The Louisiana Democrat., 1866-07-18
The Conservative Address
To the people of the United States: !.

Dangers threaten. The Constitution, tn
citadel of our liberties, is directly al sa led
The future is dark, unless the people will
come to the rescue In this hour Of peri
the National Union should be the watcl
word OF every true man. AS essential Il
National Union, we must maintain unim
paired the rights, the dignity and the equal
ity of the States, including the rights of re
presentation in Congress, and the exclusive
right ofeach Statet control it's own domes
tic concern, subject only to the Constltu
tion ofthe United States. Aftera uniform
construction of the Constitution for more
than half century, the assumption of new
and arbitrary powers in the Federal Govern
ment is subversive of our system and des
tractive Of liberty.
A free interchange Of opinion and kline
feeling between the citizens OF all the States
is necessary to perpetuity of the Union
At present eleven States are excluded from
the National council. For seven LONG
months the present Congress has persist
emily denied any right of representation te
| VIC pcUplc VI tucoc DtdtcS.
Laws affecting theirhighest and dearest
interests have been pass without thei
consent. and in disregard Of the fundamen
tai principle of free government. This de
nial of representation has been made to al
the members from Q State although thu
State in the language of the President
presents itself not only in an attitude o
loyalty and harmony, but in the persons o
representatives whose loyalty can not bt
questioned under any existing Constitution
al or legal test"
The representatives of nearly one-third o
the States have not been consulted with ref
erence to the great questions of the day
There has been no nationality surrounding
the present Congress. There has been n.
intercourse between the representatives o
the two sections. producing mutual conf
dence and respect.
In the language ofthe distinguished Lieu
tenant General at is to be regretted tina
ut this time there cannot be a greater com
mingling between the citizens Of the two
sections, and particularly of those intrustet
with the !aw.making power" This STATE
Of things should be removed at once, ant
forever. Therefore to preserve the Nation
al Union, to yindicate the sufficiency OF ou
admirable Constitution, to guard the States
from covert attempts to deprive them 0
their true position in the Union, and tt
bring together those who are unnaturally
severed, and for these great national pur
poses only, We cordially approve the cal
for National Union Convention, to b.
held at the city of Philadelphia on the Sc
cond Tuesday, the l4th ofAugust next, ant
indorse the principles therein set forth.
We therefore respectfully but earnestly
urge upon our fellow citizens in each State
Territory and Congressional District in thu
United States, IN the interest Of union ant
in spirit of harmony, and with direct re
ference to the principles contained in sale
call, to act promptly in the selection o
moderate and conservative men to represen
them in said Convention, to the end tina
all the States shall at once be restored Il
their practical relations to the Union, th'
Constitution be maintained, and peac'
bless the whole country.