The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1866-07-10
THE NATIONAL CONSERVATIVES CON-
IGNITION. t.ls
Impoy1ant Address Of Democratic
Senator's and Representatives
in Congress.
WASHINGTON, July 4, 1866.

WASHINGTON, July 4, 1866.
To the People of the United States:
Dangers theaten. The constitution-the cita
del Of our liberties--is directly assailed. The
future is dark, unless the people will come to
the rescue.
In this hour of peril national union should be
the watchword of every true man.
As essential to national union we must main.
tain unimpaired the rights, the dignity, and
the equality of the states, including the right of
representation in congress, and the exclusive
right of each state to control It's own domestic
concerns subject only to the constitution of the
United States.
After q uniform construction of the constitu-
ton for more than half century, the assump-
ton of new and arbitrary powers in the federal
government is subversive of our system and
destructive of liberty.
A free interchange of opinion and kind feeling
between the citizens of all the states is necessary
TO the perpetuity of the Union. At present Il
states are excluded from the national councils
For seven long months the present congress has
persistently denied any right of representation
to the people of these states. Laws, affecting
their highest and dearest interests, have been
passed without their consent, and in disregard
of the fundamental principle of free government.
This denial of representation has been mace 10
all the members from state, although the state,
in the language of the president, presents ltseii
not only in the ATTITUDE Oh ioyait9 huo haihioHf
but in the persons OF representatives whose 10y
ats cannot be questioned under any existing
constitutional or legal test" The representa-
tives of nearly one-third of the states have not
been consulted with reference to the great ques
tions of the day There has been no nationality
surrounding the present congress There has
| been no intercourse between the representative
of the two sections, producing mutual confidence
and respect In the language of the distinguish
ed lieutenant general at is to be regrette
| that at this time, there cannot be greater
| commingling between the citizens of the two
sections, and particularly those intrusted with
the law-making power" This state of things
| should be removed at once and forever.
| Therefore, TO preserve the national union, te
vndcate the suficiency of our admirable con
| stitution, TO guard the states from covert at
| tempts 10 deprive them of their true position il
the Union, and to bring together those who are
| unnaturally severed, and for these great nation
al purposes only, we cordially approve the cal
| for national union convention, to be held a
! the city OF Philadelphia, on the second Tuesday
(l+th) of August next, and indorse the principle:
| therein set forth.
We, therefore, respectfully, but earnestly
urge upon our fellow citizens in each state, anC
territory and congress sional district in the Unit
ed States, in the interest of union and in spir
| of harmony, and with direct reference to thu
| principles contained in said CALL to act prompt
| ly in the selection OF wise, moderate and con
| sentative men to represent them in said conven
tion to the end that all the states shall at b'
restored to their practical relations to the Union
the constitution be maintained, and peace bless