Maryland free press., 1866-08-30
THE ssBOYs IN BLUE" SPEAK.


THE aBOYS IN BLUE" SPEAK.
Rather be Right with Rebel than
/. Wrong with a Radical.
Tiey endorse the Philadelphia Convention.
The following is call just issued for
the assembling at Clsyslsnd, Ohio, on the
18th day of September, of Convention Of
Soldiers who approve of President John
sons Restoration Policy and endorse the
principles announced by the National Union
Convention at Philadelphia:
TO the Soldiers and Sailors ,cho serred
IN the Army and Nary Of the United States
During the late Rebsllion:-In pursuance
of resolution of q meeting of soldiers nov
or lately in the Union army, held in this
city last evening, we invite those of you
who approve the restoration. policy Of the
2 esidcnt and the principles announced by
the National Union Convention ut Phila-
delphia, to assemble at Cleveland, on the
18th day of September nxet, for consulta-
ton on the momentous issues now convuls-
ing our country We need not Argue to
you at length the importance ofthese issues
nor your duty to take part in their settle
ment. After FIVE years of fierce and des-
tructive war, in which our arms were glori-
ously triumphant, the Union for which we
fought is still practically unrestored. Why
is this ? We struggled to maintain the
rightful supremacy Of the general govern
ment, to conquer all who i'll arms disputed
its authority, to make every reGellious citi-
zen yield to its laws.
We held throughout the war that the
Union is indissoluble and its powers,a as ex-
pounded by its courts, supreme. That no
State can Of its own motion withdraw, OF
at the will of its sister States be excluded,
and that the duty Of each State to remain
in the Union and its right to take part in
the government are alike absolute.
Every object of the war ever recognized
by or known TO the army and navy has
been thoroughly achieved. The Southern
people, decimated, impoverished and SUBJ
/ ducd, have, for more then year past,
abandoned the rebellion, and now only ask
that the Union for Which we fought may
bc recognized as existing, and that they
may be dealt with as tho constitution anu
laws prescribe.
Iu their anxiety to restore the Union and
bring harmony to its councils, they have
gone beyond a mere silent submission to
the laws Through their delegates at the
National Union Convention they solemnly
renounccd the doctrines of notification and
secession, from which the war arose, re-
pudiated the rebel debt, and declared oi
sacred obligation the national debt; pro-
claimed the faith of the nation pledged to
the continuance of bounties and pensions
to loyal soldiers and sailors and their fami.
lies; declared slavery forever abolished, and
the freedmen entitled to equal protection
of law in person and property with theil
former masters Their platform is not only
one of emphatic loyalty, but it is, more.
over, most liberal in spnit on all the grea
issues growing out of the war. ....
The character of the men who represen
ted the Southern States in that convention
precludcs us from believing this enuncia-
tion of principles to be insincere. They
sent TO it their foremost statesmen, mel
who, like Rives, Graham, Orr, Parsons
Sharkcy, Houston, Brockenborough, Hun
Manning and Stephens, were knowr
throughout the land, before the war, as mel
, of the highest character and influence. -
Among the five hundred delegates from tn
South there was not a voice or a vote dis
scnting from.the resolutions adopted by tn
convention. ..r...-,
Ii the best of the Southern people ar
ever to be believed we must accept thes'
solemn declarations as sincere We do &C
cept them us conclusive evidence that
great majority Of the Southern people, sicl
of war and anarchy, and longing for a res
alteration Of free government, are ready t
0 bear true allegiance to the constitution an
laws of the Union. "r .aa l.ie#
We are therefore unwilling to sec th
Southern people held longer in vassalagc
They are our countrymen, citizens of tn
: United States, who have incurred penalties
but who have rights. Those who willfull
: participated in the rebellion, and are un
!. pardonod, are subject to the penalties pres
/, cribcd for treason. But though individu
ais may be tried, convicted and punished
q communities cannot, nor can the State
: and their people, without plain violatio
of the constitution, be denied the right {
= representation. through men PERSONAL
: qualified, in the councils of the nation.
If The intention of Congress seems to b
IS to deprive them of representation just S
h long as it suits the purposes of the radio,
: party. Many assert that it will conced
c the right whenever tho constitutional O
n mendment shall have been adopted, an
y each prescribed State shall have ratified i,
i But it is quite certain that the amendmer
s will not be rati6edby thrce-fourths of th
10 States. and therefore that it will not b
adopted. Some, perhaps many of tn
Nssthern States will reject it, aud we car
. not expect its legal ratification by any
:. the lately insurrectionary States. Ifther
= = were no other reason why the Sopther
n States will reject it. it is enough that
proposes TO disfranchise nearly oil the me
of the South who have influence over tb
y masses of the people.