The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1866-08-22
specch-Of Gen. Dix.at the Phil
adelphia lCOnventiOn.


Gen. John A. Dix, on taking the CHAR
spoke as follows: ..
Gentlemen Of The Convention and feHow-
citisens..cf the whole Union
1 return..to you my.-sincere thanks for
the honor you have done me in choosing
me to preside temporarily over your delib.
erations, and l regard it as a distinction of
no ordinary character, not only on account
Of the high social and political standing
Of the gentlemen who compose this Con.
vention, but because it is a Convention
Of the people of all the States of this Tn,
ion, applause, and because we can not
doubt, if its proceedings are conducted
with becoming and good judgment, it
will lead to most important results.
1t may be truly said no body Of men
have met on this continent to consider
events SO momentous and important since
the year l77G-[applause]-a year when
our ancestors assembled in this city to
form a government for the States that
composed the old confederation; a govern
ment which has been confirmed and made
enduring, as We trust, By tho fearful trials
and perils which it has encountered and
overcome. Applause The constitu-
tion which they amC here to frame, VIC
arc here to vindicate and restore. ZAP.
plause. We are here to assert the su'
premacy Of representative government
We all are within the confines of the Un'
ion-[applauso, Ia government which
canrot, without o violation Of its funda'
mental principles, DO extended over any
but those who are represented in it, ovel
those who, by virtue Of that representa-
ton, are entitled to q voice in tho admin.
istration Of public affairs.
1t was such a government that our ia
theirs framed and put in operation. 1t i!
such a government which we are bount
by every principle Of fidelity and justice
and good faith to defend and maintain
[Applauso.] Gentlemen, we are now liv
log under such a government. Applause
Thirty six States have been governed b,
twenty-five States. Applause. Clever
States have been wholly without repro
sentation in the legislative bodies of thu
nation. The numerical proportion Of thu
represented and unrepresented States has
just been changed by the admission o
the delegation from Tennessee. A uniI
taken from the smaller has been put Il
the larger number, but ten States are still
denied tho representation in Congress t
which they are entitled under the Con
stitution. The President, not in pursu
anco, Of any Constitutional power, ha,
called on tho Uonfederates 10 accept con
ditiOns for their admission TO the exerCis
of their functions as members Of th
Union. The amendment to- the Consti
tuition abolishing slavery, and the repudi
alton Of debts contracted to overthrow tn
government, were amongthose conditions
3 and were met and accepted. The exaC
. ton Of the new conditions is unjust an
q violation of the faith of the government
subversive Of the purposes of our polite,
system, and dangerous to the public pro
perity and peace. [Applause.] Fac
8 House Of Congress may, as judge {
, qualification Of its own. members, reje,
individuals for a just cause, but tho tW
. bodies, acting eonjointly, cannot oxclut
au entire delegation without an unwa
!. rantablo assumption ofpowor. Applause
, Congress has not only done this, it b,
= gone farther, it has incorporated new 90
ditions with the amendments to the Co
stitution and submitting them for Il
ratification Of the States. There is a pr
8 liability that these amendments will
ratified by threc-fourth Of the States
this Union. Applause. To insist on Il
ut conditionsthoy contain is to prolong indie
q. nitely the exclusion ofmoret than one-four
!. Of the States from the right tobe represe
o. ted n the legislative bodies. They had
right under the Constitution (; they had
he right under the resolutions passed in DO
10 Houses Of Congress in 1861. TApplaus,
These resolutions were not concurrent, b
they were substantially indeutical. Ho
ever, they were entitled to DO represent
n, on other grounds Of fairness and 60
CO faith.
1t is this wrong which NO have como