Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1866-05-02
"The National Union Club"

Washington, to which has been imputed
the design of organizing third or John
son Party" 1t has been called The John
son Club, but we perceive that the name
chosen by itself is The National Union
Club . We fnd in a Washington paper
the names of the officers and the platform,
and it being probable that some of our
readersmay have some curiosity to hayesome
thing better than mere rumor concerning
them, we give them below, with the remark
of the Pittsburg Commercial, that the line
of distinction between this platform of prin
ciples and the recognized doctrines of the
Union party, as laid down in the the Chi
cago and Baltimore platforms, exists more
in the imagination than in reality. With
these principles strictly adhered to. it seems
to us that there should be nothing but har-
'mony among those who votedsfor Lincoln
and johnson
OFFICERS OF THE NATIONAL UNION CLUB.
President-iion. Alex w Randall, of
Wisconsin.
Vice Presidents-Hon. Daniel s. Norton.
of Minnesota; Hon A. J. Kuykendall, of
Illinois Hon. VIM. F. Johnston. of Penn
sylvania,
Secretary-Samuel B. Lauffer, of Penn
slyvania.
Corresponding Secretary. B. Furgeson,
Of Tennessee
Treasurer B. Rittenhouse, (Presi-
dent National Bank of Commerce, and of
the firm Of Rittenhouse, Fowler & Co.
Executive Committee-Hon.G Green Clay
Smith, of Keutucky; Hon. Thomas y.
Stillwell, of Indiana; Hon W. A Burleigh,
Of Dacotah.
PLATFORM NATIONAL UNION CLUB.
l. Resolced, That we are now, as hereto
fore, ardently attached to the Union of the
States under the Constitution of the United
States; we deny the right of any State to
secede, and hold that all the States are now
States in this Union, as before the rebellion.
and we deny the power of the General Gov
ernment, under the Constitution, to exclude
State from the Union or to govern it as a
Territory
=. Resolred, That our confidence IN the
ability, integrity, patriotism, and statesman
ship of President Johnson is undiminshed,
and we cordially approve the general policy
of his administration.
s. ResolceI, That we endorse the resolu-
ton of Congress Of July, 1861, declaring
the object Of the war on. our part to be the
defence aud maintenance OF the supremacy
Of the Constitution, aud the preservation of
the Union, with the dignity equality, and
rights of the several States unimpaired.
f. Resoiced, That, in the language of The
Chicago platform OF 1860, and as quoted by
the late President Lincoln in his first inaug
ural address, The maintenance iAvi0iate OF
the rig hts of States, and especially of the
rights of each State to order and control its
own domestic institutions according to its
own Judgment exclusively, subject only to
the Constitution of the United States, is es-
sential to that balance of power on which
the perfection aud endurance of our politi-
cal fabric depends. "
B. Resoired, That under the Constitution
of the United States is reserved to the-sev-
eral States the right to prescribe the qualiti-
cations of electors therein; and that it would
be subversive of the principles of our Gov
ernment for Congress to force universal suf-
trage upon any portion of the country in OPP
position to the known wishes Of the citizens
thereof
g. ResolUed, THAT this Union must be
and remain one and indivisible for ever, y
that the war for its preservation having
been brought to a triumphant close, and the
supremacy of the Constitution vindicated,
the rights of the States under the Constitu-
ton are to be maintained inviolate, and that
loyal citizens within the States and districts
lately overrun by rebellion are entitled to all
the rights guaranteed to them by the Con-
stitution.
T. Res0lced. That all the States of the
Union are entitled by the Constitution Of
the United States TO representation in the
councils of the nation, and that all loyal
members duly elected and returned, having
the requisite qualifications as prescribed by
law, should be admitted to their seats in
Congress without any unnecessary delay by
their respective Houses, each House being
the judge of the election, returns and quail
fcati0ns of TO own members
s. Resotcea. That treason is a crime
which should be punished, aud that we are
opposed to compromising with traitors by
bartering universal amnesty for 'univer-
sal suffrage"
9. Resoiued, That the payment of the
national debt is sacred obligation, never
to be repudiated; and that no debt or obi
CATION incurred in any manner whatever in
aid of treason or rebellion should ever be
assumed or paid.
10. ReSolced. That we cordially endorse
the restoration policy of President johnson
as wise, patriotic, constitutional, and in har
mony with the loyal sentiment and purpose
OF the people in the suppression of the re-
bellloh; with the platform upon which he
was elected ; the declared policy of the late
President Lincoln, the action of Congress,
and pledges given during the war
IL. ResolUed, That the nation owes
asting debt of gratitude to the soldiers and
sailors of the late war for the suppression
IF the rebellion, and that the families of the |
fallen heroes who died that the country
might live, are the wards of the people, and |
should be cared for by the Government.