The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1866-08-21

ous domestic insurrection in the future is not
20 be apprehended. il you could have seen,
sir, the men Of Massachusetts .and South
| Caroline coming into the convention ON the
Art day of its meeting, hands hand, amidst
he rapsnrous applsuse of the whole body,
awakened - ii were BY heartfelt gratifica-
zion Il the event, filing the eyes of thous-
ands with tears Of Joy, which they neither
could nor desired to suppress, you would
have felt as every person felt, that the time
had arrived when all sectional or other peril.
GUS dissen tions had ceased, and thai nothing
would be heard in the future but the voice OF
harmony proclaiming devotion to common
country, of pride in being bound together in
q common union, existing and protected by
forms of government proved by experience to
be emnently fitted for the exigencies of 9th
er war or peace. In the principles an
nounced by the convention, and in the feeling
there manifested, we may have every assur-
ancs that harmony throughout our entire
land will soon prevail. We know that in
former DAYS, as was eloquently declared by
Webster, the nations most gifted statesman.
| Massachusetts and South Caroline went
shoulder to shoulder through the revolution,
and stood hand in hand around the admins
tration of Washington, and felt his own great
| arm lean on them for support" So will they
| again, with like unanimity, devotion and
| power, stand around your administration,
and cause you to feel that you may also lean
on them for support.
| In the proceedings. Mr.. President, which
| we are to place in your hands, you viii find
| that the convention performed the duty i'm
posed upon them by their knowledge of your
4 devotion to the constitution. the laws, and
| the interests of your country as illustrated
| by your entire presidential career, of declar-
| ing, that in you it recognized chief magis.
trate of the nation equal to the great crisis
on which your lot has fallen; and to this dec
laration, it gives US unr xed pleasure to add,
that we are confident that tho convention
have but spoken the Intelligent and patriotic
sentiment of the country. Ever lnaccess BILE
to the low influences which often control a
mere partisan, aud governing alone by an
honest opinion of constitutional obligations
| and rights, and of the duty of looking solely
to the true interests, sc fety and horror of the
nation; such public servant is incapable Of
pandering to any person or pr.'udice solely
for popularity, and at the expense of the pub
lie good. In the measures which you have
adopted for the restoration of the Union, the
committee of the union convention see only a
continuance Of the policy which, for the same
purpose, was inaugurated by your immedi
ate predecessor. He was reelected by the
people after that policy had been fully indi
Gated and had bean made one of the issue
| of the contest, those of his political friend,
who are now assaillng you for sternly pursu
ing it, being forge full or regardless of thu
opinions which their support of his re.elec
ton necessarily involved. Being upon TIT
same ticket with that much lsmented publi
servant, whose foul assassination touches
the heart of the civilized world with grie
and horror, YOU would have been false if 20,
had not endeayorad . carry out the sara'
> policy. Judged now by the opposite on
which congress has pursued. it's wisdom sn'
PATRIOTS II are vindlcsted by the fact tina
congress has but continued broken unio'
E by keeping ten of the states. in which at on
time the instruction existed, as far as
could be accomplished. in the condition Q
subjugated provinces, denying to them thu
right to be rep scented, whilst sub ectin
their people 90 every species OF Legislation
, including that of taxation.
That such q state of things is at war will
the very genius of our government, inconsis'
emit with every idea Of political freedom, an
most perilous to the safety OF the country, n
. | rejecting man can fail to believe,
:. We hope, sir, that the proceedings of IN
convention viii cause you to adhere, if posi-
bic, with even greater frmness to the cours
which you are pursuing, by satisfying yO
that the people ale with you, and that tn
: wish that lies nearest TO their hearts is, tina
a perfect restoration of our union, at the ca,
: | Hest moment be attained In the convIctio
= that that result can only be accomplished D
the measures which you are pursuing, and
: the discharge Of the duties which these meas
ures devolve upon you, we, as did ever
member of the convention, do again Tor our
: selves individually, tender TO you our pro
found respect and assurance Of our cords
I'D 40
with NC foot but freeman's treadiug or pei
. mitted 10 tread on our soil. with industry re
. newed, with . nations faith pledged foreve
to a strict observance of all Its obligation,
with kindness and frsternal love everywher
: prevailing, the desolations of war will 500
! be removed, its sacrifices of life, sad as the
. may have BEEN will, with CHRISTIAN resigns
y ton, be referred to q providsntisl purpose {
fixing our beloved country on a firm and Ell
during basis which will forever place our Ill
erty and happiness beyond the reach OF per
, il. Then, and forever, will our governmeu
challenge the admiration and receive the RI
spect of the nations of the earth, and be /
> no danger Of any efforts to 'npeach our hor
| or.
Permit me, sir, IN conclusion, to add tina
great as is your solicitude for the restoratio
of our domestic peace. and weak as are you
labors to that end, you should have also
watohful eye to the rights of the nation. an
see to it that any attempt by an assumed o
L actual foreign power to enforce an n'eg:
blockade against the government or either
of the United States, to use your own mil
= but expressive words, shall "be disrsgsrded
In this determination / am sure you will r
ceive the unanimous approval of your fellow
/. citizens.
Now, as the chairman of this COMMITTEE
and in behalf of the convention, have til
d honor to present you with an authenticate
copy of its proceedings.
PRESIDENT JoHNsoN's REPLY.
Q On the conclusion of Mr.. Johnson's az
! dress. the president receiving the authentic,