The New era. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1865-1871, 1866-04-19


affair, bat also to effect such an organi-
cation of the opponents Of radicalism as
vii enable them to act unitediY and Sue
eessfully in the great work before them
He therefore moved that Z committee OF
sixteen be appointed, whose duty II
snail be 70 report q plan OF state and
county organization and also to prepare
general business for the convention. The
motion was agreed to, and the following
gentlemen appointed such committee:
Benjamin Griffith. 4 Jacob, \ Rich
drdson, II \ Mackey, JOS " 6iallaher,
a p Brool1over, Col j c Lininger, teliX
Prunty, Matthias Benson, Col ID i
Hewes, p y Gambrill, f Ralston, Jas
w Kelly, Major + w Andrews, G II
McCurdy, L, y Knight.
On motion the President Of the Con-
vention was added to the committee.
The convention then took arecess until
O'Clock In the afternoon.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
The members of the Convention as
sembled at , o'clock, and proceeded to
the transaction OF business. The report
Of the committee on resolutions being
called for. the committee through its
chairman, Mr.. Lamb, submitted the fol-
lowing
RESOLUTIONS.
Resoited, That Andrew johnson has
Won our confidence by his answering
devotion to the Union and we heartily
approve his policy looking to the speedy
restoration of the Southern States to
their constitutional position in the Ma
tienal government, and the re.establish
ment of peace and civil law throughout
the land.
ReSolrea. That by the Freedman's Blu
reaa bill, and Civil rights bill, the Con-
gfessional majority have attempted to
subject the tax paying population o the
country to heavy additional burdens, IN
order To support the negro III idleness
and vice, and maintain new "swarms
of officers to harass our people and eat
out their substance"
RsSozced, That the Constitution Of the
United States is the supreme law of the
land, but it is equally supreme in what
it reserves as in what it grants; that it
has granted to the United States ample
powers for national objects and for the
common defence against war and insur-
rection, but has reserved to the several
States the care and regulation Of civil
rights within their respective limits !;
that, III particular, it belongs to the
States TO prescribe how contracts may DO
made. proved and enforced, how real
and personal property may be inherited,
acquired, used and disposed of, and the
life, liberty, property, and character of
individuals protected: and that While,
on the one hand, the central govern
ment ought to be supported in the eXer=
else o.. al it, Legitimate powers, Oh the
other, the continued existence Of the
States and the preservation OF their
right1al authority, are nee ssafY to the
liberty and welfare Of the American
people; yet by the Freedmen's Bureau
Bill, and Civil Rights Bill, Congress have
cndeaVored, in violation OF the funda-
mental principle of our government, to
deprive the State Legislatures and Jul
dietary of many Of their most important
funetions-an attempt which, if it prove
successful, must lead in the end to the
adjustment of State Governments, as
useless and expensive membranes to
the central despotism at Washington.
Resolred, That by the bills in question,
Congress have endeavored, in favor of
the negro, to subject the white inhabi-
tants Of the country to the continuation
of military rule, and the jurisdiction of
tribunals foreign to their habits and in
stitutions and destructive of their lib
critics.
Resolred, That while we would pro-
tect the negro in his civil rights and free
dom by just State legislation, we are OPP
posed to negro suffrage, because we be-
lieve it impossible to support republican
government upon negro constituency !;
and we regard with adherence the
policy Of the Congressional majority,
led by Stevens, Sumner and Wade, and
supported by party in this State, in
tended to prevent any restoration of the
Union until negro suffrage is forced
on the several States by Federal au-
thority.
Resolred, That they are Unionists who
seek to restore the Union, and they are
Disunionists who seek to prevent its
restoration and he alone is ioy0l, who
is faithful and true to the Constitution
of the United States and the Consti-
tuition Of the State.
Resolred, That the Test Oatlls, Regis
tration act, and the several acts OF the
Legislature of this State, to suppress the
freedom of elections, Of speech and Of
the press; to encourage public officers to
violate the Constitution, and protect
them in so doing;t establish the reign ola
single man in the Ninth Judicial Circuit,
and to prevent a portion of our DeODle