The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-08-14

ton of fidelity, Justice, and good iaith to defend
and to maintain. Gentlemen we are not living
under such a Governments Thirty-sx states
have for months been governed by twenty-five.
Eleven States have been wholly without re-
presentation in the legislative body. That
numerical proportion OF the represented and
unrepresented has been changed by the admts'
SION OF the delegation from Tennessee-a unit
taken from the smaller and ADDED to the larger |
number. Ten States are still denied the repre.
sehtation in Coneres to which they are entitled
unoer the Constitution.
1t Is his Urong which we have come here to |
protest against, and as far "a In ne lies to re-
GIess: Long and continued applause.) when |
the President OF the United States declared that |
armed resistance to the authority OF the Union |
was over, all the States had right to be repre- |
sented In the Legislative body. (Applause.) |
they had the nght under the Constitution. |
They had the rieht under resolutions passed by |
both Houses OF Congress in 1861. (Applause.) |
Those resolutions were not concurrent but |
they we're substantially Identical. Moreover,
they were entitled to be 20 represented on other
grounds of fairness and good faith. The Presi.
dent, not in pursuance OF any Constitutional
power, had called on the confederated States
TO accept conditions of their admission to the
exercise of their legitimate functions as mem
bers of the Union-the ratification OF the
amendment to the Constitution abolishing
slavery, and the reputation OF the debts con-
tIRcte0 to overthrow the Government. These con-
ditons we're made and accepted. The eXaetion
OF new conditions is unjust violation OF the
faith of the Government, subverslve OF the prtn-
ciples of our political system, and dangerous to
the public prosperity ana peace. (Applause.)
Each House of Congress is made Judge OF the
qualifications of its members, and can reject
individuals for just cause; but the two bodies
act conformity, and cannot exclude entire dele
cations without an uDwarrantable assumption
ofpower. (Applause.l Congress has not only
done this; ii has gone farther.
1t has incorporated new conditions in amend
ments to the Constitution, and submitted them
for the ratification of he States. There is no
probability that these amendments will be rati-
fed by three-tourths of the States of the Unson.
To insist on the conditions they contain, is to
pTolong indefinitely the exclusion of more than
one-fourth OF the States from their representa-
tion in Congress. Is this the government our
fathers fought to establish (Cries of No, no.)
Is this the government we have been lighting
to preserve? (Cries OF No, no.) The President
hast done all in his power TO correct
this wrong (applause and chcerinG) to restore
the legislative body to its full proportions by
giving to the members of the Union their proper
place in the public oounscils Legislation with.
out representation is an anomaly under our
pOlitCap System. No! In our form of govern
ment It would be another name for usurpation
and misrule.
Gentlemen, l trust that in our deliberations
here we shall Confne ourselves to one main
purpose, that of redressing the wrong to which
| have referred There is much i'll the admins
traton Of our Government which needs amend
ment-some things TO be done and Others to be
undone.
There are commercial and financial reforms
| but we shall not have the power to carry out
these until we change the political complexion
OF Congress. loud cheering and applause
! This should be our first. our Immediate aim
| (Applause.) 1t is in the Congressional districts
| that the vital contest is to take place. The
control OF one body will enable us to prevent
| partial, unjust, and pernicious legislation. But
| the control of both Houses, with the power to
introduce and carry out salutary reforms, to
| bring the Government back in the language OF
Jefferson, ''to the republic an track" Will come
later. (Appause)
But with wise, harmonious, iudicious action
on our part, and on the part of those we repre-
sent. 1t need not be long delayed. applause }
believe that public opinion is right; that 1t
is only necessary to present TO the people clearly
the issues between us and those which control
| the action of Congress. And gentlemen, is not
the object for which we are contending con-
summation worthy OF our highest and most de-
voted efforts ?-(applause)-to bring back the
| Republic, purify it, strengthen 1t by the fiery
ordeal through which it has passed, and to its
ancient prosperity and power! Cloud cheers
To present to the world an example worthy OF
imitation, with no UtopIan vision of good
government, but with the grand old reality OF
better times (applause);, with which the memory
OF our fathers, the recellections of the past and
all our hopes of the future are inseparably
entwined. (Applause.) One country, one flag,
one Union of equal States. cloud and continued
cheering and applause.)
The President here remarked:-
| Nenlelneu.-lI Is proposeu InhI the DIVINE
blessing be invoked upon our proceedings by
Rev. I. N. McDonough
After the opening prayer, and the reading o
the call tor the Convention, the audience had
an opportunity of gazing at several of the men
who have of late figured extensively in the halls
of Congress and in the public prints. General
Steadman, OF Ohio; Senator Doolittle oil
Wisconsin; Montgomery Blair of Maryland
and Colonel Thomas B. Florence, of Phila
delphia. steadman is burly little man
and rather modest withal, for before any one
could get passing glimpse of him, he had
offered his resolution and dropped into his seal
again. Doolittle being one of the leaders in the
new party movement, was seated upon the
stage. We had pictured to our minds
one OF those rough specimens of humanity
which so often gain the upper hand in the West
Senator Doolittle, on the contrary, is almost a,
neat in appearance as parlor dandy, and speaks
with the utmost clearness s. and precision. The
tall gaunt form of Montgomery Blair, with his
scanty topknot of auburn hair, presented SIN
gular contrast to the bristling little man whose
long grey locks and flowing beard were so fami
l ar in days gone by to the denizens fThirdsreet
We refer, of course, to Colonel Florence, whC
appeared to be extremely anxious for the read
ing OF the Democratic call for the Convention
lest the world might think that he and other
of the faithful were entirely out of place.
Another prominent figure was that of thu
venerable Senator McDoHgall, of California
who spent some time IN promenadng up anC
down in front OF the audience, attracting
good share OF attention by his blue coat anC