The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1866-07-19
Attorney General Speeds Letter to the boo
litlIe.Randall Convention.
WAsHINGToN .Tul

!. the circular of the Dooittle Randall CIut
m demanding his endorsement of the PhiIa
D. delphia Convention, is document whic
n the gentleman of that organization vii
make no particular effort to circulate TIL
more especially as it contains sound Unior
IL doctrine, eloquently and vigorously ex
: pressed. 1t is as follows:
WASHINGTON, D. c., July IA, 1866.
l. Hon j. K. Doolittle, Chairman, &c.
DEAR SIR: have the honor to acknowl
edge the receipt of your note of the 10th
= ms, ~ l printed copy of call for Ma
tlonal Union Convention, to be held at Phil
: adeiphla on the 18th day of August next
d You request, in case the call and the prin
e clple Enumerated in it meet my approval
j that | rep " at my earliest convenience. -
This language would seem to imply that an
[ answer Is not desired if do not approve the
e CALL and the principles avowed in it; in
other words, that failure to reply may be
r Interpreted as disapproval not only of the
call, but OF each and all the principles an
nounced In it. This is position in which
am unwilling to be placed, when approve
OF many OF the principles set forth in the
, call and yet do not approve of the call. |
t will briefly state my reasons: First, premis-
ing that do not recognize the very respec-
table gentlemen who have made this call as
the acknowledged organs OF the great Union
party Of this country. Since the outbreak
of the terrific struggle from which the coun-
try has just now emerged, we have had
national Union party that has exhibited
more devotion, made greater sacrifices and
manifested more unseltish patriotism than
any party ever did previously in the histo-
ny Of the world. That party is still in be-
ing, with its organization intact, and its
object known, and as that party, by its
faith, its doctrines and its actions, has, in
the face of the population of half the new
world and the old world, saved the Govern
ment and Republican institutions of our
common country from decentralization, and
indeed utter ruin, by indicating at all
hazards the primordial theory of the eternal
lindissoluble Union of the States. through
which only can particle of the theory of
State rights ever be maintained or carried
out, it would appears to me to be still! the
duty, or at any rate, the most effectual
| means, as far as party can do it, of finally
Adjusting all the remaining minor and I'M
settled matters OF reconstruction conscien-
tlously with the requirements of the theory
mentioned. This party is the same to day
as 1t was IN the days of its trial the same
party now as when but few short months
ago it elected Lincoln and johnson and the
majority OF the present Congress; as | acted
with 1t then for paramount reasons sIIy
sense of duty demands that remain and
act with it now.
The pith and marrow of the present call
snould say tends toward convention to
form party for sustaining that Govern
ment in its entirety, as has been the mis-
| sion OF the Union party, but department
OF the Government--and here must take
the liberty of adding that can hardly con-
ceIve OF any sadder spectacle under the cri-
SIS OF present circumstances, than that of the
tried Union party of this country becoming
dislocated and broken up by division, or
that of one branch of the Government of the
country taking an isolated condition upon
questions of deep and common interest and
placing itself in hostile conflict with co-or-
dinate departments. For these and other
reasons which might be mentioned, can
not join in call for the Convention in Phil
adelpha. have stated that some of the
principles stated in the call are in my view
uPobJectlonable. will not stop to criticise
those which are Objectionable, but content
myself with stating that the call fails to take
any notice of one Of the great issues now
before the American people. | aIude to
the question whether the several States
shall ratlfy or reject the last amendment
proposed by Congress to the Constitution of
the United States. This is the grave and
all important question The issue upon It
cannot be avoided. 1t should be placed
fairy and sqnarely before the people. The
failure to take ground upon so important
and all absorbing question must be attri
buted either to d desire to avoid the issue, or
as declaration of belief Being myself
earnestly and decidedly in favor of the
adoption OF the amendment by the States, |
cannot go into an organization that would
either openly oppose that measure or that |
would smother it by avoiding its discussion /
l must also add that no man is more desir- |
GUS than am to see the entire restorati on |
of the American Union, with its practical |
working in more perfect harmony and con-
cord than ever and the surety as far as
mortal affairs can be made sure, of endless |
in the future. The blessings TO |
follow from such union are countless |
Inestlmable. Such a Union, consistent
within itself, maintained by the universal
consent OF all classes and sections, and |
laughing to scOrn both the assaults of foes |
internal and external, and the ravages of
times changes, will only be obtained or |
compromised with the supreme and general |
idea OF the American fundamental law-tbe |
Constitution. That general idea consists |
III behalf OF the political liberty and equali- !
ty OF mankind, under the law. Such
such chi y, can be the reunion, tb~ "I'
ltV that will mt in form, u udtIOudl-
and loftv dream of tha " .ne magnificent
tai mind, and fulfil: American cohtinen-
efforts of the p N the future the highest
not the vay- resent and the past. 1t is
States de delusion of the rights Of the
thec, No declaration of the American
ny can eliminate properly that does not
assert the soundnesS of the rights of iudivid-
uals--of each single individual. That after
all is what Washington carried out with
| his sword and Jefferson filtered it through
his subtle and free mind drew and put on
record with his pen.
1t is " ell known that in the political and
loyal history Of the United States the only
departures or compromises OF the kind al
luded to have been those III the interests OF
slavery, and of its manifold Incidents do
not of course propose to go over the thou
sand times told tale Of the past sixty years.
To day slavery, as a protested legality, IS
as we all know, nominal but some Of the
most important of its incidents and compro-
misses still remain blots and incopgruities
upon the law. What equitable reason
Icould be given why these incidents, also
IshouId not be erased? Time was that
; when the brains were out the man would
die; but now we see the limbs remaining
live and move as II the nervous centre still
existed The persistent attempt to keep in
the Constitution the rule of an unequal and
! unfair basis of representation, is perions to
the future peace of the country, and will
surely cause chatting sense of injustice as
long as it is continued Furthermore, the
high mission of the Union party, as avowed
in the Baltimore Convention, to extirpate
slavery, includes the removal of the hateful