The Conservative. (M'connelsville, Ohio) 1866-1871, 1866-08-17
SO States in Convention
Massachusetts and South Caro-
IinR Arm I'm Arm.
SPEECH OF GENERAL JOHN A. DIX.

PHILADELPHIA, August 14-At 1890
p. VI. Mr.. Randall opened the Conven-
ton by saying: Gentlemen | have TO
announce that the delegates from
South Carolina and Massachusetts will
now come arm in arm in this Conven-
ton.
Thisannouncomcnt was greeted with
great applausc-tho entire audience
rising to their feet and the band play
ing "The fJg of our Union"
Hon. John A. Hogan from the stage
when quietness had become restored,
proposed three cheers for the thirty
six States oftho Union, all loyal, which
was ENTHUSIASTICALLY given.
This was followed by tremendous
cheers for President Johnson.
Mr.. Randall-Thc Convention will
please come TO order for the purpose of.
cttccting n temporary Organization OF.
the Convention. / propose the name
Of General John A. Dix Of New York,
as temporary Chairman of this Con-
vcutjou.
Tho announcement Of tho name of
NNAlNIal lin WIS IANNtN VI WIN Nllt
greatest enthusiasm.
General Dix came forward and said:
Gcuctlcmcn OF The Convention, and
fellow citizens of tho whole Union
TApplausc1 Ireturn - you my sim
core thanks for tho honor you have
done me in choosing me TO preside
temporarily over your deliberations.
/ regard it as u distinction of no ordi-
nary character, not only ON account of
the high social and political
| staudingof the gontlemcn who compos-
cd this Convention, but because it Is a
Convention of the people Of all the
! States Of this Union, applause, and
! because We cannot doubt, il its proceed
iugs arc conducted with becoming and
good judgement, that it will lead to
most important results. II may be
truly said that no body of men have
met on this continent to consider
events so important. sinccthc year1T7G
Applause. The year when u an
]ccstors assembled in this city to form
a better government for the States
which composed the old confederation
"a government which has been con.
frmed and made more enduring, as 1--WE
trust, by the fearful trials and perils
which is has encountered and over.
come. [Applauso.] Tho Constitution
which they came here 10 frame we arc
here to vindicatc and restore. APP
plauso. We are here to assert the
supremacy Of representative govern
1 ugut we, all who's are within the confines
oflne Union, Applause, Ia govern
m,ut which cannot, without a violation
at It's fundamental principles, be extern
ded over any but those who are repre-
sented in It. GApplauso. Over these
who, by virtue Of that representation,
are entitled to n voice in the admins
tration Of public affairs. [Applause.
1t was such q government that our
fathers framed and put in operation.
! 1t is such n government which we arc
bound by every principle Of fidelity,
and justice, and good faith, to defend
and maintain. CApplauso, Gentle
men, we are notnowliving u%ndersucha
Government. Applause. Thirty
six States have for months been gov
ornod by twenty five States. Applause]
Eleven States have been wholly with
out representation in the Legislative
bodies of the Nation. The numerical
population Of the represented and I'M
represented States has just been chang
ed by the admission Of the delegation
from Tennessee. A unit taken from
the smaller has boon put to the larger
number, but ten States are still dcnicd
representation in Congress, to which
they are entitled under the Constitution.
The President, not in pursuance ofany
constitutional power, had called ON the
Confederate States to accept conditions
for their admission TO tho exercises OF
thor legitimate functions As members
ofthc Union. The ratification Of the
amcndmentto the Constitution abolish
ing slavery and the reputation OF
debts contracted to overthrow the Gov
ernmont, %cro those conditions. They
wcro mot and accepted. The oXaction
of new conditions is unjust and a viola
ton Of the faith Of the Government.
subvorsive Of the purposes OF our pol
itical system and dangerous TO the
public prosperity and peace. Zap
plause,1 Each House OF Congress may
as the Judge of the qualification Of It's
own members, reject individuals for
Just cause, but the two bodies acting
conformity cannot exclude an entire
delegation without an unwarrantablC
assumption of power. Applause,
Congress has not only done this, but
has gone further. 1t has incorporated
now conditions with amendments to
the Constitution, and submitted them
for the ratification of the States. There
is no probability that these amend.
ments will be ratified by throo-fomth'
of the States of this Union, [Applause
To insist on the conditionst they contain
is to prolong indefinitely the exclusion
of more than one-fourth Of the State
from their rinht To he rnnrosonted il