Maryland free press. [volume] (Hagerstown [Md.]) 1862-18??, 1866-08-23
RsITILApELPHIA NNElNsTloN.l 4. I.ll., I
IMMENSE NATIONAL CONC REss.
The Worth and south III Grand Council.
THE ADDRESS, 70 'alli THE HI People.
FirstDay,

IAE EADOAESSisAO sTHE FkSokhLE.
b o. ,uv!ia.. 81 First Day grlm ,ii.iq-
PHIEipktpHra, august I4.-This is a great day
in philadelphia, one that augurs well for the
whole rountr East and W est, North and South
The people are hers BY thousands,all determined
to have an "unbroken Union,'' where, under the
broad egis of the Cohsfitdtion, they shall have
equal rights and equsl privileges ald representa-
tion.' ','" :. ','.,; - -i,.,,..., |
. In the northwestern suburbs of the city, nearly
opposite Girard College, and not far from the |
Northern Liberties Waterworks, stands the ex-
temporized fraaie building put up for the accom-
n mediation Of the convention, and designated in
the ocular language Of politicians as "the Wig
wam,," III al, ~ t4j ia. a.- .lI.....y a' |
- There has been no attempt at architectural dis
play in. the construction OF the Wigwam. 1t is
pretty nearly, if not aekhaIly, square, with The
eastern and western endsa 9 little raised in order
70 sustain the sloping roof. ~ r.,,..-l,. ,l,.i. |
,, The platforni for the officers is decorated with
the national flag. the Pennsylvania coat of arms
forming the centre piece, with q broad canvas
over ail inscribed with various DEVICES, among
which are tie figures 'If76," 1885," and the |
words, 4'United We stand, divided we fall. ~ A
list of the States in the farms and colors of the
rainbow, over Which the symbolic stars are fixed,
completes the decoration. -, ..,,..,.,,..,,,.
ulilsry2 prf FRIENDLY FEELING. '7'ha %''-s
> The delegates seem to be in friendly accord
with each other. The band is playing national
and other melodies, and under these combined
harmonious influences the convention opens its
proceedings. .-..... ..L ...l,...' IN
ASSEMBLING, OF. DELEGATES AND SPECTATORS.
a At about noon the members of the convention
began to arrive, and soon filed up the body OF
the hall. The galleries also became pretty well
filled. .DG - ei'. '.'. 'f' ''! : '"'
. The first impulse given to tue proceedings was
the announcement by Postmaster General RAN
dali that the delegations from Massachusetts, and
South Carolina would now enter afni 10 ARM.
This caused the audience torise and cheer Justify
and as the Representatives of these two States
beaded by MIR. Orr, Of South Carolina, and Gen.
Couch, of Massachusetts, walked up one of Tie
M6le3 in this fraternnl manner, the highest de-
gree Of excitement and enthusiasm was manifest
cd, the band playing 'Raliy Round the Flag, y
sway Down in Dixie" f.The Star Spangled
Banner, and "Ynnkce Doodle Men waved
their hats and cheercd vocifrdilsly, and the Ia
diesprescnt waved their han ikcrthicfs.
Mr.. Hogan, member Of Congress from Missouri,
then called for three cheers for the thirty-six
States and all loyal and in the Union, which call
was Justify responded to- as were also 6ther calls
for like honors TO President Johnson, to the Union,
to the Red, White and Blue, &c. Tile Conven-
ton thus seemed to open under promising aus
pices as to harmony and general good feeling.
Mr.. RANDALL CALLS THE CONVENTION TO ORDER.
ID Mr.. Randall, advancing to the front of the stage,
said: 80"
The convention will please come 10 order. For
the purpose of effecting temporary organization
of this convention, propose the name of fGeneral
John A. Dix, of New York, as temporary hair
man of this convention. Applause -
- tH . Z
,i',. ADDRESS OF GENERAL DIN. r.. .rH
Gen. Dix then came forward and said: .' d.
Gentlemen of the convention, and fellow citi-
gems Of the whole Union: Applause. | return
TO you my sincere thanks for the honor you have
done me in choosing ME to preside temporarily
over your deliberations. regard it as q distinc-
tion Of no ordinary character, not only on account
of the high social and political standing of the
gentlemen who compose this convention but be-
cause it is convention of the people ot all the
States of this Union, [applause, and because we
cannot doubt, if its proceedings are conducted
with harmony and good Judgment, that it will
lead to most important results. Applause.
1t may be truly said that no body of men has
met on this continent under circumstances so mo
mentous and SO Important since the year 1887.
when our ancestors assembled in this city TO form
a better government for the States which compo-
sed the old coniederation-a government which
has been confirmed and made more enduring, rs
has encountered and overcome. Applause.
The constitution which they came here to frame
we are here to yindicate and restore. Applause.
We are here to support the supremacy ofrepresen-
tatiye government. Weall are within the confines
of the Union. Applause. A government which
cannot, without violation OF its fundamental
be extended over any but those who
arc represented in it., [Applause J Over those
who, by virtue OF that representation, are enti-
tied 10 voice in the administration of public n:
fairs. Applause-l i'av4 ,...%
1t wis such government that our fathers form
ed and put in operation. 1t is such a government
which we are bound by every principle of fideli-
ty and justice and good faith to defend and main
tain. Applause H."gl 4
Gentlemen, VIC are not now living under such
a government. Applause Thirty-six States
have for years been governed by twenty-five
States. [Applause.] Eleven States have been
wholly without representation in the legislative
bodies of the nation. The numerical proportion
of the represented and unrepresented States has
just been changed by the admission ofthe dclcga-
tion from Tennessee. 4 unit taken from the
smaller, has been put to the larger number, but
the States are still denied represent taton In Con-
gress, to which they are entitled under the con.
stitution. Applause. "". ,a-.3 '.i 70
It,is this wrong which we have come here TO
protest against, and as far as In us lies, to re-
dress. [Appause. When the President ofthe
United States declared that armed resistance to
the authority of the Union, was over, s.ll the
States had right to be represented In tho legis:
lative bodies. They had u right under the con-
stitution. They had right under the rcsolu-
tions passed in both Houses Of Congress in 1861.
(Applause.l - -."yas2 ~. ''. ID"
Those resolutions were not concurrent, but they
were substantially identical. Moreover, they
were entitled to be represented on other grounds
fairness and good faith The President, not
in pursuance of any constitutional power, had
called on the Confederate States to accept the
conditions for their admission to the exercise Of
their legitimate functions as members of the
Union. The ratification of the amendment to the
constitution, abolishing slavery, and the ,repudia-
ton of debts contracted to overthrow the gov
ernment, were those conditions. They were met
aud accepted. The, exaetion fncw conditions
is unjust and violation Of the faitn of the gov
ernmcnt, subversiye Of the purposes of our po-
litical system, and dangerous to the public pros
perity and peace. lApplause. -a. .,e.f. t,nd.
Each house of Coz gress may, as the judge Of
the qualifications Of its own members, reject in
dividuals for just cause, but the two bodies act
ing conjoipty cannot exclude an entire delega-
tion without an unwarrantable assumption OF
power. [Applause.1 ,Ii,,., i...,g-,f .l.' -.
Congress has not only done this; II has gone
further. II has incorporated new condition o,