The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1866-07-26
ALoyal southern Convention Called.


The following is the call for a Con-
vention of Southern Unionists, to be
held at independence Hall; in the city
of Philadelphia, on the first Monday
of September, 1866;
ITO the loyal Unionists Of the South;
"The great issue is upon us. The
majority in Congress, and it's support
ers, firmly desire that tho rights to the
citizen enumerated in the Constitution,
and established BY the supreme law,
must be maintained inviolate. Rebels
and rebel sympathizers assert that the
rights of the citizens must belong to
the States alone, and under such reg
ulations as the respective States choose
voluntarily to prescribe. We have
seen this doctrine of State Sovereign
ty carried out in its practical results
until all authority in Congress was de-
MED, the Union temporarily destroy
ed, the constitutional rights Of the cit
liens of the South nearly annihila-
ted, and the land destroyed by civil
war.
"The time has come when the struc-
ture of the Southern States govern
ments must be laid on constitutional
principles, or the despotism grown up
under an ~atrocious leadership be per-
mitted to remain. We know of no
other plan than that Congress, under
its constitutional power, shall now ex-
%crcise its authority co extensive with
citizenship. We maintain that no
State, either by its organic law or
Legislation, a make any transgression
on the rights of the citizen legitimate.
We demand, and ask you TO concur in
demanding, protection TO every ciii-
zen of the great republic, on the ba.
sis of equality before the law; and
further, that no State Government
should be recognized as Legitimate un-
der the Constitution, SO far as it does
not, by its. organic law, mako impair
tial protection full and complete.
Under the doctrine Of State sover-
eighty with rebels in the foreground
controlling Southern Legislatures, and
embittered by disappointment in theiI
schemes to destroy the Union, there
will be no safety for the loyal element
Of the South. Our reliance for pro,
lection is now on Congress and the
great Union party that has stood, and
is standing, by the nationality, by the
Constitutional rights Of the citizen and
by the bcniicent principles of free
Government.
"For tho purpose of bringing the
loyal Unionists of the South into con
junctive action with the true friends
of Republican Government of the
North, we would invite you to send
delegates in goodly numbers, from al
the Southern States, including Mis-
souri,, Kentucky, West Virginia, Mary.
land and Delaware, TO meet in indie
pendcnce Hall, in the city of Phila
dclphia, on the first Monday of Sep
tcmber next 1t is proposed that we
should meet at that time to recommend
measures for tho establishment o
such government in the South as &C
cords with and protects the rights o
all citizens. We trust this call will b(
responded to by numerous delegations
OF such as represent the true loyalty
of the South, and that kind Of gov
eminent which gives full protection to
all the rights OF tho citizens, such a'
our fathers intended, and we claim at
our birthright.
"Elther the lovers of Constitutions
liberty must rule the nation, or reb,
els and their sympathizers be permit
ted to misrulo it. Shall loyalty or
dlsloyalty have the keeping of the des
TIMES Of the nation? Let the respons
cs to this call, which is now in circu
lation for signatures, and is being
unanimously signed, answer.
"Notice is gwen that gentlemen a
a distance can have their names at
tacbed to it by sending n request BY
letter, directed to d. W. Bingham
Washington, D, G. w. b, Stokes
Tennessee; Joseph S, Fowler, Tenn
; James Gcllys, Tenn; A, ], Hamilton
Texas; George W. PaschOl, Texas
Lorenzo Sherwood, Texas; G. w, Ash
burn, Georgia; Henry q. Cole, GA; J
W. McClurg, Missouri; John r. Kelso
Missouri; j. +. Benjamin, Missouri
George W, Anderson, Missouri; Johr
B, Troth, Fairfax County, Va; jaime.
Steward, Alexandria, "; Allen G
Harmon, Alexandria, Va Lewis Nc
Kcnzie, Virginia; j. W. Hunnicutt, Va
John G, Underwood, Va; Burnhan
Vaudeville, Va Alexander NJ, Davis
Va; Byron Latin, North Carolina
Daniel h, Goodloe. N. c.; Georg,
Reese, Alabama; NJ. J. Satfold, Ala; d
IL. Bingham and J. IL. Larcombe
Ala.