VOL. 1. THIRD SILKIES.
SALISBURY, X. C, MONDAY, AUGUST 27, 1SGU.
NO. :u WjioLi; no. 172;
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TIIE PRESIDENT'S? LAST SPEE0II.
Wegive16day "the speech of -Prcsi-J
dent Johnson to the committee appoint
ed by the Philadelphia Convention, to
present him with an authentic copy of
their proceedings. The speech is char
acteristic of the man : fearless and patri
otic Ho has always professed tho ut
most confiJenco that tho American peo
pie would sustafu his policy, and this
belief expressed by him in the darkest
hours of his ttruggle with tho lladical
Congress, he reiterates to the coinmittoo
which brings him tho cordial endorse
ment of a treat national part v. .Presi
dent Johnson has always been a demo
crat in the strictest 60nso of the term,
sometimes inclining to ul truism; hence,
the well grounded fears entertained by
many that Radicalism would find in him
a willing coadjutor if not a pliant tool.
Fortunately for us, however, ho had the
sagacity to discern that these men while
tbey sing pecans to Liberty, aim at no.th
.iDg less than an entire destruction of tho
Constitution, its 6olo guarantee. Hence,
we find him : to-day," nt longer a partizan
but a patriot ; no longer a politician,
but a great far sighted statcrnan, fight
ing a great battle in the interest of Am
erican liberty. Our hearts and prayers
are with Mm. Daily Banner.
SPEECH BY THE PRESIDENT.
wasnington, Aug. i. mere was a
great crow 1 proseut to-day to bear the
President in reeponse to lieverdy John
son, who presented tho otlicial proceed
ing of the Convention.
lie said, referring wjih feeling to the
sceuo represented of South Carolina and
ilassachusetts entering the Convention
together, he was overcome, and could not,
(self upon that platform, I havo not been
awea or dismayed, or intimidated by
either threat or encroachments, but have
stood there in conjunction with patriotic
spirits, standing the tocsin of alarm
when I deemed the citadel of liberty in
danger. Great applause. I -said on a
previous occasion, and reueat now. that
all that is necessary in this ere at strnrh Ura
i... i ... i j v rr .
iiBiiuy a no. ueapousm, wa mat i
tho sirngaleihouldlofluUlcietmy audibla j
for the American people to bear and I
properly understand. They did hear,
and looking on and seeing who the con
testants were and what the etroggle was
about, determined that they would settle
this question on the side of the Constitu
tion, and of principle. 1 proclaim here
to-day, as I Lave on previous occasions,
that my faith is in the great mass of the
people. Id tho darkest hour of this strag
gle, whon the clouds seemed to be mwt
lowering, my faith, instead of giving way,
loomed up tnrouii the cloud beyond
which I ww tlmt hll would by well in the
end. My countrymen, wo all know (hut
. .. . i . . . . .
tyranny anei ne-ppoitsm in t!ie Iun"un.'e
but conclude that an overru'ing ProvN
dence was guiding us aright. He said onr
bravo men have pei formed tlieir duties in
the field, and have won laurels 'imperish
able, but, mining to -General Grant, be
continued, but there are gr ater and
more important duties to perform, and
while we have had their co operation in
the field we now need their efforts to per
petoate peace. Applause. The Exec
utive Department had tried to poor oil
on tho wound, and restore the Union,
but it had ' not entirely exceeded". J 5e
have seeu, be said, in one department of
the Government every effort to prevent
the restoration of peace and harmony of
the Union. Vfe htfve seen hanging upon
the verge of ttie Government, as it were,
a body called, or which assumed tobe
the Congress of the United States, while
in fact it is a Congress of only a patt of
the States. We have seen this Congress
assume and pretend to " be for the Cnion
when its every step and act tended to per
petuate disunion, and makes a disruption
of the States inevitable, instead of pro
moting reconciliation and harmony., Its
Legislation has partaken of tho character
of penalties, retaliation and revenge.
This ha? been the course and the policy
of one portion of yonr Government. The
humble individual who is now addressing
you etauds the representative of another
department of the Government. The
manner in which. he w-aa... called, npon to
occupy that position, I shall not allude to
on this occasion. Suflice it to say, that
he is hero under the Constitution of the
coantry, and being here by virtue' of Its
provisions, ho takes big stand upon that
charter of onr liberties as the great ram
part of civil and religious liberty. Pro
longed cheering. Having been taught
in my early life, to hold it sacred, and
haviog practiced upon it during ray
whole public career, I shall ever contin-
no to reverence the Constitution of my
fathers,. and to make it my gnide. Hearty
applause. The President proceeded, and
denied the chargeu hat ha .hadersjuJfeeeis!
trranical or a despot, but said such charg'a
were simply intepded to deceive and d5.
ol 1 nomas Jetlersoji, can bo exeicised
andexerted mote effectually by the unuiy
that, the one. We havo suun ii Conrcs
gradually eucroacli, 6tep by step, and
violate, day after day, and month ufier
month, tho Constitutional right and the
lundauiental principles of the Govern
ment; We have seen a Congress thai
seemed to forget that thoro whs a limit
to -tie sphere and scope of legislation.
We have seen a Congress in a minority,
a&sume to usurp power which, if allowed
to bo carried out, would result in despot
ism, or in monarch itself. This is truth,
and because others as well as myself have
seen proper to appeal the patriotism, and
Kepublican tceling ot tho country, we
have been denounced in tho severest
terms. Slander upon slander, vitupera
tion upon vituperation of the most vil
lianous character has made its way
through the picas. Wnaf, gentlemen,
lias been your and my sin I what has beet)
tho cause of our offending I I will tell
you. Daring to stand by the Constitu
tion of onr fathers. I consider the pro
ceedings of this Convention, Sir, us more
mipoitant than those of any Convention
that ever assembled in the United States.
, InnVtlift pnhlift mind inrr thii i,fef ifay Uniting hnqvjn ''"Kitfonj jnijgra
---bro la,OHJinftJwrr wlu ia tiaarp l.fl'ri) gnjpH.l
: :y nganu IfJIJapiingupon rue .. rights ol the
-IJoitatioisTiPw Sdona tyhS-wCo'
v wake such charges for the "purpose" of
:--Qyrl"g- their. own acts, fffiat's so,
And applause. I have felt it my dnfy,
in vjuuicaiion or ine principle and Ujn
fltitation of my couutry, to call tbe atten
"'""tioirf my countrymen to thesc-procced-.
logs. When we come to examine, who
has been playing the tyrant, by whom do
we find despotism exercised f As to my
self, -the elements of my nature, tho pur
aaits of my life have not made me, cither
'.- in my feeling or in my practice, oppress
sive.. JJj nature on the contrary is rath-
-er defensive in its character, but I will
say tkat,"haviDg taken my stand npon
tbe broad principles of liberty and the
Constitution, there I not power enough
on earth to drive me from it. ' fLoud and
Gieat applause. J When I hwok with my
miiiir's ejo upon that collection of citi
zen coming together voluutardy, and
sitting in council with ideas w ith princi
ples end view commeneurt& with - nil
tho State, it nd coexlctifeite with the
whole people, and contrast it with the
collection of rersons who are trying t
destroy the country, I regard it as more
important than any Convention that has
assembled 'einee I487. Kenewed ai
iilause.1 I think I may hIso say, that
tho declarations that were therejnade,
aro equal to the declaration of In
depence itself, audi bore today pro
tiouucd them a sedond Declaration of In
dependence. Criesofglorious, and a most
enthusiastic and plolonged applause. J
Your address and decleration are noth
iug more nor le69 than a ro-affinhation
of tho Constitution of the United States
yes, I will go farther and say that the
declaration yau have, made,' that Ihe
principles 3'Oiv have ennnciated in your
address are a second Proclamation of
Emancipation to the ueople of the Unit-
ted, estates (renewed applause) tor in
proclaiming and, re proclaiming these
great truths you nave laid down a Uon
stitntional platform upon which all can
make common canto and stand united ..to
gether or the restoration of the States
and the preservation of the government
without.reference to party.
Tbetiuestion only is the salvation of the
. . . 11
connrry, tor ones country rises aoove an
party considerations of influences. Hw
many are there in the United States that
now require to oe tree 1 luey nave tne
shackles upon their limbs, and are bonnd
as rigidly as though they were in fact in
slavery. I rep&f, then, that your delara
tion is the second Proclamation of Eman
cipation '-taLtha. people of the United
States, and offers common ground upon
which all patriots can stand. Applause.
Jdr Chairman and gentlemen, let me,
in this connexion, ask what I have to
gain more than. tho advancement of Jbe
public welfare f l am as ranch opposed
to the indulgence of egotism aa any one,
but here, in a conversational manner,
while formally recci vingl he prcceed i ngs
of this Convention. I may bo permitted
again q ask. what am, 1 to gain by con-
1 . ' 1 " I T.'' 'I'' jr. ,it:"iri3"-"t-
Rights bill following ns an auxiliary
(laughter) in connection with all tho
other appliances of the Government, I
could have proclaimed myself dictator.
Rut, geutlemen, my pride and my ambi
tion have been to occupy that position
which retains all power in tho hands of
the people. 'It is upon that -4. have al
ways relied f it is ujxni-lhat I-wly now, ;
and I repeat that neither tho taunts nor
eca of Congress, cor of n subsidized ca-
utnniating press can drive 1110 from my
purpose, ureal applause. J I acknowl
edge, no superior except my God, tho au
thor of my existence, and the people of
tho United Mutes. I rolongod and en
thusiastic cheering. r or the 0110 I try
to obey all his commands as best I can,
compatible with my poor humanity ;
for the other in a political and represen
tative sense, the high behests of the peo
ple have always been reepectod und
obeyed by me. Applause.
Mr. Chairman, I have said more than
I had intended to say. For the kind al
lusion to myself contained in your ad
dress und in the resolutions, adopted by
the Convention, let tne remark that in
this crisis, and at tho present period of
my public life, I hold above all price,
and shall ever recur with feelings of pro
found gratification to tho last resolution
containing the endorsement of a Conven
tion emanating spontaneously from the
great mass ot the people. I mint and
hope that my future actions will bo mch
that you and tho Convention you repre
sent may not regret tho assurance of
confidence you have expressed.
Before scparating.jny friends, one and
all, please accept my sincere thanks for
the kind manifestations of regard and tc-
spect adu have exhibited on this occa
sion. 1 repeat that 1 shall always con
tinue to be guided by a conscientious
conviction of duty, and that ahvayagives
one courage under the Constitution which
1 nave made my guide.
.At the conclusion of tho President',
remarks threa enthusiastic cheers were
given for Andrew Johnson, and three
more for Gen. Grant.
The President then took a position
near the door, opening into the Hall,
with Gen. Grant by his 6ide, where, as
the gentlemen of the committee and
members of tho Convention passed out,
he grasped each one by tho hand, and
had a smile or a cheering word for all.
After which, they passed on to take
Gen. Grairt by the hand. 1
right Congrcsi cannot interfere. No
State or combination of States has the
r'gbtto withdraw from the. Union, or to
ojpludp. throui'h tholr flrti.in in Clonsre'St
Kr otherwise, any other Stato . or States
mo. union. iue union 01 u epc
$lfVt'cV4 porpetna.
' Sixth: Such mnenilmr-nts to the Con
atitujiiin eif. the. United .States inayl9
m ad j by the people thereof as 1 hey may
e'eeiu expedient, but ouly in. ihu uiodo
pointed out "by "It pro"v7iTona ; ami 'in
proposing such ainemliueu'B, whether by
Congress or by a convention, and ratify
ing the same, nil the States f tl c Union
have an equal and ansindfVatiiblu light
to a voice and a vote therriil
Seventh : Slavery is abolished and for
ever prohibited, and there i neither diy
ire nor purpose on tho part oTTheSoflli
ern States that it should ever bo it-cs-tablished
upon the soil or within the ju
risdiction of the United State4, and the
enfranchised slaves in all the States of the
Union should receive in common with all
their inhabitants eon?! protection in ev
ery right of person and property.
highth : While we regard as utterly
a devotion 00 the part vf K peol to th form
of govarnmut wluub tbry liava ordainl, and
to lh principle of liberty which tbat Govern
merit waa deiinad to proinol, wbirli mut con
firm ilia coofidnnct of th nation lu Om p-rjt
utitjr of ita republican inktl(ui.ionrnJ cviii'iihik)
ilia re pct ol lh ciili4d orfj. . ' -
Li It a all great con to ta which rpue th pa
aioua and lel lLa euJurance of naiion, tbia war
baa af iif mmtti'toH 4 poUiicali
psrtlea, and frealt impu bh lo plum of mnoa
liim and fffviin. Amid ilia cha of conflict
ing wtitiinc in?prblff 'from audi an rn,
win It? the putlio beart ia krculy nliva to m'I ilif
Msj(n ilint can away the public pidgin- ul
and ath-c-t the public action ; wlnU Ihe wimhi1.v
of aar ara ilill frkli ami blovdiiig ouiih.'-r. ),
anJ leaja for Iho future Uks ui.j il rriiorimii
mation of tho Exccutiyo it wns explicitly
declared that tho solo purpose and ob
ject of tho War. was to maintain the au
thority of the Constitution andtonreserve
the iutcgrity of tho Union; and Congre
more than once reiterated this solemn
declaration, and added thenssuranco that
whenever this object ahould be attained,
the war should cease, and all tho States
uuuiu luiaiu uic-ir L'JUUI riguis BllU Ulg-
iinj uiiiiiij'nirca. 11 is ouiy since 1IIO
war was closed that other, rights have
been asserted on behalf of pne depart
ment (f the General Government It
has been proclaimed by Congress that,
in addition to the jwwers conferred npon
it by the Constitution, tho r cdoral Gov-
from the mvnioriea and rtiantmnii of ib pat, J ernmcnt may now claim over tho States'.
the territory and the people involved in
the insurrection, tho right of war, tho
right of conquest aud of confiscation, the
tight to abrogate all existing govern
ments institutions and laws, aud to sub
ject the territory conquered and its in
habitants, tosuch laws, regulations and
deprivations as tho legislative depart-me-uts
of tho Government may 6ee fit to
it i a dinh'ult but an iintrauve dutr wlnrh on
yoor behalf we, who ate here am' !r'(
undertaken to perLun.
Fur the find piiid after ti Ion jj yean of ali-n
alion and of conlhct, we have cmne together
from every fit ale and awry aeoliou of our lint.
a citizena tf a common oounlry, uador that
fla, tlia ayinbol agin of a comiiion pluir, lo
consult together how Ik-hi to CMincut i) .-rp. t
uata that Uuion which i ai'aiu Ihe ul i ft of our
common love, and tbm a, cure tl.o 1,1 sin-rn ! 1 iinti?e. Under this broad aud sweeping
in valid and never to bo assumed or made ' liherty to our. ve mid our pobtcniv. claim, that clause ot the Uoiibtitution
of binding forcu a-.y obliguti n incurred j In tb firat place we invoke you to r. im rnher, ! which provides that "no Stateshall with
or undertaken in making war against the ! and ee-r) where, thnt the w..r i ended j out its consent, bo deprived of its eqnal
United St iten, we hold the debt of the 1 d e umion i agin at race. 'I he hhmk ol '. su 11 rage in tho Senate of tho U. States,"
nation to be. sacred and inviolable ; and j coi,u-sd.n; anon no h.ng-r .U th., hud lor- ltt8 1 nnniilled, and ten States have
mghrt ot the uepuuic ine u.Mirrect on becu rofnged, and aro still refused, r epro-
against tbe aupremo authority of tlie,i.aiion l.aa henlntit, nltegctlicr in both brandies of
been aoppred and that a-.thor.tv h b,en federal Congress. And the Con
agaiDfckiiowle.lged, by word and acl, in etery . ... . f , s
e ----j - , -
we proclaim our purpose, in discharging
thin, and in performing all other nati n
al obligations, to inain'aiii, uniinpairud
nod irnirn (!.iched, the honor and the
faith of the Republic
Ninth: It is tho duty or the National
Government to rec:gmzo the ser vices of
the Federal soldiers and suil-r-i i'i the
the ponte-Rt jnst chiw.l, by meeting proiupjt
ly and fully their just and rightful claims
for the tervices they have rendere I the
nation, and by extending to those of them
who have survived, and to the. widows
Statu and by every citizen within its juiis l c
tioiij We ar no ioti,-r iequiie.1 or per milled
t.j r.-ynrd or lrMt eacb other M eiiejuiet. Nut
only liave ll:e aula of war bo- o diH'oiaiiiurd,
and ihe we.i)iis of war hticl aside, Imi tlieiiixte
of war 00 longer exwt, and tW b-u.iuii.i, ihe
passion, the relatiuna of w.r hate no loiijjoi
lawful or rightful place atijwheru throughout
our broad iIoinHin. We are njaiii n.'"pln ot the
U in tod Staled, fellow-eilizena of one country.
and orphans of those who have fallen, I u"1 y.11"4 "ntJ of com.
and considerate care. r" -".
inlerela rpart iroin a cotnu.on .i'!ntiv. 1 ue uu
lie that duvojve ufn n now him'ii llindu-1
r .... ....1 1...,..,,. .1, . 1 .....r 1
&ce, lias proven steadiasi 111 n,s uovot.on 1 v;he Lj;v- MIul,ed hen u, ul;H 0, , c. !
toinouonsuiQiion, inoiawsanuimei esta i .ernilgllie illh.MU of pt.h0t, ; (0 d,0,.j0 jloW
of his conntry, unmoved by peieecutionj waID),y losl wily and effocitlU heal the
and nndesvt ved reproach having laith j wounda the war has made, and perfect and per
nnassailable in the iie'oulo nnd iu the rin- ptuate the benetiio it ha secureJ, and the
the most cenerons and considerate care.
Tenth: In Andrew Johnson, 1'ret-idt.nt
of tho United State?, who, in his great of-
TIIE .ATI0.U CM0.V fONVENTIO.V.
K'xrnt in one ihinS
race wnearfj t'm'iX liwwtii yfr1?8
the tiigh tuce which ! occupy under tne
Constitution of. the" counjry, and I may
eay that I have held from tho lowest to
DECLARATION, OF ITJNCII'LKS.
The National Union Convention, now
assembled in tho City of Philadelphia,
com posed of delegates from every S'ate
and Territory in tho Union, a linonir-liod
by the solemn lessons which for the last
five year it has.. plcasgU JkL'o Supre-nie
Iluler.of tho Uoierse to gtvo tho Ainer
ican people, profoundly grateful for the
return of peace, desirous as aro a groat
majority of their countrymen in all bin
ccrity to forget and forgive the past, re
vering the constitution an it comes to us
from our ancestors, regarding the Union
in its restoration as more sacred than
ever, looking with deep anxiety into the
future as of instant and continuing trial,
hereby issues and proclaims the follow
ing declaration of principles and purpos
. - - a'-v " 1 a - . a
es on wmcii tney nave, witu peneci
unanimity, agreed :
rind: vveliail with gratitnde to Al
mighty God ttte end "rf war aud the re
turn of peace to an afflicted aud beloved
land. . . , . .
Second: The war just closed has main
tained the authority of the Constitution,
with all the powers which it confers, and
all the re-strictiohs which ft imposes upon
the General Government, unabridged
and im altered, and if has preserved the
Union, with tho equal rights, dignity And
authority of the States icifect and iinwn
paired.
Ihird: itepresentation in thoUotigress
of the United S'ate andjn the Electoral
College is a right recognized by the Con
stitution es abiding in every State, and
as a; duty imposed npon its people fun
damental in its natnte and essential to
the existence of our republican institu
tions; and neitherCongreiS nor the Gen-'
eral Government has anv autliortiy or
power to deny this right to any Slate, or
to witbliold U iimaicnient unoer- tue
Constitution from the people thereof.
TiTntrbrr-WecaW Hpo4he iopIe of
tlTBtrnited- tetatst
riple of free govern mcnt-
Cbief Magistrate worthy.
n cognize a
of the nation
und of the people of tho Union are rep
resented iiaa asserted the light thus 10
exclude the rest from representation, and
from all share in making their own laws
or. choosing their own rulers until they
shall comply with such conditions and
perform such acta as this Congress thus
composed may itself prescribe. That
right has not only been asserted, but it
has been exercised, and is practically en
forced at the present timo. Nor docs it find
any support in the theory that the States ,
thu excluded are in rebellion against
the Government, and are, therefore, pre
cluded from bharing its authority. Tbey
arc one and all in an attitude of loyalty
toward the Government, and of sworn
allegiance to the Constitution of the
United States. In no , one of them is
there the slighost indication of resistance"
blewinga which under a wiae and benign Prov
i.leneo. have anrunir UD in its fierv track. Thia
. 1 . -1 . . t. I:. .. I. . rtr 1 ... ,.r ...J it,, thia outlwiritv np iha ctiobrnct nml&at
Hiia -equal to 11 e great crisis upon wiiicii 1 me u'u' fMiun, vu. w mim . v- .. , ..6U.vU.
hi ht is cast, and wo tender to him, in her judgment, not of reaeutinent for past often agaiu&t its just and binding obligation,
the discharge of Ins high and rep .nsiblo! p'oloiged beyond thai limits which justice) This condition of renewed loyalty has
ditTes, our "profound respect and nwu- j nJ rcaon prescribe, but of a liberal staU-aman-1 been ofJScially recognized by solemn pro
rance of our cordial and einc- ie Mit-port. ihipjhih lolerates what it cannot prtvent, and daftution 0the Executive department.
W. en tiie K C. etary read that section i bo,M' 1,9 f'lans ",d ,u F foAhe u,ure Lr"lb The laws of tlve United States.hare been
do.hroo tlwit'tl c war left ..i t),e H,rh,ft er urn community of lulereat and arnb.tion exte,lded by Congress over all these
oft!: mliMK?.1 I States and tife people thereof., Federal
the entire convention n.feC to it ieet and j . In. ""V e ca" UFP 'ou ' Carts hare been reopened, and Federal
Kpent.imein cheering the .entiment. T,'" .th. u" T 'fic!U,,'' H"d '"" ,;,tl; taxes imposed and levied, and in every
Theaihiou to I', eMdtnt JohnM... wat rS:Z".i"Ll..i 1 JT" . :. , respect, except mac tney are oeuiea re
also received with loud and long contin- j M,rHnl ,,aiiculara tho vte.tyry achieved by ih
ueu ajipiuusi. National (toverntnenl na been tiuul and ecH
T-fiO vote wus then ti.kfn on the adop j jve plrs(i jt n,,s establihhed beyond all further
tiuu. of the resolutions ( read, and they ! enntrovt rsy, and by the highest, of all ; Luinai:
were iinaniniou8ly iid"p:ed. aantina,'tu abaoht supremacy d tfut NalMn-
Tho President : Tho s eretary in- the j al (Jovcr'ninejit, as defined and .limited by the
hurry td reading the resolution omitted ; Couatitutiou of the United Slates, and the per-
one of them the seventh ; it will now, 1 manent integrity and indissolubility ot ilia hod
tion,and wbo will receive to seata therein
loyal rei)rt6entatives from every State in
highest," almost everyosiTIoirirli ta
man may attain in our Government : and
surely, gentlemen, this should be enongh
to gratify a rcasonaole ambition If I
wanted authority, or if I" wished to per
petuate my own power, how easy it
would have been to hold and wield that
which was placed, in my hands by thejinything in the constitution or laws Of
measure called 1 ho Freedmen's Bureau
bill f Laughter and applause. With
an army which it- placed at iny discre
tion, I conld hafve limained the capi
tal of the nation, and with fifty or sixty
millisons of appropriations a.t nij dispo
sal -with the machinery to- bo worked
by.rajf&tr&m andr dependants in crerj
prolonged applause.) Having placed mjj town and village, and then with the Civil
the constitutional right of each Mouse to
judge of the election returns and qnal'fi
cationjBof ftsown inemberi.
Fifth : The .Constitution of tho United
therefore, bo read.
Mr. Perrino then read the seventh res
olution (inserted above) when the ques
tion was taken on its adoption, aud it was
unanimously adopted.
A delegate from Pennsylvania ; Mr.
President: The delegation from Pennsyl
vania proposes three cheeis for the Hon.
Edgar A. Cowan (author of the above
declaration.) '
Tho cheers were given with a will.
Here there were loud cries foFBenator
Cowan, who had a seat on the platform,
when that gentleman arose and said :
I claim to be the host of this couven
tion. One of my guests; will now address
yon, and address you by authority of tho
Committee on Resolutions and Address.
I refer U the Hon. Mr. Raymond of New
Vork. ,. . . "..
THE ADDRESS.
The Hon. Henry J. Raymond of New
York wus then -announced, to the Con ¬
vention bv the rresidenr. and was re
ceived with loud cheering. iSilence hav
ing been restored Mr. Raymond proceed
ed to read tho address' which bad-been
agreed upon by the committee:
To the People of tUU'niUd Stales :
Having met in convention at this City
of Philadelphia, in the State of Pennsyl
vania this lbth day ot August, 1 bob, as
the representatives of tho people in all
sections, and all Ifie Slitt Cs nhd Terri ton
ries of : the-- Union, consult upjiy he
erl Union sa a ncctary consequence j and,
preientation in Congress and the Electo
ral College, the States once in rebellion,
are recognized a holding the same posi
tion, us owing the same obligations, and
subject to tbe same duties as the other
States of our common Union.
It seems to us, in tho exorcisCof the
calmest and mcst candid judgment we
can bring to the subject, that such a claim,
second, it bm put an cud finally and forever to ; so enforced, involves as fatal an over-
the existence of slavery upon ihe soil or thinjattruw of the authority of the CoU8tlta
thejurisdiction of the United Suites. Ho'h ili.se ,j anj a8 complete a destruction ofthe
poiuta became-"directly involved in the content, Government and Union, aa that which
1 .a. !. . I. .1 1 I. . I 1 . ! " . .
T con dnian a iT-f th u WTtntarot troc common- FyiTTHff?if -trf tm-rfriiirta-"
i -vtttrr r- -i.juf bA.V9- uu. v. - iv-.jUL!rf..i.Ai.u-iU-si-JJ.CL
..A. .. . ". I
ut 4iiifBSpa"fer ifWte" W
i 1 .. j
"Siru-e tbe lueeling of the fiwl "Ntt'jwnat'-CSB-veniion,
in tire year 1860, events have occuned
which bv thanked eba eliHravWr of bar inter
nal politics and given llie LJuiled Stale a new
i.Uca amoni (be C-rrrot.r f (ha earth. Our
Uoverniuanl bad paved through the viciawtildea
and tbe petils of sivil ar- r which thuuh
States, and the laws made in pnrsanc i,nain tcl,on.1 ' it.idiaracfer, baa nevertbe-
. .... .- .Ijla..Iu.I ...titi. tl iH r.nM tlt Irniil lilt
thereof, are "the supreme law of the land.
anv Sta'o to the contrary notwithstand
ing." A'l the powers not co nferred by
the Constitution "upon the General Gov
ernment, nor prohibited by it to the
States, are "reserved to the States, or to
tire people, thereof and. among the
rights thus reserved .0 the States is the
right to prescribe qualifications for the
elective franchise therein, with which
very beginning of the 0 jverument bad threi.t
ened ttie" unity of our national existence, and
..has left its impress dep and intff.c able upon
alt interests, tbe sentiment... and , jhe destiny ol
tbe republic. While it bsS inflicted opn the
.tbol' eoantry severe losws iu life and in pro
perty, and baa imposed" bordees which in uf I
weigb 00 Tta rourca '"JnefattOllS tO-one,
it Laa developed degreeBl national courage
in tbe presence of natioaal daDgen. a capacty
for military orgauiiaiion aod achicvamcnt, and
and controversy upon both was. end.d absolute
ly and uualy by the result.
In tbe third place, we Ueera 11 of the utmost uieiu both
importance that tlie rea character ol 1 lie war , h ib a83ertej
1 .1 ..:. . I... 1 . . U .. ..... ,.l ..l l... iA 1... r
anu ine viciO.y vy wintu .1 utoviwcy -i..'tif.
accurately understood. The war was carried 011
by the Government of tlie United Stolen in
nlaluletialiu of Us own authority, and in delensu
of its own existence, both of which., were Jliien
aced by the insurrection which it-sought to sup
prVti. . The PUpprcsfioii of that insurrection ac
complished that result. The Government of
United States inaintaiiied l y of forca of arms
the-uprtnie aulboriiy overall the territory, and
over all the States aud people within Its juris
diction which the Gouatiluiioi confer upon it;
but it acquired thereby no pew power, no en
lafged juribdictioo,"(io rights of territorial pos
session or of civil authority which it did not pos
sess before the rebellion broke out. AH thought
ful power it can-ever po.sts ia that which is
confnired upon it, either in express fetmsorby
fnir and necessary imt dication, by the Constitu
lion of lhe-,Uniled States, tt'wai lhat power
aud that auUiority which the rebellion souirht to
overthrow, and the victof v ' of.the r .dersl arms
wassiini.lv the defeat of thct atiemp'. The
Oovernitient of tho Uuited States acted through
out the war on the defensive. It sought only to
hold possession uf what was its own. Neither
the war, nor the victory by by which it was
"closed, elm 11 ged. i u Tvn y 's J . th jrjjojistitu t iow of
t he .B imh4 -Stato. J be. ar jear.t"H ojf
wus sought to be effected by the States
and people in armed insurrection against
it cannot escape observation
to exclude
, certain Mates from representation is
made to rest wholly in tho will and drs
o ciion of the Congress that asserts it, it
is not made to depend upon any specified
conditions or circuinetaOcee, nor to be
subject to any rules or regulations what
ever. Tbe right asserted and exercised
fa a I) olute, without qualification or re
striction, not confined to States in rebel
lion, nor to Statoa that have rebelled ; it
is tho right of any congress in formal
possession of legislative authority, to ex
clude any State or Sta es, and any por
tion of the people thereof, at any time,
from representation iu Congress and in
the Electoral College, at its own discre
tion and until they shall perform such
ucts and comply with such. conditions as
it may dictate. Obviously, the reasons
for 6tich exclusion, being wholly within
the discretion of Congress, may change '
as the Congress ttsojf shall change. One
Congress may exclude a State from all
share in the Governinenf J&rone reason ;
an4 that reason.. removddt.ihe. next.
Congress "hi'ittjr'exclodig';; irj.ngfterrr
Due btato may 00 excluded; on one
imd wmt h4irtai ton , uts " j l"irA --Iifc-
-.ij.,1 ili...r..u.U...L.lm nar 1 . . . . .. .
aff.Jtl -.tfcfSi? fat
OovernmoTit? or reteas ttrat overniw.t uoio
tbe restrictions which it has imposed. r
Th GHitituutin.f-lha United SMeilJjLio,;
day preoiselv as it waa before tbe war, the "au
preuie law of the land, any thing iu tbe caisti
iutipn or lawa of any but to tlie contrarv, not
wUbatanding ;"nd. MMfoy. also, pwciytly
before the war, all the power not couferretTy
the Constitution upon the General Governrnint,
i-1 ti it etTT.ti t o fformewre gruuuat
- o a b c e u a a w; v may e j c 1 u u e ouuiua
.'ill Dtittcir ti u-u vu w.. ' now. T
-F "r jr iri ---; .re :. -I-
uancy 01 bieru or 01 oouiuero inieresi,
or. of Jiwtli combined, may exclndo the
fJTOtTlieTn"TJrETrtftemStM
Improbable aa such usurpations may
seem, the establishment of the principle
now asserted and acted npon by Congress
wtll feTrdBrtheail)j jMniesns itnpoMtble.
Tbe character, indeed tha. very existence,-
to tbe several Slates, or to the people thereof,
Tliis positionis vindicated not only by
the essential nature of our Government,
and the language a.nd epirit of our Con
stitution, but by all the acts and thelan
guage of our Government in ail its de
partments, and at all times from the ont
b jaX,pf the rebellion to its final over
throw. Jn every, message. and procla
nor prohibited by it to the States, are "reserved of Congress and the Union is thus ID ft da
. - . I -!..!. Is il,- . ..!.. tl ,,.WMl( -q3ln.-nv4..n ,.t.1r . II rl k .1 f I T-t I W tl rft fl it. A
dependent solely and entirely npon the
. . i : ! -
party auu seciionai exigeuctesor loruear
anco of the bout-
We heod not stop to show that such
action iiot only finds no warrant in the
Constitution, bnt is at war with every
principle of our Government, aod with
the very existence of free institutions.
It is, indeed, the identical prac.tiee which