The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1866-08-15
Fhe PhiIadeIpffa NatfonaI Union
CouVanfion

great applause tue 9nGtf6 au0leuC0 IL
sing to their feet and the band playing
the. Flag Of our Union
Hon. John A. Hogan, from the stage,
when quietnes8 had become restored
proposed three cheers for the 30 States
Of the Union, all loyal which were en-
Enthusiastically given. This was follow
ed by Tremendous cheers for President
johnson.
Mr.. RandaII-The Conventions viii
please come to order, for the purpose Of
eftectinga temporary organization Of
this convention. IFpropose the name
ofGen. John a. Dix, Of New York, as
temporary chairman of this Conven-
ton. (APplauss-l - n g..
Gentlemen Of the Convention, and
tellowsCitizens OF the whole Union: (Aps
plausel- return to you my sincere
thanks for the honor you have done
me in choosing me to preside Temporal
riIy over your deliberations, regard
It as q distinction Of no ordinary char
Rcter, not only on account Of the high
social aud political standing Of the
gentlemen who compose this Conven-
ton, but because IL Is q Convention Of
the people ofalI the States Of this Union,
( Applause, " and because we cannot
doubt, II its proceedings are conduct
ed With 5eeoming and good Judgment
that It viii lead 70 most important re-
suits. (Applause.( 1t may be truly
said that no body OF men have met on
this continent 20 consider events so mo-
mentous and so important since the
year zS7-(applause)- the year when
our ancestors assembled in this city 70
form better Government for the States
which composed the Old Confederation,
la Government which. has been con-
frmed and made more enduring by
the fearful trials and periIs which It has
encountered and overcome. ZAP
plause.) The Constitution which
they came here TO frame, we
store EAppIauBe.) We are here to
assert the supremacy of representative
Government; all who are within the
confines OF the Unions (Applause)ra
GoEernmsnt which cannot, without
violation Of It's fundamental principles,
be extended over any but those repre-
Sented in It; Applause) over those who,
by virtue OF misrepresentation are enti-
tied to a voice in the administration of
public affairs. (Applause.) It was such
q Government that, our fathers framed
and put in operation; it Is such Gov
eminent which we are bound by every
principle of fidelity, and Justice, aud
good faith to defend and maintain.
'(Applanse.) Gentlemen, we are not
now living under such a Governments;
.(Applause;1 thirty-sfx States have been
governed by tWeuty-six States; Zap
plause) eleven States have been wholly
without representation In the IegisIa-
tive bodies Of the nation; the numerical
proportion of the represented and un-
represented States has Just been chang
ed by the admission OF the delegation
from Tennessee. A unit taken from
the smaller has been put to the larger
number, but ten States are still denied
representation In Congress, to which
they ara entitled under the Coustitu-
Tho IN
of any constitutional power, had called
on the Confederate STAKES to comply
the new conditionsfor their admission
to the exercise Of their legitimate func-
tons aa members of the Union. The
qualifications of the amendment to the
Constitutions aboIishing slavery and
the Reputation of the debts contracted
TO overthrow the government were
these conditionsl They were accepted
The eXaction of new conditions is unjust
and in violation OF ehsffaith of the gov
ernment,, snbVersfve OF the purposes of
our political system and dogmas, to
public prosperity and peace! Cap
,pIause.1 Each house Of Congress may,
as the Judge OF the qualification
OF its own members, reject indiVid-
uals, but the two bodies acting
conformity cannot exclude or enter
delegates without an unwarfant-
able assumption OF power. (Applause.l
gone farther. It has Incorporated new
conditions and amendments to the Con-
stitutiou, and submitted them for the
ratification ofthe States. There is no
probability that these amendments will
be ratified by three-fonrths OF the
To insist ON the condition which
is to prolong Indefinitely the exclusion
of more than one-fourth Of the States
from the right to be represented in the
legislative bodies. They had right
under the Constitution; they had a
right under the resolutions passed in
both Houses OF Congress in 1851, Jap
plause.) These resolutions were not
CONQUERED, but they were substantial
y Identical, and moreover they were
entitled TO be represented on other
grounds OF fairness and good GIfth, It
Is this wrong which we have come here
to protest against, and as far as in US
lies redress il. (Applause.) When the
President of the United States declared
that armed resistance to, the~ authority
OF the Union was over all States had 4
right to representation in Congress.
( AppIause.) Is this the Government
our flthsrs fought TO establish. loud
cries OF MOL Ii this the Govern
ment we have been fighting to
dent has done all In his power
to correct this wrong, (App1ause.)
he has done all in his power TO restore
the rights of the States In the legisla-
ton of the country by giving to each
section It's fi1lI State legislation, With
out representations an anomoIy IN our
political SYSTEM Under any other form
OF government itwould be but another
name for usurpation and mfsrule. Gem
tlemsn, trust tEiatIn. our CELEBRATIONS
here we shall COnfiue ourselves to one
main purpose. that Of redreasing the
WrOngrtO7WhiGh have REFEREED. Hhars
is much IN the administration of the
government which needs amend
ment2 there ara commercial and
inanGiali reforms, which ara indtspen-
sable to the public welfare, but we shal
not have the power to carry out these
until we change the political
compilations OF Congress. (Applause.)
This should be our hrst and our inlmet
diate action GApplauBe,) 1t is in the
Congressional districts that the vital
contest is TO take place. The control OF
one body will enabl as oprsvent par
tiaE iujustics and pernIcious IegfsIaL
tion. The control or both Houses,
with the power 70 Introduce and carry
out salutarY reform, and bring the,
government back, In the language OF
johnson, TO the republican track, will
come later. (Applause.) By wise,
harmonious and fudicious action on our
part and thspart Of those we represent
that period. need not be long delayed.
I believe that public opinion Is ripeand
that It is only necessary to present TO
10 the people clearly the issues between
Us and the other party which controls
the action OF Congress, and gentlemen
cOntendtng a communication worthy of
the highest aud our most devoted ef-
fortsR (AppIHusesl - TO bring back the
republic purified aud strengthened by