The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-07-13
the CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.
Important Letter from Governor Cnrti,


UNION STATE CENTRAL COMMITTEE RooMs No.
1l06 CHEsNUT STREET, PHILADELPHIA July L. 1886.
10 His Excelency Andrew G.. Curtin Governor
of PennsylVania-Dear Sir:-I saw IN the newspa-
Pers weeks ago that you had initiated
for call of the Legislatures of the several States in
extra session, to take action upon the amendments
recently proposed by Congress to the Constitution
OF the United States From the time since elapsed
nE mlerred no general concert OIL ac'lon mas been
mad ana presuming this to be many of our trends
nave grave doubts OF the policy of special session
As your action in the premises is likely in some
thlnPs TO modify my own, / hope yOu Will be KIND
enough 10 iniorm me- If consistent with your views
OF Official propllr Y, what action you contemplate
on this important matter
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
Chairman Union State Central Committee.
EXECUTIVE MANSION HARRISBURG Pa July IL 1866
-sir;-YouI favor OF the lth inst has been received
The question OF calling an extra session of the Legsa
ture to rat the proposed by Congress
of the Uni ed States has been carefully considered. As
soon as Cong ess finally passed the amendments /
suited with the Governors OF several OF the States by
telegraph wi tn the view OF securing mmedat and con-
certed action In rati1ying Them believing that such
cOulse might hasten the end to be attained their
incorporation into organic law But the proposition
was not received win the favor anticipated, and
seems led that there will be general action of the
should do So 10 call an ex ira session in this state
there ore would not in any degree hasten the adoption
OF The amendn ens by sufficient number of the States
The issues involved in the adoption OF the amend.
new They are questions which were considered and
discussed during the whole progress of The war. The
and 10 not doubt have definitely made their minds
peace aud union tnIy by the utter destruction o. the
mitary power OF traitors, who whilst there the
would entertain no terms of adjustmen other than the
ailer valor our armies and the fidelity of our
people had dlsarmed treason by he Capture OF its mill
lary oIces ana the complete oVerth' oW OF those who
had usurped me lorms of government In the rebel
nous STATES ana thus competing us to accept the ter
Republic rom those who MSf' had cO@med esh she
hs IL @ ae % and and
% 80 that pw6 to sBs Sr Its
us may enjoy lhe blessings OF our tee Hovernment
in this should be humane and also just While we
should be @ 10 rec aimed people who are
guard al sections against the possibility OF renewed
penatv or crime that has desolated land ridged
t%h untime erayes 5sreaved most every household
must be some monuments of justice warning to
by passion ambition may hereafter seek TO destroy
Inc oblest anu best Goyenmen on earth.
Coz has tn an the demands of loyal
people IN the proposed amendments AS basis OF re,
men remarkable only Tor Their magnanimity aud Ihe
generous terms which it is proposed admit full
ermsened their hands in the blood Of their brethren
Who have added perjury to reason the Sanctuary Of
both military and civil power sha hereafter unable
all o;aers restored to luI feowshO, is a policy
WuOse PeueTOSIy COulu emanate Only nom q Govern
ment os Tree and as strong 40 put the States
upon an eqga ty as to the basis not
three-ilhs OF the slaves were counted in estimating
Slavery having neen abolished, the slave States
unless m ne constitution ps amended as proposed VIII
mating their represen atye population surely, we
m 1--WE O te GH Sr wa o %
power: That these states shal. have no more repre-
than the old free States have f Is pTopostiS& so just
leaves the question Of suffrage wholly VITA the sta(es
Where il properly belongs makes every agpea to the
policy and give to ali classes the benefit OF American
That ali persons, OF whatsoever class condition, or
Id he be IN % nights before he Sw +
hsS ssa stain upon % EdT @ tnS Ss
teenth century to detOrm civil policy, aud many
States to deny equal Estiee % large ass Of people
wounded and brave soldiers TO forbid the
in with
of the eople and the solemn duty of the Govern
these are The issues involved in the proposed amend
ae are 1tenqSa % as 4saS OP IN hs
But they are in fact eleme nts which e1ould have
ameG in express Terms as hev did in IT'S spirit
70 efeSt their S6op0n and the restoration TI 81 the
s ee n y pSSd pS% sill my Ss1 ds N anS T4 10
to the OF the candida Who are den
ned with ihsm am glad 20 know that the great Union
even in the DARK St hour @ Of the war and thrcaSh
| whose inslumentalit the were devised to
preserve our beloved Uuon is cordia Y united IN the
support OF these amendments as Is also our distln-
| gulsheq candidate tor GoVernor-GeneTal Geary
yielding 10 no one veneraton Tor the great charter
OF our lberths should not favor changes Ia Its text
ior Iht or trivial causes but the late Rebellion against
the Government has maze IL our du 10 incorporate
mo the organic law such provisions tor the future
safety and prosperity OF the ublic have been ndi
Gated by the light OF recent experiences The issue is
| lair before the people,
Other Issues which past struggles divided us have
Rled power and arrogance ded amidst the hroes of
the crue war which 1T originated, and Consttu ion
| the United States.
The as great struggle to Pa'her the liberal aud Just
uitiOn OF the sacrifices OF the late will be decided
by the verdict the people Of the several states
coming eections and cannot doubt the issue after the
fidelity have shown In the past. Since the failure
of the act in concert and the amend
meDts do regret that the question of rue
tOn goes the highest tribunal known our ins
million tongued in favor OF the amendments, Imust
believe they will their admOnitions to the States still
struggling 10 axe the trait will be po oen-
tal be and the results will be accepted
| promptly bV trends and foes in the late
| should the 10y al States or indeed any considerable
nun bCr OF them unite in calling extra sessions Of their
legislative bodies TO ratify the amendments, shall
very heartily unite with hem, regarding, as do, the
| SPEEDY adoption OF the amendments as the greatest
blessing that be bestowed upon our whole country
Very respectfully, your Obedlent serya3r c,,n-,x
Colonel FIR JORDAN,
1 NNnnNWw TTvta. AaIRENa