American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1865-08-30
The Union State Convention.


phe Union State Convention, which
met in Harrisburg on the, 18th inst was one
of the most respectable and harmonious
ever assembled in the State, and its de-
liberations we're marked by the earnest
and dignifed manner which becomes the
loyal people of the country. Discussions
were had of course upon the various sub
jccts upon which it was called to act
but the fact is almost remarkable that
not the.,least i'll feeling was manifested
upon the part of any one, The resolu-
tions, which we print elsewhere, express
the gratitude of the people to Almighty
God, and to the heroism of our soldiers
and sailors, in securing peace to the ma
ton, and the final and complete destruc-
ton of slavery; pledge the support of
the Union party to Mr.. johnson in the
completion of the: weighty duty which
devolved upon him by the death of his
illustrious and glamented predecessor ;
suggest policy to be pursued in the
treatment of the late insurrectionary
States declare in favor of revision of
the revenue laws in order to secure in
creased protection to American industry
and in favor of discountenancing the en-
croachment of foreign nations on this
continent, and recognizing the claims of
our citizen soldiers on our gratitude and
confidence.
We regret exceedingly that the Con-
yention should have adjourned without
defining the position of the Union party
on the important subject of suffrage
1t is one that must sooner or later be ear
nestly met by the country, and we believe
now as we have long believed, that this
is of all others the proper time to deter
mine who shall and who shall not exer-
else the sacred right of franchise The
Convention, however, thought differently
| and failed to give us a basis upon which
to organize our discussion. The question
was canvassed by the Committee on Reso-
lutions, its various forms being presnted
by persons WHO believed with US that the
opportunity should not be lost to place
the party in proper position before the
country. But each proposition was laid
on the table because, in the Judgment of
the leading men of the party, it was i'm
polite to deal with the question at this
time The form of the subject which
was by all odds the most popular is the
provision, by amendment, to the Nation
al Constitution for uniform system of
suffrage predicated on the intelligence of
| the voter. But the leaders of the party
speaking for those they represented, said
that the question had not been sufficient
ly canvassed to justify them IN commit
ing the party to any particular form of
the subject, and that it would be extreme
ly injudicious to agitate matters which
do not of necessity belong to the present
time.
While we have no intentions to find
fault with the Convention, we cannot
withhold our dissent from such opinions.
We still regard the discussion of this
matter as belonging to the present time
as much as to the future. The late war
occasioned necessity for reorganization
in the North as well ps in the South, aud
while the work is in band in one section
it should be begun ip the other. 1t is
our duty to let the Southern people know
noy the whole of cur p4l'lic policy as
far as present necessity can develop it, in
order that they may be enabled to con-
form to it as rapidly as possible. We
consider it impolitie to wait until they
have manifested aq earnest disposition to
conform to what has already been presen-
tep to them, before we agitate rule of
suffrage which will effect them as we'll as
it will us. 1t will tend to initiate them
in the new, and we need pot expect them
to understand their duty il we announce
our policy point by point throughout the
future. We have an abiding confidence
that at no very distant day intelligence
will form the basis of our suffrage system
in the North and South alike, and that
our true policy should be to send the ques-
tion..to the country without delay.
The action of the Conyention ip its
nominations is worthy of sincere com
mendatioa. 1t redeemed the pledges
made by the people during the war, and
responded to their present desire, that
the citizen soldiers shall be rewarded for
their gallant deeds and faithful services
in saying the liberties Of the Republic.
To them We oye the salvation Of our gov