The Union flag. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1865-187?, 1866-07-27
To the Loyal Uuionists of the
y ~ South, W

IIb uItAU A01Ag - HNN @N
majority in Congress and its supper
ters firmly declared that the rights OF
the citizen, enumerated in the Consti-
tution, and established by the supreme
law. must be maintained inviolate.
Rebels and rebel sympAthizers assert
that rights of citizens must belong 70
the States, and under such regulations
as the respective States choose yolun-
tarily to prescribe. We have seen
this doctrine of State sovereignty car,
ried out in its practical results until all
authority in Congress was denied Z;
the Union temporarily destroyed tho
constitutional rights of THE citizens OF
The South nearly annihiIated, and the
land.eyastated by civil wa. ty
The time has come when the strpc-
ture of the southern States Govern
ment must be laid on constitutional
principles, or the despotism, grown
IN under an atrocious leadership, be
nermitted to remain. We know of no
other plan than that Congress, under
its constitutional power, shall now ex-
ercise its authority to establish the
principle whereby protection is made
oo-cxtensive with citizenship. We de-
mand and ask you to concur in de-
handing protection to every citizen
on the great republican basis of equal
ity before the law.
And further, that no State Govern
ment should recognize as Legitimate
under the constitution, in so far as it
does not, by its organic law, m4keim i'm.
partial protection full and complete
under the doctrine of State sovereign
ty, with rebels, the foreground con
trolling Southern Legislatures, and
cmbittering by disappointmentint their
schemes to.destroy the Unicn. There
will be no safety for the loyal element
of the South. Our reliance for protec.
ton is now in Congress, and the great
Union party that has stood and is
standing by the nationality, by the
constitutional rights 0 the citizen, and
by the bonefcent principles Of IL free
government.
For the purpose of bringing the
loyal Unionist of the South into CON
iunctive action with the true friends
of the Republic throughout the North
we invite you to send delegates 10
coodly numbers from all the Southern.
States, including Missouri, Kentucky,
West Virginia, Maryland and Della
ware, to meet at independence Hall,
ircthe city ofPhiladelphia, on the first
Monday of September next, when it is
proposed we should meet; at thattime
to recommend measures for the estab-
lishment of such Government in the
South as accords with, and protects
the rights of all citizens, 4
We trust that this call will be respon-
dcd to by the numerous delegates Of
such as represent the true loyalty of
the South, and that kind of Govern
mentwhich gives full protection to all
the rights OF the citizen, such as our
fathers intended, and which we claim
as our birth-right,
The lovers of constitutional liberty
must rule the nation or rebels and
their sympathizers be permitted to
misrule it,. Shall loyalty or disloyal-
ty have the keeping Of the destin;es
of the nation? Let the response TO
this call, which is now in circulation
for signatures and is being numerous
ly signed, answer. Notice is given
that gentlemen at a distance car have
their names attached to it by sending
a request by letter addressed to B. W,
Bingham, Washington DC. [Signed:l
WM.B. STOKES, Of Tennessee,