The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1866-07-11
Soldiers Convention,


tribute them to the FOURTH.
Soldiers Convention.
June 23d, the soldiers of Iowa met in
Convention at Des Moines. General
Benton called the Convention to order.
Col. Mckay, president; cices Stewart,
Egew and Edwards. Line p. Mckinnic
of McGregor and p. F. Bortrce of Polk,
secretaries. The Com. on resolutions was
Benton, Butler, Bollinger, Pickett and
Scott. The resolutions below were adopt
ed; the ticket is in our leading column.
Shoddy calls the convention "Possum-
kangaroo-traitorous assemblage'-com-
plimcntary to the ''boys in blue" of course,
but the "boys" will be unable to see it.
More about this at some other time:
Whereas, Being unable to cooperate
with the radical and dominant element Of
the republican party in line of policy in
stituted since the close of the war, and in
direct conflict with the genius of our gov
eminent, and believing that, in the present
unsettled and complicated condition of our
public affairs. it behoves the true friends Of
the nation to unite in some well-concertcd
effort for the pacifcation of the country
and for strengthening and perpetuating the
bonds of the union, and that such concert
OF action can only be secured by a thor
ough organization of the friends and adj
vocatcs of the sentiments expressed in the
call for this convention, we do hereby esq
tablish political association, to be known
as the National Union Party, with the fol-
lowing declaration of principle: '7
l. We hold that the constitution of the
United States is the palladium of our lib
erty, and that any departure from its re-
quirements by the Legislative, executive or
judicial departments of the government is
subversive of the fundamental principles
of our republican institutions.
2. Repudiating the radical doctrine of
state rights and secession on the one hand,
and the Capitalization of federal authority
on the other, as equally dangerous, and
the war having been prosecuted on our
part, as expressly declared by Congress it
self, to defend and maintain the suprema-
cy of the Constitution, and to preserve the
union inviolate, with all its dignity, and
equality and the rights of the states unim-
pared. The federal arms having been vic
tOrious, we hold that all the states are still
i'll the Union and entitled to equal rights
under the Constitution, and that Congress
has no power to exclude a state from the
Union, to govern it as territory, or to de-
prive it OF representatives in the councils
of the nation, when its representatives
have been elected and qualified in accord
ance with the Constitution and laws of the
| land.
3. While we fully conccde to the fedc-
raj government the power to enforce ODE
dience to the Constitution, and laws en-
acted in conformity with it, and to punish
those who resist its legitimate authority in
the several states, we believe that the main
tenance inyiolate of the rights of the
states, and especially Of the right of each
state to order and control its own domestic
institutions, according to its own Judgment
exclusively, is essential to that balance OF
power on which the perfection and endur-
ance of our political freedom depends.
| 4. We hold that each state has the ri gllt
to prescribe the qualifications of the elect
ors, and we are opposed to any alterations
OF the provisions of our state institution on
the subject of suffrage.
| 8. We consider the national debt sa-
cred obligation, and the honor of the gov
ernment as pledged for its liquidation
| No obligation incurred in any manner
whatever, in aid of the rebellion, should
ever be assumed or paid.
6. The nation owes lasting debt OF
gratitude to our soldiers and sailors of the
late war, for the suppression of the REBEL
ion, and in the bestowal ofpublic patron
age, by election or appointments, prefer
ence should be given them if competent to
perform the duties required, and, as par
tial tribute for their services, the govern.
ment should donate toseach of those who
have fallen in the service, or have been
honorably discharged, or to their LEGAL
representatives, 100 acres of land, and Jus.
tice to those who entered the service in the
early part of the war, demands that imme.
date provision should be made for TIL.
equalization of bountics.
I. We cordially endorse the restoration
policy of President Johnson as wise, pat
riotic, constitutional, and in harmony with
the loyal sentiment and purposes of the
people in the suppression of the rebellion
with the platform upon which he was eIcc.
ted, with the declared policy of the late
President Lincoln, the action of congress
and the pledges given during the war.
8. We regard the action of congress. in
refusing to admit loyal Representatives
from States recently in rebellion as un
warranted by the constitution, and calcu-
lated to complicate rather than adjust oul
national troubles.
9. The ratification, by the Legislatures
of the several states, of the amendment tc
the constitution of the United States. fol
the abolition of slavery, settles that yexed
question and meets our hearty approval.
10. We are opposed to any further
amendments to the constitution of the Uni
ted States until all the states are represen
ted in congress and have vote in maxim
the same. a
IL. We are in favor of n strict adher
ence to the Monroe doctrine and extend tt
all the people struggling to preserve ma
tionality and liberty our warmcst sympa
: thy
/ y. All officers Interested with the
management of the public funds should be
held to strict accountability for the faith
full application Of the same, and, in case O
defalcation, or the misapplication Of sucl
(, funds, they should not be permitted t,
eyade the responsibility by duplicating II
responsible agents selected BY themselves
and any political party that copntonancc.
such evasion becomes accessory 10 til,