The Cadiz sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1864-1911, 1866-07-11
Democratic Address
To THE
PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES.
EXCLUSION OFELEvEN STATES
FROM REPRESENTATION
CONGRESS.
NATIONAL CONVENTION n FHIIADTL-
PHIA APPROVED.
Names of the DiStInguislled
SigDers of the Call.
WASHINGTON, July 3. 1866.

To The People Of the Uaiief Stqtes:
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
the National Union should be the watch
word OF every true man. As essential to
National Union, we must maintain unim-
pared the rights, the dignity and the equal
ity Of the States, including the right of
representation, in Congress, and the exclu-
sivc right of each State to control its own
domestic concerns subject only to the Con-
stitution of the United States. After a
uniform construction of the Constitution for
more than ha I a century, the assumption
Of new and arbitrary powers in the Federal
Government is suhversive 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 eleven States are excluded from
the National council. For seven long
months the present Congress has persistent
ly 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 fundamen-
ia principle of free government. This de-
NAL Of representation has been made to all
the members from a State, although the
STATED in the language of the President, ''pre
sents itself not only in an attitude Of ~loyality
and harmony, but in the persons of repre-
sentatives whose loyalty can not be uues-
toned under any existing Constitutional or
legal test"
The representatives of nearly one third
of the STATES have not been consulted with
reference to the great questions Of the day.
There has been no nationality surrounding
the present Congress. There has been ne
intercourse between the representatives of
the two sections, producing mutual conf
dencc and respect.
In the language nf the distinguished
acknowledgement, 1T is to be regretted
that at this time there can not be a greater
commingling between the citizens of the
two sections, and particularly of those in
trusted with the law-making power" This
state of things should be remoued at once,
and forever. Therefore, to preserve the
National Union, to vindicate the suficiency
of our admirable Constitution, to guard the
States from covert attempts to deprive them
Of their true position in the Union, and to
bring together those who are unnaturaliy
ally severed, and for these great national
purposes only, We cordially approve the call
for a National Union Convention, to be held
at the city of Philadelphia en- the second
Tuesday, the 18th of August next, and in
dorse the principles therein set forth.
We therefore respectfully but earnestly
urge upon our fellow-citizens in each State.
Territory and Congressional District in the
United States, 10 the interest Of union and
in a spirit of harmony, and with a direct
reference to the principles contained in said
call, to act promptly in the selection of mod
crate 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