The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1866-07-12
THE DEMOCRATIC ADDRESS.

The following is the address of the National
Democratic party, just issued 1t is signed by Hon.
Reverdy Johnson and forty other Senators and
members of Congress:
WASHINGTON, July 4, 1856.
To tke People ef6e United States:
Dangers threaten. The Constitution-the cita-
del of cur hberties-is directly assailed. The flu
ture is dark unless the people will come to the
rescue.
In this hour Of peril, National Union should be
che watch-word of every true man.
As essential to National Union, We must main
tain unimpaired the rights, the dignity, and the
equality of the States, including the right of rep
resentation in Congress- and the exclusive right of
each State to control its own domestic concerns,
subject only to the Constitution of the United
States.
After uniform construction of the Constitution
for more than half century, the assumption OF
new and arbitrary powers in the Federal Govern
mont is subversiVe of our system and destructive
Of liberty
A free interchange of opinion and kind feeling
between the citizens of all the States is necessary
to the perpetuity Of the Union At present, eleven
States are excluded from the national council
For seven long months, the present Congress has
persistently denied any right of representation to
the people Of these States. Laws affecting their
highest and deerest interests have been passed,
and in disregard of the Fundamental principle OF
free government This denial of representation
has been made to all the members from the State,
although the State, in the language Of the Presi-
dent, spresents itself not only in IN attitude OF
loyalty and harmony, but in the persons of repre-
sentatives whose loyalty cannot be questioned
under any existing constitutional or legal test.
The representatives of nearly one-third of the
States have not been consulted with reference to
the great questions of the day. There has been
no nationality surrounding the present Congress;
there has been no intercourse between the repre-
sentatiyes of the two sections producing mutual
confidence and respect. In the language of the
distinguished Lieutenant General at is to be re-
GREETED that at this time there cannot be greater
eommingling between the citizens Of the two Sec
tions, and particularly of those entrusted with the
hw-making power" This state Of things should
he.zemoved at once and forever.
Therefore, to preserve the National Union, to
vindicate the suficiency of our admirable Consti-
tuition, to guard the States from covert attempts to
deprive them of their true position in the Union,
and bring together those who are unnaturally
severed, and for those great national purposes
only, we cordially approve the call for National
Union Convention, to bo held at the city of Phila-
dslphia, on the second Wednesday (l4th) of Au-
gust next, and endorse the principles therein set
forth.
We, therefore, respectfully, but earnestly urge
upon our fellow-citizens, in each State and Terri
tory aud Congressional District in the United
States, in the interest of union and in spirit of
harmony, and with direct reference to the princi-
pies contained in said CALL to act promptly in the
selection Of wise, moderate and conservative meE
to represent them in said Convention, to the end
that all the States shall at be restored to their
practitional relations to the Union the Constitu-
ton be maintained and peace bless the whole
country.