The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1866-07-03
From the New York World.1
National Johnson Convention.

There has been to-day (25th ult.) a
considerable commotion in political cir
cles over the announcement that a Ma
tional Convention has been called by
the friends of the administration, to meet
in Philadelphia on August a. The call
has been issued by the Nationa, Execu-
tive Committee of the Union Club, of
which Senator'S Doolittle and Cowen are
members, and is indorse by Senators Nor
ton, Doolittle, Dixon and Hendricks.
Thurlow Weed and Raymond are also
prime movers in this Convention. 1t is
understood to meet the views of the Presi-
dent, with whom Messrs. Weed and
Doolittle had an interview on yesterday,
the 24th ult.,
The following is the call for the Con-
vention:
A National Union Convention of at
least two delegates from each Congress
sional Distric. of all the States, two from
each Territory, two from the District of
Columbia and four delegates at large from
each will be held at thecity of Phi iladel-
phia on the 14th of August next. Such
delegates will be chosen by the electors
of the several States who sustain the ad-
ministration in maintaining unbroken
the union of the States under the Con-
struction which our fathers established,
and who agree on the following PROPOSE
tions, viz:
The union of the States is in every case
indissoluble and is perpetual and the
Constitution of the United States and the
laws passed by Congress in pursuance
thereof are supreme, constant, and uni
versal in their obligations.
The rights, the dignity, and the equali-
ty of the States in the Union, including
the right Of representation in Congress,
are solemuly guaranteed by that Con.
stitution to save which from overthrow SO
much blood and treasure were expended
in the late civil war. There is no right
anywhere to dissolve the Union or to
separate States from the Union either by
voluntary withdrawal, by force of arms,
or by Congressional action, neither by
secession Of States, nor by the exclusion
of their loyal and qualified representa-
tives; nor by the national government in
any other form.
Slavery is abolished, and neither can
nor ought to be re-established in any
State or Territory within our jurisdic-
ton.
Each State has the undoubted right to
prescribe the qualifications of its own
electors, ahd no external power rightful.
ly can or ought to dictate, control or in.
fuence the free and voluntary action OIL
these States in the exercise of that right
The maintenance inviolate of the rights
of the States, and especially of the rights
of each State to order and control its owr
domestic concerns according to its owr
Judgment exclusively, subject only to the
Constitution of the United States, is es
sential to that balance of power on which
the perfection and endurance of po
litical fabric depends, and the overthrow
of that system by usurpation in central.
ization of power in Congress would be q
revolution, dangerous to republican
government and destructive of liberty
Each House of Congress is made, by the
Constitution, the sole judge of its election
returns and qualifications ofits members,
but the exclusion of loyal Senators and
Representatives properly chosen anc
qualified under the Constitution and laws
is unjust and revolutionary. Every pat
riot should frown upon all these acts anc
proceedings everywhere, which can serve
no other purpose than to rekindle The
animosities of war, and the effect ofwhicf
upon our moral, social, and material in
terests at home, and upon our standing
abroad, differing only in degree, is in
furious like war itself. The purpose o
the war having been to preserve the Un
ion and the Constitution by puttins
down the rebellion, and the rebellion hav
ing been suppressed, all resistance to th,
authority of the general government be
ling at an end, and the war having ceas
led, war measures should also cease, anC
should be followed by measures of peace
full administration, so that union, harmo
my and concord may be encouraged, ant
industry, commerce, and the aris of peac,
revived and promoted; and the early re-
storation of all the States to the exercise
of their constitutional powers in the ma
tional government is indispensable neces
sary to The strength and the defence o.
the republic, and to- the maintenance O
the public credit. Affsuch electors il
the thirty six States and nine territorie,
of the United States, and in the Distric
of Columbia, who, in spirit of patriot
ism and love for the Union, can rise above
personal and sectional considerations, ,and
who desire to see truly National Union
Convention, which shall represent all the
States and Territories of the Union, as
semble as friends and brothers under the
national flag, to hold counsel together
upon the state of the Union and to take
measures to avert possible dangers from
| the same, are specially requested to take
part in the choice fsnch delegates. But
no delegate will take seat in such con.
vention who does not loyalty accept the
national situation and cordially indorse
the principle above set forth, and who is
not attached in true allegiance to the
Constitution, the Union, and the govern
ment of the United States.
Washington, june 20, 1866.
A. w. RANDALL, Pres.
| j. R. DooLITTLE,
O. H. BROWNING,
EDGAR CowAN,
CHARLES KNAP,
SAMUEL FOWLER,
Ex. Com. National Unien Club.