The New era. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1865-1871, 1866-07-12
DEMOCRATIC ADDRESS,

OLMOGAAIlC ADDRESS,.
70 the People Of the United States:
Dangers threaten. The Constitution
the citadel 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 maintain uniInpaired the rights.
the dignity, and the equality of the
States, including the right of represent
alton in Congress and the exclusive right
of each State to control its own domestic
concerns, subject only to the Consti-
tuition of the United States.
After a uniform construction of the
Constitution for more than half cen
tury, the assumption of new and arbi-
trary powers in the Federal Govern
ment is subversive of our system and
destructive of liberty.
A free interchange Of opinion and
kindly feeling between the citizens of
all the States is necessary to the perpe-
tuity of the Union. Al present eleven
States are excluded from the national
council. 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 made to all the
members from a State, although the
State, in the language Of the President,
" presents itself not only in an attitude
Of loyalty and harmony, but in the per-
sons Of representatives whose loyalty
cannot be questioned under any existing
constitutional legal test
The representatives of nearly one
third of the States have not been con-
suited with reference to the great CUES
tons of the day. There has been no
nationality surrounding the present
Congress there has been no intercourse
between the representatives OF the two
sections producing mutual confidence
and respect. In the languag e Of the dis
tinguished Lieutenant General: +" 1t is
to be regretted that at this time there
cannot beagreatercommingling between
the citizens of the two sections, and par
tieulariy those intruSted with the law
making power" This state Of things
should be removed at once and forever.
Therefore, to preserve the Nationa!
Union. to Vindicate the suf1ciency of
our admirable Constitution, to guard
the States from covert attempts to de-
prive them of their true position in the
Union, and to bring together those who
are unnaturally severed, and for those
greatnational purposes onlywe cordially
approve the call for a National Union
Convention, to be held at the City OF
Philadelphia on the second Tuesday
9TH of August next, and endorse the
principles therein set forth.
We, therefore respectfully butearnestly
urge upon our fellow-ctzens in each
State end Teri tory and Congressional
terest of Union and in a spirit of har-
mony, and with direct reference to the
principles contained in said call, to act
promptly in the selection of wise, mode
rate and conservative men to represent
them in said Convention, to the end that
all the States shall at once be restored to
their practical relations to the Union,
the Constitution be maintained, and
peace bless the whole country.
w. E. Niblack, Reverdy johnson,
Anthony Thornton, Thos. A. Hendricks,
G. Kerr, VIM. Wright,
G. S. Shanhlin, James Guthrie,
Garrett Davis, J. A. McDougall,
II Grider, VIM. Radford,
,Fhos. 3. NOEL, S. S. Marshall,
Samuel j. Randall, Myer Strouse,
Lewis w. Ross, Chas. Sitgreaves,
Stephen Taber, S. +. Ancona,
J. M. Humphrey, e. N. Hubble,
John Hogan, B. c. Ritter,
B. NJ. Boyer, A. Harding,
Tunis G. Bergen, A. J. Glossbrenner,
Charlet Goodyear, f. r. V. Wright,
Chas. II. Winfield, a. J. Rogers,
A. III. Coffroth, II. Mccullough,
Lowell III. Rousseau, F. G. lie Blond,
Philip johnson, w. e. Finck,
Chas. A. Eldridge. l.. S. Trimble,
John l.. Dawson.
WASHINGTON, July 4, 1866.