The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1866-07-19
Letter from Attorney General Speed.
WASHINGTON, D. c., July IA. 1855

WASHINGTON, D. c., July IA, 1858.
To Hon. j. r. DOoZittIe, Chairman, dc,
SIR: have the honor to acknowledge the
receipt of your note of the 10th inst, with
printed copy of a call for a National Union
Convention, to be held at Philadelphia on
the 14th day of August next. You request,
in case the call, and the principles enunciated
in it, meet my approval, that l reply at my
earliest convenience. This language would
seem to imply that no answer is desired if
do not approve the call and the principles
avowed in it, in other words, that Il failure
to reply may be interpreted as disapproval
not only of the call, but of each and all of
the principles announced in it.
This is Il position in which I am unwilling
to be placed, when approve of many of the
principles set forth in the call, and yet do
not approve of the call itself 1 will briefly
state my reasons first promising that do
not recognize the very respectable gentlemen
who have made this call as the acknowledge
ed organs of the great Union party of the
country.
Since the outbreak OF the terrific struggle
from which the country has now emerged, we
have had National Union party that has ex-
hibited more devotion, made greater sacri,
ices, and manifested more unselfsh patriot
ism than any party ever did previously in
In being with its organization intact, and its
organs known; and as that party, by its
faith, its doctrines, and its exertions has in
the face of the prophecies of half the New
and all the Old World, saved the Govern
ment and the republican institutions of our
common country from decentralization, and
indeed from utter ruin, by indicating at all
hazards the primordial theory of the eternal,
indissoluble union of the States. through
vUh nr1ItT k.,oJo Il
State rights ever be maintained and carried
out, it would appear to me to be still the
only or at any rate the most effectual means,
as far as party can do it, of finally adjust
ing all the remaining minor and unsettled
matters OF reconstruction, consistent with
the requirements of the theory mentioned
This party is the same to-day as it was in
the days OF its trial; the same party now as
when, but few short months ago, it elected
Lincoln and johnson, and the majority of
the present Congress; and as 1 acted with it
then for paramount reasons. my sense of duty
demands that remain and act with it now.
The plth and marrow of the present call,
l should say, tends toward a Convention to
form party for sustaining, not the Govern
ment IN It's entirety, Gas has been the mission
OF the Union party,) but department of the
government. And here must take the lib
erty OF adding that / can hardly conceive of
- SPoC1stCle, unuer Cne Crisis OF
present circumstances, than that of the tried
Union party of this country becoming dis
located and broken up by divisions. or that
OF one branch of the Government of the
country taking an isolated position upon
questions of deep and common interest. and
placing itself in hostile conflict with co-or-
climate departments
For these and other reasons which miobt
De mentioned, l cannot join in the call for
the Convention in Philadelphia.
1 have said that many of the principIes
stated in the call are, in my view. unobiec-
tionable. will not stop to criticise those
which are Objectionable, but content myself
with stating that the call fails to take any
notlce OF one of the great issues now before
Tue American people. l allude 10 the ques-
tlon whether the several States shall ratify
5 or REJECT the last amendment pronosed nv
congress TO the Constitution of the United
States. This is grave and all-important
question. The issue upon it cannot he avoid.
cd 1t should be placed fairly. and so1lareIv
before the people. The failure To +aLs
ground upon so important and all-absorh;ro
a question must be attributed e;tber ~ :,
desire to avoid the issue, or as a declaraf;o -,
OF belief and policy against the adontio, ~
the amendment. Being myself earnestlv and
decidedly in favor of the adoption of tbe
amendment by the States. I cannot 90 int
an organization that would either openIv On
pose mat measure or that would smother 4
by avoiding its discussion.
L must also add, that no man is more de