The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1866-07-18
WAsHINeroN. July 4

WAsHINeroN, July 4
Dangers threaten the Constitution
The citadel Of our liberties i. directly as.
sailed. The future 10 dark unless the
people will eams to the rescue. In this
hour Of our peril National Union should
bs tho ~atch~ord Of every true man
As essential to National Union, we mus,
main.sin upi'npaired tn. rights, the dig
nifty, and the equality Of the States, in
cluding the right Of representation in
Congress, and tho exclusive righ, Of each
State to control lis own domestic Con
earns. suhj-ct only TO the Constitution Of
the United States. After an uniform
construction "f the Constitution for more
than half century. tho assumption Of
new and arbitrary powers in the Federal
Gov ernment is subv.rsivs Of ous system,
and des,ructivs "f liberty
A free interchange Of opinion and ind
feeling bs.wesn The citizens Of all tho
States is necrsssry to the .perp.tuity Of
tho Union. At present eleven States are
excluded from the national councils
For seven long months The pr.,en, Con
grsss has persistently denied any right Of
representation to the people OF these
S,atss. Laws, affecting their highest and
dearest interests, have been passed With
out their consent ard in disregard Of the
fundamental principles OF free govern
msnL This denial Of representation has
been made to all the members from .
State, although the State, in the language
Of the President, presents itself not only
in an attitude Of loyalty and harmony,
but in the persons Of Representatives.
whose loyalty cannot be questioned under
any existing constitutional or legal test.
The Representatives Of nearly one third
Of tho States have not been consulted with
reference to the great questions Of the day.
There hSs been no Nationality surround.
ing the present Congress. There has
been no intercourse between the repre-.
srnta,ives Of the two sections producing
mutual contidnncs sni respect. Ia the
language Of the distinguished Lieutenant
General: Il. is to be regretted ,ha, at
,hi. time there cannot be a grsai-, com.
ingling between the citizen, Of tho two
ssc.ions, and particularly of those en-.
trusted with the law making power
This state OF things should bs rsmovsd
At once and forever. Therefore. TO pre-.
ssrvs the National Union, TO ,indicsts the
sufficiency Of our sd,nifaSIt Cons,i,uti ton.
to guard he States from covert attempts
to deprive them Of their true position in
The Union. and to bring toge ,hsr thos.
who are unna,uralIy severed, aud for these
sr'st national purposes only. We cordially
approve the call fora National Union
Convention ia be held At the CITY O:
Ph""deIPhis. on the 81 Tuesday,. l4,h Of
August next. and endorse the principles
thersia set forth.
We. therefore, respectfully but earnest
~ urge upon our fellow citizens in each
State, IN the United States. in tn. intsr-s,
OF union sol Ia n spirit Of harmony, and
with direct reference to ,hs principle.
n,ained in said call, To act promptl, in
the selection Of Wise, moderate and con-
'srvativs men tor-pr-ssn, the SAID Con
'sntion. to Tie snd that all tho Sts,-s
'hal! At once bs re.,ored to iheir practical
'elatiens TO the Union, the Constitution
be maintained, and peace bIsss the whole
lSignsd by II membsra OF Congress-