Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1866-08-15

setIs Enter Arm in Arm-Great
EnthUsiasm-TemPOrary Organ
izatiOn-Gen. Dix Temporary
Chairman-IHis Speech.
PHILADELPHIA, Aug. H.-At u :3OP. NJ
MIR Randall opened the Convention by say
ing:
Gentlemen, have to announce that the
delegates from South Carolina and Massa-
chusetts will now come arm in arm into the
Convention. This announcement was
greeted with great applause, the entire au-
dience rising to their feet and the band
playing "The Flag of our Union"
Hon. Jno. A. Hogan, from the stage, when
quletness had become restored, proposed
three cheers for the thirty-six States of
the Union-all loyal; which was % enthuS- g.
iastically given. This was followed bytre-
mendous cheers for President johnson.
Mr.. Randall-The Convention will please
come to order. For the purpose of effecting
a temporary organization of the Conven-
ton, l propose the name of General ,Jehn
A. Dix, of New York, as temporary Chair
man of this Convention. [Appause.l Cen
eral Dix came forward and said:
GENTLEMEN OF THE CONVENTION, AND
FELLOW CITIZENS OF THE WHOLE UNION
Applause. l return to you my sincere
thanks for the honor you have done me, in
choosing me to preside temporarily over
your deliberations. regard it as dis
tinction OF no ordinary character, not only
on account of the high social and political
standing of the gentlemen who COM
pose this Convention, but because it
is Convention of all the States of
the Union, [applause] and because we
cannot doubt: if its proceedings are con-
Quoted with becoming and good iudg-
ment, that it viii lead to most important
results. 1t may be truly said that no BODY
of men have met on this continent to con-
slider events so momentous and so import
ant since the year 1857, Applause, the year
when our ancestors assembled i'm this citv
to form better Government tor the States
which composed the old confederation
Government which has been confirmed and
made more enduring, as we trust by the
fearful trials and perils which it has en-
cOuntered- and overcome. [Applause.1 |
The Constitution which they came here to
frame we are here to vindicate and restore.
[Applause.] We are here to assert the su-
premacy. a., of representative Government
I'VE all, who are within the confines of
the Union, applause]; Government
which cannot, without violation of its
fundamental principles, be extended over
any but those who are represented in it
Applause lover those who by virtue of
that representation are entitled to voice
in, the administration of public affairs,
Applause. 1t was such Government
that our fathers framed and put in opera
tion. 1t is such Government which we
are bound by every, principle of fidelity
and justice and good faith to defend and
maintain. [Applause.
Gentlemen, we are not now living under
such Government. [Applause.l Thirty
six States have for months been governed
by twenty-five States. [Applause.] j Eleven
States have been wholly without represen-
tation in the legislative bodies of the ma
tion. The numerical proportion of the rep
resented and unrepresented States has Just
been changed by the admission of the dele
cation from Tennessee. A unit taken from
the smaller has been put to the larger num-
Der. But ten States are still denied repre-
sentation in Congress, to which they are
entitled under the Constitution. The Pres
ident, not in pursuance Of any constitu-
tionar power, had called on the Confeder-
ate States to accept conditions for their adj
mission to the exercise of their legitimate.
functions as members of the Union. The
ratification of the amendment to the Con-
,stitution abolishing slavery and the repu-
Idiation of debts contracted to overthrow
the Government, were these conditions.
They were met and accepted. The exac-
tion of the new conditions is unjust, and
violation of the faith of Govern
ment, subversive of the purposes
of our political system and dangerous to
the public prosperity and peace. ZAP
plause. Each House of Congress may, as
the judge of the qualification of its own
members, reject individuals for just cause;
hf,k flno sot,,
exclude !anentire delegation without an un-'