The Idaho world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1864-1918, 1866-08-25
The Philadelphia Convention.

3
Convention, representing all the thirteen
colonies, assembled in the same city and
there iuaugurated the grand movement which
separated those colonies from the mother
country. All shades of political and reli-
gious sentiment were represented in that
Convention. The Catholics of Maryland, the
Puritans of New England, the Reformers Of
New York, the Episcopalians of Virginia, the
Huguenots of South Carolina and Georgia,
the friends of strong centralized Govern
ment, and the advocates of a pure Republic,
waving all opinions on MINOR subjects,
agreed IN the immortal Declaration of Inde-
pendence to one great fundamental principle,
"that Governments derive their just powers
from the consent of the governed" They
based the Declaration upon that undeniabIe
principle, and sustained it by the broad
sweeping charge against the Kings that he
had refused "laws for the accommodation. of
large districts of people, UNLESS THEIR pEo-
PIE WOULD RELINQUIsH THE RIGHT OF REPRE-
sENTATIoN in the Legislatures right inesti-
mable to them, AND FORMIDABLE TO TYRANTs
ONLY"
After ninety years, the American people
find themselves in the same position as their
forefathers in l776. The tyranny against
which they rebeIled--TAxATIoN WITHOUT REP
REsENTATIoN-has again obtained foothold
rnon tho A,nor;cor .on,;nont. ond ocroi, III q
American people, without distinction Of psr-
ty, meet from every section, from every State,
in the same city of Philadelphia, to counsel
for the public good, and devise measures for
the maintenance of Republican institutions.
The Convention of l776 defended the rights
of three millions of freemen. The Conven-
ton of 1866 will defend the rights Of SIX
millions of people,,
Congress ia excluding the representatives
of the Southern States, has inaugurated
REVOLUTION 1t has issued its DEGREES as
dictatorial and arbitrary as ever issued from
the undisputed will of a Gear of Russia II
has usurped the powers Of all the depart
ments of this Government, and crystalized
them into. an unrestrained. irresponsible
Central Directory, claiming unlimited pre-
rogativc over the rights, lives, liberties and
of nearly one-half of the Union.
1t has overthrown the old Government of
the Republic, broken down the barriers of
the Constitution, and erected new and
strange system, foreign to every instinct Of
American freemen.
The late Congress t0as a Revolutionary
an Gssemblage Of Traitors.
It's members took solemn oath to support
and defend the Constitution of the United
States. That Constitution expressly provides
or equal representation in the House of Rep
'esentatives. according to the population of
ILL The States alike, and equal representation
of EVERY STATE in the Senate; and it ex-
oressly declares that no amendment shall I
EVER BE MADE to that instrument WHEREBY
Any STATE SHALL BE DEPRIVED OF TWO SENA-
TORS IN THE US. SENATE
In assuming to deprive eleven States of
my representation whatever, and to organ
re a Congress solely from the members of
particular States OF one section, the late
Congress transgressed its limits and usurped
covers in the teeth of the instrument which
gives them all the privileges they possess.
They had no more right to deny admission
% the Southern members, than these men,
cers have to deny admission to the Northern
representatives. They had no more right to
make the adoption Of the Constitutional
amendment ABoLIsHING slavery in the SouTH,
! condition of admission, than the represen-
satives of the Southern States had to require
he adoption of an amendment ESTABLISHING
slavery in the NORTH. They had no more
tight to drive the Southern Congressmen
rom the Capital by RESOLUTION, than they
had to drive them out AT THE POINT OF THE
sAYoNET.
The time has now come totest the nature
IF this Government. If it is Republic, let
t be one one, in fact as we'll as in name. I'll
t is something else, letus know its name and
is power, that we may learn to endure its
sxistance,. ifthe American people have SO
ar 'degenerated as to. quietly submit to the
IMPOSITION.