Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1866-08-15
SPEECH OF GENERAL DIX

|
ofMe Whole Union.: [ beg you to accept my
sincere thanks for the honor you have done me
in choosing me as temporary chairman TO pre-
side over your deliberations. lregara II a' d
distinction of no ordinary character, not only on
account Of the high standing social and polltl-
cal, Of those who compose this Conventions
but because it is Convention OF all the States
and do not doubt, if its proceedings are con-
Quoted with harmony and good judgment, IL
will lead to the most important results IT,
deed, it may be truly said that no body OF men
has met on this continent under circumstances
more momenteus or delicate since the year 1874,
when our ancestors assembled here to form a
better government for the States which were
parties to the old Confederation government
confirmed and made mere enduring, We trust,
bv the fearful trials and pcrils it has encounter
| ed and overcome. The Constitution which
they came here to plan and construct we are
here to vindcate and restore. We are here to
assert the supremacy Of representative govern
ment over all who arc within the confines OF
the Union-that form Of government which
cannot, without violation Of its fundamental
PRINCIPLES, be extended over any but those who
are reprcsented and who, by force of that rep
resentation, are entitled to voice in its admin
istration. This is the Government our fathers
founded and put in operation. 1t is the Gov
eminent we are enjoined by every consideration
of fidelity, justice and good faith to defend anu
maintain. Gentlemen, we are not living under
such Governments Thirty-slx States have
been for months governed by twenty-ilVe.--
Eleven States have been wholly without repre-
sentation in the legislative body. The numer-
ical proportion Of the represented to the unrep-
resented has Just been changed by the admls-
sion of the delegates from Tenncssee-a unit
taken from the smaller and added to the larger
number Ten States, having regularly organ
lied governments in full operation, arc still de-
MED the representation to which they are emit
tied under the Constitution. 1t Is this wrong
which we have come here to protest against,
and, as far as in us lies, to redress. When the
President of the United States declared armed
resistance to the authority of the Government
at an end it was the right OF all the States to
be represented in Congress. They were, more
over, entitled to be so represented on other
grounds Of fairness and good faith. The Pres
ident suggested To the con1ederated States to
accept certain conditions to the admission to
the exercise Of their legislative functions as
members of the Union-the ratification Of the
amendment to the Constitution abollshlng sa-
very It vas their right under the Constitu-
ton, 1t was their right under resolutions pass
ed in 1861 by both Houses Of Congress, not con-
current, but substantially IDENTICAL and the re-
pudiation Of the debts contracted to overthrow
the Government These conditions were ac-
cepted and agreed to. The exaction CT new
conditions is unjust, violation OF the good
| faith Of the Government, subverslvc or the fun
damcntal principles Of our political system, and
dangerous to the public prosperity and peace.
Either House of Congress may, as the Judge OF
the qualifications OF its members, reject inliyid-
uals for just cause but the two Houses, as o
body, acting coDjointly, cannot exclude entire
| delegations without an unwarrantable assump-
this; it has gone farther. 1t has prescribed
new conditions in the form Of amendments to
the Constitution There is not the least prob
ability that these amendments will be ratified
by three -fourths Of the States. TO insist on
the conditions they impose IS to protract lndetl-
| nitey the exclusion from Congress OF the rep
| resentativcs OF more than one quarter OF the
States of the Union. Is this the Government
our fathers fought to establish? Is the Gov
ernmcnt We have been fighting to preserve p
Gentlemen, there is no need OF impeaching
motives; nothing is ever gained By vitupera-
| ton or by declaring other bodies OF men to be
| less conscientious than ourselves; but we be-
levc the scheme OF exclusion adopted by Con-
gress to be the offspring of views warped by
prejudice and passion; policy which neither
addresses nor commcndsitself to the good judg.
ment of the country, to It's generosity or its JUS
| tice. The President has done all within the
SCOPE of his constitutional powers to correct this
| roc,o,o no lao lati oh nf tho
Government to its full proportions, by giving
to all the members Of the Union the share in
the National Councils to which they are emit
tied. Legislation without representation is an
anomaly under our political system. 1t is but
another name under other forms of government
for usurpation and misrule. The President de-
| serves the thanks of the country Tor the firm
ness with which he has resisted policy so IN
lust, so illiberal, SO demo1aliZing and SO direct
| " at war with every principle of our political
ORGANIZATION. | have referred to the condition of
Federal legislation under the aspects Of right on
the one hand, and Of only on the other the
right Of the States to be represented the duty
Of Congress to their representatives. On the
score of policy, nothing could be more unWise
| than to continue the present anomalous reIa
tions of the States to each other. 1t is calcula-
| ted to embitter on both sides animosities which
We should endeavor, by all just measures, to
| smooth and heal 1t disturbs the action of
Government; it deranges the application Of la
Dor and capital; it impairs the development Of
our resources, and it impairs our credit and our
good name at home and abroad and it retards
the progress of the country on its march to
prosperity and power.
| trust, gentlemen, VIC shall make one great
purpose the chief object Of our deliberations
arresting the evils | have referred to by re-
dressing the wrong of which they are the legit-
innate fruits. There is much in the admins
tration of our public affairs which needs
amcndment-som things to be done and others
to be undone. There are commercial and
financial reforms which are essential to the
general welfare, but we shall have no power to
carry them out until we shall have changed the
political complexion Of Congress. This should