Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1866-07-19

COLL IOT the convention III Iulluutlpnla.
/ have said that many Of the principles
stated In the call are In my view unob-
jectionable. i will not stop to criticize
those which are Objectionable, but con-
tent myself with stating that the call
falls TO take any notice of one OF the
great issues now before the American
people. / allude to the question wheth-
er the several States shall ratify or re-
ject the last amendment proposed by
Congress to the Constitution of the
United States, This is grave and all
important question. The issue upon it
cannot be avoided. II should be placed
fairly and squarely before the people,
The failure to take ground upon so i'm
portant and all.absorbing a question
must be attributed either to desire TO
avoid the issue or as declaration of be-
lief and policy against the adoption Of
the amendment. Being myself earnest
ly and decidedly in favor of the adoption
of the amendment by the States, eau
not go into an organization that would
smother 1t by avoiding its discussion.
/ must add that no man is more de-
sirous than am to attain the entire
restoration of the American Union, with
its practical workings in more perfect
harmony and concord than ever, and the
surety, as far as mortal affairs can be
made sure, of endless perpetuity in the
future. The blessings to flow from such
a Union are countless and inestmable,
but such union consistent within it.
self, maintained by the universal con-
sent Of all classes and sections and laugh
ing to scorn both the assaults of foes
internal or external and the ravages Of
time and change will only be obtained
by sternly retracting every departure
from or compromise with the su-
preme and general idea fundamental to
the American Constitution. That gen.
eral idea consists in brief Of the politi-
cal liberty and equality of mankind I'M
der the law. Such and such only can
be the Union, the nationality, that will
put in form the magnificent and lofty
dreams of the American continen tai
mind and fulfill in the future the high
est efforts of the presents and past. 1t is
not the vague delusion that the rights
Of the States need doctoring. The Amer
lean theory eliminates properly in the
sacredness Of the rights of individuals
of each single individual. This after
all Is what Washington carved out with
the sword and Jefferson tiltering it thro'
his subtle and clear mind drew up and
put on record with the pen.
1t is well known that in the practical
and logical history of the United States,
the only departures or compromises of
the kind alluded to have been those in
the interest Of slavery and it's manifold
Incidents. do not, of course, propose
to go over the thousand times told tale
OF the past sixty years today slavery,
as confessed legality, is as we all
know, no more; but some of the most
important Of it's incidents or compro-
misses still remain, bots and incongrui-
ties upon the law. What equitable rea-
son can be given why these incidents
also should not be erased ? "Time was
when the brains were out the man would
die" but now we see the limbs demand
ing to live and move, as if the nervous
centre still existed. The persistent at
tempt to keep in the Constitution the
rule of an unequal and unfair basis of
representation is perilOus to the future
peace of the country and will surely
cause chatting sense of Injustice as
long as it continues Furthermore, the
high mission of the Union party. as
aVowed in the Baltimore Convention
TO extlrpate slavery-includes the re-
moval OF all the hateful and anti-popu-
lar eXcrescences engrafted by that insti-
tuition for its own selfish aggraudize-
ment upon our free national laws and
policy. That high mission and obliga-
ton cannot be accomplished until all
which slavery has so engrafted is cut
out, for until then slavery is not extir-
pated. Earnestly sympathzing with
the men who look to a law ofeOual rep-
resentation as the only guarantee both
for popular rights and popular acquies-
ence | would feel myself out of place in
q party that favors basis of represen-
tatlon giving peculiar and unrighteous
advantage to a portion of the body DO
lltlc, to the 6etriment and dissatfsfac-
ton Of the whole.
uniting with you and all good men in |
the soul-felt desire that peace, prosper
ity, and that amicable brotherhood |
when Is more than any worldly pros |
perlty, may soon prevail and continue
lRoroken through our beloved country,
mat former enmities shall die out and
De forever lost, and that all over the
broad domain of America equal laws
shall protect equal rights to all man
Kind
nave the honor to subscribe myself
YOur OhPdient aarvant