The Union flag. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1865-187?, 1866-07-20
no the Loy Of Unionist Of the South.

To the Loyal OF the SouLn
The great issue is upon US, The
majority in Congress and its supper
tiers firmly declared that the rights Of
tho citizen, enumerated in the Consti-
tuition, and established by the supreme
law, must be maintained inviolato.
Rebels and rebel sympathizers assert
that rights Of citizens must belong to
the States, and under such regulations
as the respective States choose volun-
tarily to prescribe. We have seer
this doctrine of State sovereignty car
ried out in its practical results until all
authority in Congress was denied ;
the Union temporarily destroyed tho
constitutional rights of the citizens of
the South nearly annihilated, and the
plandevastated by civil war.
The timo has come when the struc-
ture of the southern States Govern
ment must be laid on constitutional
principles, or tho despotism, grown
up under an atrocious leadership, be
permitted to remain. We know Of no
other plan han that Congress, under
it's constitutional power, shall now ex-
ercise its authority to establish the
principle whereby protection is made
co-extensive with citizenship. We de-
mand and ask you to concur in de-
manding protection to every citizen
on tho 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, make i'm
partial protection full and complete
under the doctrine Of State sovereign
ty, with rebels, the foreground con-
trolling Southern Legislatures, and
embittering by disappointment 10 their
schemes to destroy the Union. 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 of the citizen, and
by the beneicent principles of u 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 in
goodly numbers from all the Southern
States, including Missouri, Kentucky,
West Virgins, Maryland and Della
ware, TO meet at independence Hall,
il the city ofPhiladelphia, on the first
Monday Of September next, when it is
proposed we should meet; at that time
to recommend measures for the estab-
lishment of such Government in tho
South as accords with, and protects
the rights of all citizens.
We trust hat this call will be respon-
ded to by the umerou 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 destinies
Of the nationS 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 can have
their names attached TO it by sending
a request by letter addressed to b. W.
Bingham, Washington DC. [Signed:l
WIN. r. STOKES. OF Tennessee.