Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1866-07-13
DEMOCRATIC ADDRESS.


osratic ra.iy, just issued, is sisncd by Ia.
Hon. i;cv.rdy johnson anl forty other Srra-
tors nEd members Of Congress- 1t cn,lrrsrs
AL the views and purpose, SIT forth in the re
cent call of the National Union Cluh, anl
seeks TO unite the conservative nsn nf all par
ties in securing the overthrow OF R:,licnIsln
Mt the coming elections. |. is 70 br hoped
that it will he accepted hy the D'n':ra,ir or
rnnizaLuns generally, and s"cnrc the surror,
"1 Democratic LEADERS, who i:artu unite with
Conservative Republicans, lest they may weak
en their party organization. The Union Of
that great party, with tho n,nderate RepuLli-
cans will easily secure the triumph OF Com
servntisln, and We trust that this Union will he
cifectually cementci Mt the approaching Con-
vention:
WAsIlIScr"S. July 1, 1866.
10 hc pcopie Of Me LMi;cd States:
Dangers threaten. The C"n.tiLution-.hc
| citadel Of our hbertics--is directly nssail.d
| The future Is dark unicss the people come to
| the rescue.
| In this hour of peril, National Union should
| bc the watcliword Of every true mai.
| AS essential to National Union, we must
maintain unilnpared tho rights. the dignity and
tie equality Of the Siutes, including the right
VI representation IN NuliSrcSs, ana The cXclu-
| s:ve right of each state to control its own do.
mestic concerns. subject only to tho Constilu-
tion of the United States.
| After II uniform construction Of the Cuusti-
tuition for more thun half century, the ns-
sumption of new and arbitrary powers in the
Federal Government is subversive of our sys-
| tom and destructive of liberty.
free interchange Of opinion and kind feel
ing between the oil iZens Of oil the States is II &C.
! essary to the perRetuity OF The Union. At
| present, eleven States excluded from tho
national council. For seven long months. the
present Congress has persistently denied any
right or representation to the people Of these
States. Laws affecting their highest and dear
est interests have been passed. and in disre-
gard Of the fundamental principle of free GOV
ernin ent. This denial OF representation has been
made to all the members from a State, al
though the State. in the language of the Pres
ident, presents itself not only in an attitud.
OF loyalty and harmony. but IN the persons Of
representatives whose loyalty cannot be oues.
toned under any existing constitutional or le
gal test"
The representatives of nearly one third of
the States have not been consulted with refer
ence 10 the great questions of The day. There
has been no nationality surrounding the pres
ent Congress =; there has been no intercourse
l between the representatives of the sections
producing mutual confidence and respect. In
the language of the distinguished Lieutenantr
General I'll is to be regretted that at this
time there cannot be greater commingling
! between the sitizeus of. the two sections, and
particularly Of those entrusted with the law.
making power.'i' This state of things should
be removed at once and forever,
| Therefore, to preserve the National Union, to
vlndicate the sufficieney of our admirable Con.
stltution, TO guard the States from covert at
tempts to deprive them of their true position
in the Union. and to bring together those who
\ are unnsturally, severed, and for those great
national purposes only. We cordially approve
be held At the oily Of PhilsdsIphis, on the se.
4 conn Wednseday. "a xth) Of Augnst next. end
! endoree the principles therein set forth.
Wa, thaSeflEe, respeolullY, but Anraestfr