The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1866-07-12
THE DEMOCRATIC aDDR Ess

we nave mad already brlef telegram
stating that an address would be issued
to the people by the Democratic mem
bers of Congress on the 4th. The fol-
lowing is the address, as issued, in full:
TO the People ofthe United States: <
Dangers Threaten. The Constitu-
tion-the citadel of our hserties-is d.
rectly assailed. The future is dark,
unless the people will come to the rescue.
In this hour of peril National Union
should be the watchword of every true
man.
As essential to National Union we
must maintain unimpaired the rights,
the dignity Il the equality of the States,
Including the right of representation in
Congress, and the exclusive right of
each State to control its own domestic
concerns, subject only to the Constitu-
ton of the United States.
| After uniform construction of the
Constitution for more than half. "a CEN
fury, the assumption of new and arbi-
trary powers in the Federal Government
is subyersive of our system and destruc-
tive of liberty.
A free interchange of opinion and
kind feeling between the citizens of all
the States is necessary to the perpetui-
ty of the Union. At present eleven
States are excluded from the National
Council. For seven long months the
present Congress has persistently denied
any right OF representation to the peo-
pie OF these: States. Laws, affecting
their highest and dearest interests. have
been passed without their consent. and
III disregard of the fundamental princi-
pie OF free government. This denial of
representation has been made to all the
members from State, although the
State, in the language of the President,
presents itself, not only in an attitude
OF loyalty and harmony, but in the per-
sons OF representatives whose LOYALTY
cannot be questioned under any exis-
ting Constitutional or legal test" The
representatives Of nearly one-third of
the States have not been consulted with
reference to the great questions of the
day. There has been no nationality
surrounding the present Congress.
There has been no intercourse between
the representatives OF the two sections.
producing mutual confidence and re-
spect. In the language of the distin-
guished Lieutenant General, sit is to be
regretted that, at this time, there can
not be a greater commingling between
the citizens of the two sections, and
particularly of those entrusted with the
law-m making power" This state of things
should be removed at once and forever
Therefore, to preserve the National
Union; to vindicate the sufficiency OF
our admirable Constitution; to guard the
States from covert attempts to deprive
them of their true position in the Union
and to bring together these who arc
unnaturally severed, and for these great
national purposes only, we cordially APP.
/ prove the call for National Union Con,
vention, to be held at the city of Phila-
delphia on the second Tuesday (14th)
of August next, and endorse the prin-
ciples therein set forth.
We, therefore, respectfully but earn
estly urge upon our fellow citizens in
each State and Territory and Congress
sional district in the United States, in
the interest Of Union and in spirit Of
harmony, and with direct reference tc
the principles contained in said call, to
act promptly in the selection of wise
moderate and conservative men to rep.
resent them in said Convention, to the
end that all the States shall at once be
restored to their practical relations tc
the Union, the Constitution be main.
tanned, and peace bless the whole coun-