The Conservative. (M'connelsville, Ohio) 1866-1871, 1866-08-17

right under the constitution they had
q right under the resolutions passed in
both Houses Of Congress in 1861. APP
plausc These resolutions were not
concurrent, butthey were substantially
identical. Moreover they were entitled
to be represented on other grounds Of
fairness and good faith. 1t is in this
wrong which we have como TO protest
against, and as far as in us lies redress
it. GApplause.1
When tho President of the United
States declared that armed resistance
o the authority Of the Union was over,
all the States had a right to represen-
tation IN Congress. lApplausc. is
this the government our fathers fought
to establish? Loud cries OF ono is
this the government we have been
fighting TO preserve? I"No, not
The President has done all in his pow
or TO correct this wrong. He has done
all i'm his powerto restore the rights of
States i'm tho Legislature of the coun-
try, by giving to each section its full
status. Legislation, without reprcsen-
%tation, is nm anomaly in o II political
system, and under any otter form Of
! Government it would be but another
name for usurpation and misrulc.
Gentlemen, ] trust that in your dc
libcrations here We shall coniine our
selves to one main purpose, that Of re-
dressing the wrong 20 which | have re
tcrrcd. There is much in the admins
|tration Of thc Government which needs
amendment. Some things needs TO be
done and others need to be uudOue.-
| There arc commercial and financial re-
| forms which are indispensable Go the
public welfare. but VIC shall not have
Tho power to carry out these until We
change the political complexion OF
Congress. Applause. This should
be our first and our. immediate aim
Applause.
tits in the Congressional districts
that the vital contest is to take place.
The control Of one body will enable us
TO prevent partial, unjust and PERM
cious legislation. Tho control OF both
Houses with tho power to introduce
and carry outsalutury reform TO bring
the Government back, i'm The language
of Johnson, to the Republican track,
will comelater. Applause Bywise,
harmonious and judicious action on u
part and the part Of those VIC represent,
! that period need not long be delayed.
/ believe that public opinion is ripe,
and that il is only necessary to present
to the people clearly the Issues be-
tween us and the other party which
controls the action of Congress. And.
gentlemen, is not tho object for which
we are contcnding n contamination
worthy Of our highest and our most de-
voted efforts. TApplausc. To bring
4, back the republic. purified and strength
/. cned by the fiery ordeal through which
f; il has passed, TO its ancient prosperity
and power, to present TO the world an
example worthy ofimitation. No ITO
! plan vision Of good government, but
the grand, old, real ideao Of better times
bringing up the memory Of u faith.
ers and the recollection of the past
; and with tho past and the future insep.
arabiy intortwined, one country, one
flag, one Union ofequal States. Long
, continued applause
General Dix then announced that
the proceedings would be opened with
prayer, and the Rev. j. N. Mcdonald
made the prayer, in which thanks were
rendered to God for the blessings
which the nation enjoyed, more par
~ticularly in having been preserved in
the late troubles and also for the as
semblage of this Convention to consult
for the public good. He prayed that
the mombors might take action as
brothers, and as friends might
lay aside all selfish motives and all I'M
worthy personal and sectional consid-
erations, so that the union Of these
States may be fully restored and be
perpetual. IA loud Amen from dele
gates He prayed that God might
manifest his special favor on the Pres
ident of the United States and make
him a great and LASTING blessing to the
country. [Another loud Amen. And
he prayed for the maintenance Of the
Union inviolatc under the Constitu-
ton adopted by 0ur fathers,
On motion of Mr., Randall, Postmas-
ter General, tho following gentlemen
were appointed Secretaries
Messrs. r. o. Perrin, Of New York,
/. John +. Coyle Of the District of Col
umbia, A. r.. Potts of Pennsylvania,
and james r. Oberine,