Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1866-08-15
THE PHILADELPHIaC CONVENTION


Proceedings Yesterday.
The National Union Conye n:ton met AZ II
O'Clock yesterday, pursuant 10 call Hon A
w. Randall. of Wisconsin, rose ana SAID
The meeting will now come TO order for the
purpose OF the temporary organization of this
Convention. i propose the name OF General
John A. Dix, of New ork, as temporary chair
man OF this Convention. lCheers.l
The proposition was Received with unani-
nous acclamation. General John A. Dix came
forward and said:
sPKKCH OF GENERAL DIX.
Gentlemen Of the COarea.ttOH -FsllOuo- citizens Of
Me htoie Union: l beg you to accept my SIN
ctTe thanks for the honor you have done me n
Choosing me as temporary chairman 20 preside
over your deliberations. 1 regard il rs a dis
uncuon OF no ordinary character, not only on
account OF the high standing social and polit-
ical, OF those who compose this Convention.
but because it is a Convention OF All the States,
and do not doubt, II its proceedings are con-
Quoted win harmony and good Judgment, n
will lead 10 the most important results In
deed, IL may be- truly said that no body OF men
has met on this continent under circumstances
more momentous or delicate since the year
l1c7, when our ancestors asse m bled here 20
form a better government for the States which
were parties 70 the old Confederation-a gov
ernment con Bfirmed and made more enduring.
we trust. by the fearful trials and perils Il
has encountered and overcome. The Con-
stitution which they came here TO plan and
construct we are here TO yindIcate and re-
store. We are here 10 assert the supremacy
OF representative government over all who are
within the confines OF the Union that
form OF government which cannot, without a
Violation OF ITS fundamental principles. be eN-
tended over any but those who are represent
ed. and who. by force of that represen tation,
are entitled TO a voice in its administrator.
L his ls the Government our fathers founded
and pnt IN operation. Ii Is the Government
we are enloined oy every consideration of
fidelity. justice, and good faith 10 defend and
MAINTAIN. Gentlemen, we are not living un-
der such Government. Thiriy-six States
hFN f.Aar a
five. Eleven States have been wholly without
represeL taiion in the legislative body. The
numerical proportion OF the represented 10 the
unrepreseDied has gust been changed by tht.
admission of the delegates from Tennessee
unit taken from the smaller and added TO the
larger number. Ten States, having regularly
organized governments in full operation, are
sui denied the representation 10 which they
are entitled under the Constitution Ii is this
wrong which we have come here TO protest
against, and As far in lies. TO redress
When the President of the United States de-
clared armed resistance TO the authority of the
Government at END, il was the right OF all
the States TO be represented in Congress. They
were, moreover, entitled 10 be so represented
on OtnPr grounds OF fairness and good faith
The President suggested to the confPdpratpd
States 10 accept certain conditions 20 the ad-
mission 10 the exercise of their Legislative
fun ctIons members of the ITnion-tha rati-
hcaiIon of the amendment TO the Constitu-
ton abolishing slavery. II was their right un-
der the Constitution. 1t was their right under
resolutions passed in lS6l by both Houses of
Congress, not concurrent, but substantially
Identical; and the repudia;Ion Of the debts
contracted TO overthrow the Government.
These conditions were accepted and agreed
TO. The eNactiOn Of new conditions l. unjust,
violation OF the good faith of the Govern
ment, subVersIye OF the fundamental princi-
pies of our political system. and dangerous
to the public prosperity and peace. Either
House OF Congress may, as the Judge of the
qualifications OF Its members, reject indiyidu-
ais for just cause; but the two Houses, as a
body, ac ting nlointly, cannot exclude entire
delegations without an unwarrantabe As
sumption of power. Congress has not only
done this; II has gone farther. II has pre-
scribed new conditions IN the form OF amend
ments TO the Constitution. There Is not the
least probability that these amendments Will
be ratified by three -fourths OF the States To
insist on the conditions they impose il to pro-
tract indefinitely the exclusion from Congress
of the representatives OF more than one quar-
ter OF the States OF the Union. Is this the
Government our fathers fought TO establish
1s II the Government we have been fighting TO
preserve Gentlemen, there is no need OF
Impeachlng mott YES: nothing is ever gained
by yituperatiOn or by declaring other bodies
OF men TO be less conscientious than ourselves:
but we believe the scheme of exclusion adop-
ted by Congress TO be the offs pring of views
warped BY prejudice and passion: a policy
which neither addresses nor commPnds itself
TO the good Judgment OF the country, TO its gem
eroslty or Its justice. The President has done
ali within the scope of his constitutional DOW
eTs 10 correct this wrong-to restore the lecis-
lative branch of the Government to Its iull
proportions, by giving 10 all the members OF
the mon the share IN the National Councils
10 which they are entitled. Legislation with
out representation is anomaly under our
political system. It's but another name under
other forms OF government for II usurna:ion and
misrule. The President deserves the thanks
OF the country for the firmness with which he
has resisted policy so unjust, so iIIiberal. so
demoralizing, and so directly AZ war with
every prlnclpie OF our political organization.
i condition frHr raj
legislation under the aspects OF right on th,.
one hand and of only on the other the right of
the States TO be represented--the duty of Con-
gress 10 their representatives. On the score OF
policy, nothing could be more unwise than To
continue the present anomalous relations of
the States 10 each other. 1t is calculated TO
embltter on both sides animosities which wa
should endeayor. by all measures to smooth
and heal. 1t dsturbs the action of Govern
ment; it deranges the application OF labor and
capital: IL impairs the development of our re-
sources. and ii impairs our credit and our
good name At home and abroad and il retards
the progress OF the country on its march 10
prosperity andpower. l trust. gentlemen, we
shall make one great purpose the chief object
OF our MISUNDERSTANDING the evils i have
referred 10 by redressing the wrong of which
they are the legitimate fruits. There is much
in the administration of our public affairs
which needs amendment-some things 10 be
done and others TO undone. There are COM
merclal and financial reforms whIch are essen
tial 10 the general welfare. but we shall have
no power 10 carry them out until We shall
nave changed the political complexion OF
Congress. This should be our first, our i'm
mediate aim. Ii is in the Congressional dis
tricts that the vital contest is 10 take place
All other objects should subordinate this.
When we shall have secured a majority in one
House of Congress we shall have the power
OF preventing partial, unjust, and pernicious
legislation. The coHtrol of both Houses
with The power 10 introduce and en-
force sanitary reformS-ln the language of
jefferson 10 bring back the Government to
the republican track-must come late. but
with discreet and harmonious acusn
on our part, and on the part of those we repre-
sent, it cannot be long deferred. / believe that
public sentiment is right. 1t is only necessary
TO present TO the people clearly the issues be-
tween us and the ultraism which controls the
action of Congress. And, gentlemen. is not
The object for W hicn we are contending a con-
summation worthy of our highest and most
devoted eforts-to bring back the Republic,
purified and strengthened by the fiery ordeal
through which IL has passed, 10 its ancient
prosperity and power; TO present TO the world,
as all example worthy of imitation, not a mere
ttOpian vision OF Government, but that
grand old reality of better times, with which
the memory of our fathers and the recollec-
lions of the past are all inscparasly en-
tombed-One country one rag. one Union Of equal
States
The remarks OF Gen. Dix were received
with preat enthusiasm He was fraanan-Iv