Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1866-07-18
SOUTHERN UNION CONVENTION.

The Convention to Meet in Philadelphia On
September Sd. 1866.
The following is the call for a convention
of Southern Unionists, to be held in indie
pendence Hall in the city of Philadelphia
on the lst Monday of September. 1866:
To the loyal Uaioaists Of the South: The
great issue is upon Us. The majority IN
Congress, and Its supporters, hrm.y declare
that 1.-The rights of the citizens enumerated
in the Constitution, and established by the
supreme law, must be maintained inyloiate.
Rebels aud rebel syinpathI ers assert that
'the rights of the citizens must be lettsto
the States alone, ana under such regulations
as the respective States choose voluntarily
10 prescribe.
We have seen this doctrine of State SOW
ereignty carried out in It's practical results
until all authority in Congress was denied,
the Union temporarily destroyed, the con
strtutienal rights of the citizens of the south
nearly annihilated, and the land desolated
by civil war The time has come when the
structure of Southern States governments
must be laid on constitutional principles or
the despotlSm grown up under an atrocIous
leadership be permitted to remain. We
know of no other plan than that Congress.
under Its constitutional powers, shall now
cipies whereby projection is made coexten-
sive with citizenship. We maintain that no
State. eitherby Its organic law or legislation,
can make tranSgresslon on the rights OF the
citizen legitimate.
We demand, and ask you to concur in de-
manding. protection to every citizen OF this
great Republic on the basis of equality be-
lore the law; anl turther, that no State
government would be recognized as legiti-
mate under the Constitution SO far as it
does not, by its organic law, make mplrtiai
protection fell and complete.
Under the doctrine of State sovereign
ty with rebels in the foreground controil-
ing Southern Legislatures, and mbittered
by disappointment i'll their schemes to de-
stroy the Union. there will be no safety for
the loyal element of the South. Our re-
lance for protection Is now In Congress and
| the great Union party that has stood and is
| standing by the nationality, by the conStitu-
tIonai rights and by the beneficent princ-
piles of free government.
For the purpose OF bringing the loyal O.
nionists of the South into conjunctive action
| with the true friends of republican govern
| ment in the North, we invite you to send
delegates in goodly numbers from all the
Southern States, including Missouri. Ken
lucky, West Virginia, Maryland and Della
ware, to meet at Independence Hall, in the
city of Philadelphia, on the first Monday of
September next.
1t is proposed that we should meet at that
| time to recommend measures for the estab-
lishment of such government In the South
as aceords with and protects the rights of
all citizens. We trust this call will be re-
sponded to by a numerous delegation of such
as represent the true loyalty of the South
hnt nF III
protection to all the rights of the citizen,
| such as our fathers intended, we claim as
our birthright. Either the lovers of consti-
tutional liberty must rule the nation. or reb-
| els and their sympathisers be permitted to
misrule it. rasa
Shall loyalty or disloyalty have the keep
| ing of the destinles of the nation? Let the
| responses to this call, which is now in circu-
lation for signatures, and is being numer-
| ousy signed, answer. ssH
Notice is given that gentlemen at a dis
tance can have their names attached by
| sending request by letter, directed to D.
w. Bingham, Washington, d. G..
W. b. Stokes, Tennessee.
James Fowler, Tennessee.
james Gettys, Tennessee,
c. B. Sabin, Texas
Henry g. Cole, Georgia.
John r. Keslo, Missouri
te Geo. W. Anderson, Missouri.
| as j. Hamilton, Texas sa s5 81
Geo. II. w. Paschal, Texas
Lorenzo Sherwood, Texas.
G. W. Ashburn, Georgia
j. w McClurg, Missouri
j. F.. Benjamin, Missouri
John B. Troth. FAT fax G. H., Va.
j. NJ. Stewart, Alexandria, Va
w. N. Berkley, Virginia
Allen c. Harmon Virginia,
j. ". Hunnicutt Virginia.
Burnham Wardell. Virginia.
Byron Laflon, North Carolina. -
George Reese, Alabama.
NJ. J. Saff5 Id, Alabama.
Lewis NJ Kensie, Virginia.
John G: Underwood, Virginia.