The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-09-26

CONSERVATIVE MEETING AT NATIONAL
GUARDS HALL-A mass meeting under the aus
pices of the Central Johnson-Clymer Club was
neld at National Guards Hall last evening.
The attendance was large and the meeting en-
thusiastc IN its character. Mr.. John h. Faunce,
the President of the JohnsonClymer Club, pre-
sided on the occasion. In a few words he intro
duced Ex-Governor Bigler, who, during the
course of his remarks, said:-l hold that the
position taken by the President is clearly right,
ard the only position which the Constitution OF
the United States will admit. He must neCes-
sariy, as the Executive officer, be controlled by
the Constitution and the laws OF the land. He
planted himself on this, and maintained that
there were thirty-slX States and not twenty SIX.
He maintained further, that they were States OF
the Union and being States OF the Union no
power on earth could deny them representation.
Congress, during the war, recognized these States
as being in the Union.
They submitted the amendment abolishng
slavery to the thirty-siX States. Several OF the
states denied representation at this day ratified
the amendment. Ii they were States then, they
are States now. II they were capable of ratify-
ing an amendment to the Constitution they are
entitled to representation. When they ratified
it, the Question of not being represented was
ended. The action of Congress in denying
them representation is therefore sheerly arbi
trarY and revolutionary. (Applause.( That is
the great question. On the other hand, the
President maintains that the Constitution ap-
plies to all the States, and that must be his
rule of action. | deny utterly the power of
Congress to insist upon any conditions prece
dent TO the rlglJ OF representation. L COuSluer
the amendments as unwise in their substance,
and the manner in which they are presented to
the people of the country as highly improper
indeed, as unjust You can't vote for that clause
of the amendment providing for the reputation
of the Rebel debt without voting Tor that clause
which submits the question OF negro suffrage
WHY this peculiar piece of machinery? Was it
necessary to put ii in this shape? By no means.
| saw thai we have a right TO complain of the
submission OF the amendment in this shape.
Ii is the duty of every man to assist in bring
ing about a prompt solution of our National
troubles-to make us what we once We're a
happy and prosperous people. The speaker
closed with few cOmmendatory remarks upon
the character Of Mr.. Clymer, the Democratic
candidate for Governor, which were received
with frequent manifestations OF applause.
William b. Rankin, ESQ.,, of New York, was
then introduced. He sad:-If the radical party
succeed in Their policy, and oyerwhelm the
country with their theory, we will, when that
takes place, be in worse condltlon than we have
ever Deen during the last six years. The
speaker then took up the question OF universal
suffrage. he alluded to tie attempt made to
introduce it IN England and to its being put
down through the efforts OF Earl Grey VINO
used as au argument the assertion that by the
introduction of it u repudiation OF the debt
would be brought about.
The speaker also discussed the question o
suffrage IN this country. He Continued:-What
these radicals fear is that the American people
will ind out the secret that One-tOurJh of the
deOt which our country IS now burdened with
"
fuse TO pay it. We can't have an undivided
country, five ALLOW these men TO carry us away
again TO their contemplated issues. What was
the reason for the passage OF the resolution
nIacing the arms of the country in the hands Of
the Governors OF the various states? 1t was
tor the very purpose that it they failed to sue
ceed at the ballot-boN, they could use thes'
arms 10 strike down the voters.
They intended it for a threat OF intimidation
They did not intend TO lose their power. Atel
the success of the great conservative party o
the country, there will be very little left OF TIN
magnificent Republican party. There is no
one of these radical Congressman who could no no
he convicted of treason under the laws OF 1867
which they themselves enacted. The speake
then discussed at length the difference betwee
the President and Congress de concluded D
nTSine those present to be active and Jealous !
their efforts to secure peace in reality TO tn
whole country. c,, l., ~, =.
Colonel Rankin was followed by Mr.. Jon
ReII Robinson, who endeavored, during IN
course of his remarks, to prove that the negI