender notes issued under the necessities of the war, are sacred debts to be paid to the last dollar in the standard money of the world; that the only money recognized in the Constitution or in the exchange of the world is gold and silver coin of the weight and fineness which give it universal currency; and we demand that all currency shall be redeemable in coin at the will of the holder, and that both coin and currency shall be kept at par with the gold standard of the world.

That the issue of legal-tender notes was only justifiable by the necessities of the war, and that any attempt to lower the standard of money, to increase the volume of irredeemable paper currency, to make the money of the people unstable, or to deteriorate the coin, is simply repudiation, and that we declare that a reissue of legal-tender paper in a time of profound peace would be without excuse and a gross violation of the Constitution of the United States, and therefore we demand actual resumption of specie payments at the time fixed by law, and that Congress shall do no act to delay

1878.

it, but shall leave the country free in its reviving prosperity. *

Connecticut Democratic.

[Adopted September 17.] That the Constitution of the United States recognizes gold and silver as the standard money of the Union; and this standard is the most stable basis for the commercial necessities of the world. The Democratic party of the Union has never failed to recognize and support this essential principle. A great and costly war, and Republican financial fraud and corruption, brought an irredeemable currency, under which prices of every commodity have fluctuated, industrial interests have suffered, labor has been deprived of its just reward, and many business men brought to bankruptcy; but the laws of trade, with a large balance of foreign exchange in favor of this country, have brought us to the door of a redeemable currency and a sound basis for an improved and prosperous state of affairs, which will place the creditors and debtors of the Government on the same financial plane.

That the Resumption Act, so called, was in its inception unwise, uncalled for, and not demanded at the time of its enaction by

those laws of trade which govern with uner. | shall be issued by the Government an equal ring certainty the finances of a country; amount of Treasury notes with full legal and having confidence in the Senators and tender quality; that we are in favor of Representatives of this State in the Con- making United States notes, commonly gress of the United States, we unhesi- called greenbacks, a full legal-tender, in tatingly rely upon their integrity and judg payment of all debts, public and private, ment, believing that they will be controlled except such obligations only as are by the in their action upon the question of resump- terms of the original contract under which tion by those well-known principles which they were issued expressly payable in coin; underlie the necessities of commerce and that the right to issue paper money as well the best interests of the people of this State. as coin is the exclusive prerogative of the We condemn all repudiation, and demand Government, and such money should be is an honest and just payment of the public sued in such amount as the sound business debt. We denounce the financial policy of interests of the country may from time to the Republican Administration as the direct time require. and shortest way to universal bankruptcy and total repudiation. We declare what. ever currency is issued should be for the benefit of the whole people. ***

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Indiana Republican.
[Adopted June 5.]

The Republicans of Indiana, in convention assembled, make the following declaration of principles:

The maintenance of the great principles of the Republican party is essential to the peace, permanency and prosperity of the Nation: the right of the people to meet together and discuss grievances to be jeal. ously guarded and maintained, but determined opposition to lawlessness, or to any resort to force and violence as subversive of the public peace, injurious to public morals, and destructive to the rights and interests of all classes; equal rights before the law, and equal protection under the law, without regard to race, creed, condition or occupation; no exclusive privileges to individuals or classes; * * * the common school system to be cherished and perfected, and to that end the school fund should not be diverted to sectarian purposes; * * a Constitutional amend. ment providing for strict registration and election laws:** American industries to be encouraged and fostered by such legis. lation as will develop the material resources of the country and give full measure of employment and reward to labor; opposition to repudiation in all its forms; the honor and credit of the Nation to be maintained in every contingency; no abandonment of greenbacks or depreciation of greenback currency; a sound and stable currency of and of the same National legislat paper totizing me value; of greenbacks at par in payment of customs and in purchase of Government bonds: opposition to further financial agitation, stability in our finance system being essen. tial to business prosperity.

Indiana Democratic. [Adopted July 20.] That we demand that the National bank notes shall be retired, and in hieu thereof

That we are in favor of such legislation by Congress as will authorize the taxation by the States of United States notes in common with all other money.

That we deem it unwise and inexpedient to enact any further legislation for the funding of the National debt abroad, through the means of home syndicates or other methods, and we believe the time policy of the Government and the best interests of the people would be subserved by legislation so as to distribute said debt among our people at home, affording them most favorable and practical opportunities for the investment of their savings in the funded debt of the United States. * * *

That we demand the restoration of the silver dollar of 4122 grains to the country, and with full legal-tender quality, in payment of all debts, both public and private, and that the coinage thereof shall be unlimited, and upon the same terms as may be provided for the coinage of gold.

That we are in favor of the immediate and unconditional repeal of the Resumption Act.

***

That the Democratic party is the friend of the common school system, and will in every legitimate way labor for its success, and will oppose any attempt to divert auv portion of the common school fund to any sectarian purpose.

Louisiana Democratic.

[Adopted August 6.]

The Louisiana Democracy demand that the National banking system be abolished and National bank notes retired, and in lieu thereof that the Government of the United States issue an equal amount of Treasury notes, commonly known as greenbacks. We also demand the unconditional repeal of laws imposing a tax upon the circulation of State banks. We demand, also, the imme. diate and unconditional repeal of the Resumption Act, and are unalterably opposed to the ruinous policy pursued by the Republican party, whereby the volume of currency has been contracted far below the requirements of the country, and failures, depression of business, scarcity of labor and pauper wages have been entailed. That it is the sense of this convention that all the bonds and obligations of the National Government should be paid in legal-tender greenback notes of the United States, except where it is otherwise provided in the original law under which they were issued. We further demand the repeal of all laws passed subsequent to the original law creating the public debt, by which obligations of contract have been made more onerous.

Maine Republican.

[Adopted July 30.] The Constitution of the United States declares that the citizens of each State are entitled to all privileges and immunities of citizens in the several States, and we hold it to be a primary and sacred duty of the National Government to protect and maintain the exercise of all these civil, political and public rights by every citizen of the United States. As Republicans we are solemnly pledged to maintain these principles, and until they are cheerfully obeyed, and, if need be, vigorously enforced, the work of the Republican party is unAnished.

The Republican party is committed to unremitting efforts, not only to secure the legiti. mate results of the war-the sovereignty of the Union, the equal rights of all citizens, and free and untrammelled rights of suffrage -but also to redeem the pledges which the Government made to those who furnished

means or gave their services to save the Union. whether these pledges are in the form of bonds or greenback notes. We insist that both forms of the debt of the Nation shall be paid with the same fairness and integrity with which an honest man seeks to pay his individual debts.

We demand honest money for the people. Our currency must bo made as good as coin and redeemable in it. The Government promised this. The Republican party has legislated to perform it, and in the course of resumption it is now nearly accomplished. There must be no steps sideways or back

ward. *

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Maine Democratic.

[Adopted June 18.] We demand the payment of the bonded debt of the United States as rapidly as practicable. No further issue of Government bonds, whereby equal taxation with the other property of the country is avoided. We are opposed to an irredeemable currency, but believe in a currency for the Government and people, the laborer and office-holder, the pensioner and soldier, the producer and the bondholder. We are opposed to the present National banking sys. tem, and in favor of the gradual substitution of greenbacks for National bank bills.

Massachusetts Republican.

That the refunding of the National debt at a lower rate of interest should be carried strictest economy in expenditures should be forward as rapidly as is possible: that the used and the industries of the country relieved from taxation, so far as honor, good faith and necessity will permit: that the civil administration should be maintained in its honest and efficiency by the Executive Department, which should take the respon. sibility which belongs to it, of making nominations to office without dictation or control from other departments of the Government. and should in the exercise of this power use the same care and good judgment and demand the same fidelity and devotion to duty that are required in the management of important business affairs, and we will cordially support every measure which shall be needed to raise the civil service to the high plane of honesty and efficiency, de. manded by the Cincinnati platform and the President's letter of acceptance. ***

That the Commonwealth of Massachusetts has prospered for more than two centuries because her citizens have believed that the interest of each is the interest of all, and have labored together for the common weal, and when this union of interest and action which has endured through seasons of demust cease also. They who would foment pression and disaster ceases, her prosperity discord by falsely teaching that our community is composed of hostile classes whose interests are antagonistic, are public enemies whose defeat is essential to the pub lic welfare, and should be accomplished by the united efforts of all honest men.

That the success of the bold attempt to place an open repudiator in the Executive chair of this renowned Commonwealth would be an announcement to the world that for the first time in her history Massachusetts wavers in her devotion to honest finance, and is indifferent to the sacredness of public faith. **

Massachusetts Democratic.

*

[Adopted September 25.]

The scheme initiated and carried

into effect by the Republican party of providing a paper currency not redeemable in coin, and compelling the people to receive the same in payment of debts, is without authority of the Constitution. Congress has no power to make anything, unless it be [Adopted September 18.] gold and silver, legal-tender. Whatever *** That the Republican party is com- power it may have to authorize the issue of mitted to the maintenance of the National notes to circulate as money, whether issued credit and the keeping of the public faith directly from the Treasury, or indirectly with all creditors of the Nation. We rejoice through the banks, should be exercised only that the resumption of specio payments has subject to certain restrictions: 1. That no been so nearly accomplished. We insist executive office of the Government should that all lawful means shall be taken to in- have discretion to enlarge or control the sure such resumption within the time fixed volume of currency. 2. That the total and by law that all paper currency shall be amount of currency authorized should be redeemable in coin at the will of the holder, fixed by law. 3. That whatever that amount, and that both coin and currency shall be it should be one that shall at every moment kept at all times at par with the gold stand-be redeemable in coin. 4. That all coins of ard of the commercial world. We believe the same denomination shall be as nearly as that the American people are too honest possible of equal value. 5. That whatever wantonly to violate their pledges; are too currency is issued by the Government shall intelligent to attempt to use as money any. be receivable by the Government in paything which has neither value in itself nor ment of public dues at its face value. represents value; and bave too much regard *** The Democrats of Massachusetts for their honor and prosperity to prefer un-renew their demand for the extending of the redeemed and irredeemable promises instead of money which shall pass current at its full faco valuo in every market of the world.

right of sutrage to all citizens of the United States, residents of Massachusetts, without restriction by Constitutional or legal enact

ments. Prepayment of a poll tax as a qualification for voting is in violation of every principle of equal rights, and ought no longer to be required; and while we favor all reasonable regulations to protect the purity of the ballot, we declare that the laws passed by Republican Legislatures in recent years, tending to hinder and obstruct the most ample exercise of the elective franchise by our citizens, deserve the condemnation of all lovers of true liberty and free suffrage.

Massachusetts Independent Greenback

[Adopted September 11.] That we demand the immediate repeal of the Resumption Act, so that the periodical carnivals of bankruptcy may for ever come to an end, and that our National wealth be made the fixed and reliable foundation of our monetary system, forever banishing from America the idiotic propositions of making commodities of shifting values and articles of merchandise like gold and silver. a basis for money-a basis that ever has, as in 1813, 1831 and 1857, and ever must, periodically slip out from under such a monetary system, thereby destroying it, and plunging the country into ruin and bankruptcy: a basis that even England has never been able to maintain for any great length of time, although she is the creditor nation of the world.

That the United States shall never issue any more interest-bearing bonds unless the same are authorized by a direct vote of the people, and those issued during the war of the rebellion shall be paid as fast as they mature, according to the terms of the contract which authorized and created that indebtedness of the people; and what that contract is shall be submitted to the decision of the Supreme Court of the United States, and that all subsequent acts which impair and change the original contract are hereby denounced as creatures of corruption and repudiation that must be repealed.

That the Labor Bureau should be sus. tained, its field of operation enlarged, and its officers selected from those engaged in industrial pursuits and having the confidence of the industrial classes of the Commonwealth for the purpose of obtaining re1 able statistics upon which to form a basis for intelligent legislation on labor questions, especially with regard to the hours of labor, which should be reduced in proportion as the use of machinery increases, and in conformity with other causes which throw wage-workers out of employment.

That land of equal productive capacity shall be subject to equal taxation, whether cultivated or not, to to end that the land monopolists in the future may be held in check. and that the public domain may be preserved to the actual tiller of the soil

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redemption of the public promises. according to the letter and the spirit of the engagement; and our good name and well-being require that the Nation's honor shall be kept as inviolate as the Nation's life. Under the management of succeeding Republican_administrations the country has advanced to the point of specie resumption, and the highest interests of business no less than the plighted faith of the Republic demand that there shall be no step backward and no postponement. With this steady progress we hail the auspicious signs of reviving trade and industry, and congratulato the people upon this practical evidence that if the good work shall be completed, the depression which grew out of the financial disorders forced upon us by the war of rebellion will give place to the returning confi. dence and permanent prosperity which can rest alone on the fixed monetary standard of the commerical world-on settled values and full security and certainty for the future. Standing unalterably for the Constitutional principles of hard money, we insist that the greenback. instead of being dishonored and depreciated, shall be made as good as honest coin: that labor's dollar shall mean a real dollar; that the fluctua tions and uncertainties which rob toil and paralyze trade shall cease; that our currency shall be made the best currency, by making all parts of it, whether paper or coin, equivalent, convertible, secure and steady; and all public servants, whether executive officers, Senators or Representatives, whose acts or votes conduce to this high object, deserve our approbation.

The Electoral Commission was a wise and honorable mode of settling a dangerous dispute. All parties were bound to abide its decision, and any attempt to undo or impair the conclusion it established is unpatriotic and revolutionary.

While sincerely seeking fraternal union in all just efforts and aspirations, we summon

the people to renewed vigilance and unflinching warfare against the vast horde of claims and raids on the Treasury, which count for success on Democratic rule under the mastery of a solid South, and which would fall with special hardship on New. York, as the chief taxpaying State in the

Union.

We demand free and unintimidated elections in the south as in the North, and the full recognition and observance of the equal rights and liberty of all citizens, as ordained by the amended Constitution; and until they shall be secured, the work of the Republican party will be unfinished.

We renew our declarations for the elevation of the public service on the basis of a secure tenure during the faithful performance of official duties for a fixed term, for the pure, frugal and efficient administration of National, State and local affairs, for unyielding resistance to any further iant grants or subsidies to corporations or mo nopolies, for the grateful recognition of the brave soldiers and sailors of the Republic, and for common schools tree from sectarian influence and unmenaced by sectarian ap

New-York Republican. [Adopted September 26.] The Republicans of New-York, appcaling to twenty years of struggles and triumphs as the proof of Republican patriotism and fidelity, and meeting the high de-propriations. mands of the hour in the same unfaltering spirit which saved the Union and established it on the firm foundations of freedom, make the following declarations:

The faith of the Nation is sacredly pledged to the payment of the public debt and the

While recognizing with satisfaction that many patriotic Democrats do not share its spirit and impulses, we arraign the dominant forces of the Democratic party as the constant disturber of the public tranquillity and confidenco: as the wanton foe of publi

security in its persistent assaults upon the authority and stability of the established Government; as attempting to weaken the Nation by crippling the Army in a time of uncertainty and danger: as guilty of false pretences in claiming for the Democratic House a reduction in public expenditures, whose fraudulent character is proved by the necessity for heavy deficiency bills; as dependent on a solid South, and thereby subservient to all its demands; as aggravating the troubles of the country by mischievous agitation throughout the period of its supremacy in the House of Representatives; as faithless to the obligations of National honor, and the chief support of the wild schemes of inflation, repudiation and utter financial disorders which imperil public credit and business security; and its further or greater success would be a National calamity.

An emergency in the history of the country, second only to the great struggle for its existence, now confronts us. As then the Republican party was the sole organized political protection against National disruption, and patriotic citizens of whatever party names rallied under its standard for the defence of the Union, so now the Republican organization is the only efficient bulwark against National repudiation and disgrace. And it again invites all good citi zens of whatever previous political ties to unite with it in preserving the National honor. To all Republicans this great exigency especially appeals to rise to its high obligations and join heart and hand for the triumph of those vital principles upon which the security and welfare of the Republic depend.

New-York Democratic.

[Adopted September 25.]

The Democratic party of the State of NewYork reaffirms the following principles set forth in its platform adopted in 1874 and in 1877 and indorsed by a large majority of the people of this State:

publican party, for three successive years after the taking of the census, to so appoг. tion the State is a grave crime against the people and a dishonest and intemous refusal to obey the plain directions of the fundamental law.

and

That by an infamous conspiracy of force and fraud the high officials and unrepudiated leaders of the Republican party annulled and reversed its Nation's choice for the Presidency, and put a defeated candidate in the chair of Washington. cheated the people of that reform of the Federal Government which their ballots had demanded and ordained; and it is the stern resolve of the American people that such a fraud has been perpetrated for the last time.

That we point with pride to the honest, just and economical administration of Goyernor Robinson and our other Democratic State officers, and in the name of the Democratic party of the State of New-York we cordially and earnestly approve and indorse the same.

Ohio Republican.
[Adopted June 12.]

***The financial question having been disposed of by Congress, and the country at present needing repose in order that capital may seek investment, and that industries may revive, thus increasing the demand 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. * * * A tariff for revenue should be maintained and so adjusted as to secure incidental protection to home industry.

Ohio Democratic. [Adopted June 26.] Resolved, The commercial and industrial stagnation that has so long prevailed throughout the country, and the consequent and widespread suffering, 18 duc directly to the pernicious financial legislation of the Republican party, which we hereby arraign for its acts, and charge:

1. That at a time when the country was weighted down with debt created on the

Gold and silver coin and paper convertible into coin at the will of the holder, the only currency of the country; steady steps toward specie payments: the honest payment of the public debt. We congratulate the State and country upon the practical rela-basis of a full volume of paper added to both tive value of this greenback currency of the the precious metals as money, it enacted a Government with gold and silver-the pres- sweeping change in the measures of value, ervation of the public faith; a tariff for wholly in the interest of moneyed capital. revenue; no Government partnership with by demonetizing silver and decreeing the protected monopolies; home rule, to limit destruction of legal-tender paper, and there. and localize most jealously the powers in- by wrongfully added in effect hundreds of trusted to public servants, whether munici-millions to the burden of debt and taxes pal, State or Federal; no centralization; upon the people. equal and exact justice to all men; no partial legislation; no partial taxation; official accountability, rigidly enforced by all civil and criminal remedies; no private use of funds by public officers; corporations chartered by the State always subject to Stato supervision in the interest of the people; the party in power responsible for all legislation while in power; economy in public expenditure, that labor may be lightly burdened and the laborer fully paid for his work; uni'orm and equitable Excise laws; no sumptuary laws.

2. By pursuing its merciless policy of con. tracting the paper currency and hoarding gold it has increased the value of money and securities that partake of the enhancement of money, and decreased the value of all other property, and especially of capital de signed for productive use and required for the employment of labor, thus repressing instead of fostering industry, copelling idleness instead of sustaining trade and com. merce.

And now this party in Ohio puts forward in its platform the declaration that the That the provisions of the State Constitu- financial question has been settled. We tion are mandatory in regard to the ap- deny this declaration, and while we con portionment of the members of the Senate gratulate the country that the downward and Assembly; and the failure of the Re-course to bankruptcy and ruin invo.ved in

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