The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-12-04
CONVENTION OF THE WAR DE.
MOCRACY.

CONVENTION OF THE WAR DE.
MOCRACY.
Its Organization...The Resolutions
Adopted, &c.
Compiled from the Chicago Post and Tribune.
A convention of War Democrats con-
vened at the fremont House, Chicago, on
the 25th.
At the sessions of the forenoon and af-
tsrnoon, reporters were excluded and
nothing of the proceedings could be obtain
ed up to 9 o'clock last evening. We are,
therefore, unable to give full report of
the debates, etc., but we give in our re-
port what is of more vital importance to
the public, the resolutions adopted.
Major General JOHN A. MoOLERNAND
was chosen chairman. A. p. WARD, of
Hamilton county, Ohio, and R. II. SlMP-
SON, OF Vigo aounty, Indiana secretaries.
The following gentlemen were appointed
a committee on resolutions: Hon. W. J.
FLAee, DR.. j. ]. QUINN, and BURNS, of
Ohio, Judge Lowering, of Indiana; Gen.
J. N. HAYN1E and Colonel FUNKHAusEN,
of Illinois; J. W. TAYLOR, of Minnesota !;
M. "A. FACE, OF Wisconsin.
On motion, General McCLERNAND was
added to the sOmmittee:
The committee on resolutions reported
the following, which were voted on one
by one, and adopted:
1. We are unequivocally and emphatically
In favor of the American Union and the Con-
situation under which it prospered and became
powerful.
2. We deny that the Constitution offers any
ground or pretext for secession. The govern
ment has no right TO commit suicide or sub
NIT to disintegration at the hand of any of its
citizens.
8. We believe the Constitution affords
peaceful remedy for every grievance that can
arise in any part of the country, and no violent
resistance to the government can be justified or
excused.
4. We regard the rebellion now existing as
the imperative duty of the administration to
employ all the powers of the nation for its sup
preston.
5. We consider it equally the duty of all good
citizens to extend to the constituted authOri-
ties of the country their hearty cooperation
and support for the accomplishment of that
object and to discOuntenance any proposition
for peace, except unconditional submission to
the Union, the Constitution and the laws.
6. While We deny the right of secession, JUS
tify the employment of force to suppress re-
belliOn and extend to the authorities all aid in
our power to maintain the integrity and the
government, We claim that the acts of the ad-
ministration and of all public servants are le-
climate subjects of just criticism by the
people.
Z. We will hold the powers that be to strict
accountability for any want of good faith in
discharging their duties.
8. The organization of our people into the
local and domestic soyereignties of States and
into the national sovereignty OF the Union,
forms an essential element for the preservation
of democratic principles from the dangers of
consolidation and imperial Capitalization on
the one hand, and from the fatal heresies of Sc
cession and notification on the other hand. and
must be preserved. There are national rights
and State rights. The State supremacy in all
municipal concerns is vital to popular liberty,
but no State has right to be Nation.
9. The causeless attack by the rebellion upon
the integrity of the Union established BY our
revolutionary fathers under which are enjoyed
30 many blessings is a war upon the principle
Of civil liberty and must be overthrown to pre-
serve the institution of freedom and our exam
pie and hope for freemen.
10. We are opposed to the political or social
equality Of the white and black races, but we
the colonization by the black race at the ear
liest possible period.
II. The disbandment of the African cOntin-
gent of the army when the rebellion il subdued
Is demanded by every consideration of wise and
provident craftsmanship, and we hereby pro.
test against the incorporation of an African
force upon the peace establishment of the Amer
ban army.
IL. That this meeting recommend to the war
Democracy to send delegates to National
Convention on the LIST day of May, 1864, for
the purpose OF taking such action rs they may
think best touching the nomination of candi-
dates for President and Vice President of the
United States, and 10 determine such other
matters as they may think proper, and that
National Executive Committee be appointed to
promote the object Of this resolution-to con-
sist Of the following representatives-one from
each State here represented: General John A.
McClernand, Springfield, Illinois; Judge Amos
Lowering, Hubbard. Indiana: Jos. Il. Egerly,
Cincinnati, Ohio Matt. H. Carpenter. Miwau-
kce, Wisconsin; Henry NJ. Rice, st. Paul, Min
nesota. s,
10. The delegates to convention provided for
in the last resolution shall he two from each
Congressional district with four from each
State at large.
IA. That the Chairman ill up the National
Central Committee pursuant to nominations to
be made BY the organizations of the several
States.
Is. That as the only legitimate purpose for
rebellion, the war must cease as soon as the
rebellion il at an end. And we would hail with
Joy any indication by the people of q rebellious
State to return to their allegiance. Yet we shall
not regret if slavery falls as the legitimate con-
sequences of the war.
THE MINORITY RESOLUTIONS.
I. That the security of the American Union,
rs well as the progress of Democratic princi-
Piles, require the total divorce of the party of
Jefferson and jackson from all association or
sympathy with slavery.
2. That the Rebel States, by the action of
their public authorities, waged war upon tue
nation in violation of the Constitution-that
such war was IN abdication Of all legitimate
State authority; and with such war and abdi-
cation the power of the master over the slave
was totally and forever abrogated.
3. That whereas by the Constitution of the
United States, no power is delegated, or exists
to hold or make man a slave, therefore the
whole population of the rebel States held as
slaves by State authority before the rebellion,
was Immediately thereupon enfranchised by the
Constitution.
4. That the same result, only in lesser de-
gree, has been reached by the laws of war by
the proclamation of the Commander-in- Chief
of the Army, by the forfeiture of the rights OF