Delaware State journal and statesman., 1866-07-17
UNION NATIoNAL CONVENTION.
CALL OF THE SOUTHERN uNIoN1sTs.

The following is a call for Convention OF
the Southern Unionists, to be held at Inde-
pendehce Hall, in the city of Philadelphis,
on the first Monday of September, 1865;
"7'o the Loyal Uaioaists Of the South:
1.-THE great issue is upon US. The ma
jorlty of the Congress and its supporters
firmly declare that the rights OF the citizens
enumerated in the Constitution established
by the supreme law must be maintained in
violate Rebels and Rebel sympathizera
assert that the rights of the citizens must
be leit 10 the States alone and under such
regulation as the respective States choose
voluntarily to prescribe.
We have seen this doctrine of State
sovereignty carried out in its practical re-
suits until all authority in Congress was de-
MED the Union temporarily destroyed the
constitutional rights of the citizens of the
South nearly annihilated, and the land desc
lated by civil war
THE time has come when the reconstruc
tion of Southern State Government must be
laid on constitutional principles, or the
despotism grown up under an atrocious
leadership be permitted to remain
we know of no other plan than that
Congress- under its constitutional powers,
shall now exercise its authority to establish
the principle whereby protection is made
coextensive with citizenship.
eve MAINTAIN that no State, either by its
organic law or legislation, can make trans
gression on the rights of the citizen legiti-
mate We demand and ask you to concur
in demanding protection to every citizen OF
this great Republic on the basis of equality
before the law; and further, that no State
Government should be recognized as legiti-
mate under the Constitution, in so far as ii
does not, by its organic law, make impartial
] protection, full and complete. Under the
doctrine of State sovereignty, with Rebels
in the foreground controlling Southern legis-
lation, and embittered by disappointment in
their schemes to destroy the Union, there
will be no safety for the loyal element of the
South. Our reliance for protection is now
on Congress- and the great Union party has
stood, and is standing, by the nationally, by
the constitutional rights of the citizen, and
by the benefcent principles of free govern
ment. For the purpose of bringing the 10y
al Unionists Of the South into conjunction
again with the true friends of. republican
government in the North, we invite you to
send delegates in goodlY numbers from all
the Southern States, including Missouri,
Kentucky, West Virginia, Maryland and
Delaware, to meet at Independence Hall, in
the city Of Philadelphia, on the first Monday
of September next. II is proprosed that We
should meet at that time to recommend mea
sures for the establishment of such govern
ment in the South as accords with and pro
tects the rights of all citizens.
I'VE trust this Call will be responded tc
by numerous delegations of such as repre-
sent the true loyalty of the South. Tha
kind of government which gives full protec
ton to all the rights of the citizen, such al
our fathers intended, we claim as our birth
right Either the lovers OF constitutions
liberty must rule the nation, or Rebels an(
their sympathizers be permitted to misrul
it. Shall loyalty or disloyany have til,
keeping of the destinies of the nation? lie
the response to this call, which is now in cir
culation for signatures, and is being nuiner
ously signed, answer.
"Notice is given that gentlemen at dis
, tance can have their names attached to it b,
sending request by letter, directed to D
I W. Bingham, Esq, Washington, D. @.
9 Wv. B. Stokes, Tennessee; Jos T. Fow
Ter, Tennessee; Jas Getty, Tennessee; A. j
, Hamilton, Texas; Geo. W. Paschal, Texas
! C. B. salni, Texas; C. W. Ashburn, Geor
t gia; Henry G. Cole, Georgia; ]. W. Mcclee
-, ry, Missouri; John r. Kelso, Missouri; j. F
! Benjamin, Missouri; George W. Anderson
Missouri; Jno B. Trott, Fairfax county, Va.
b ]. NJ. Stewart, Alexandria, Va; VIM. A
, Berkeley, Alexandria, Va; Allen C. Harman
Alexandria, Val Lewis Mckenzie, Virginia
E j. W. Haunicutt, Virginia; John c. Under
! wood, Virginia; Burnham Wardwell, Virgi
I mia; Alex NJ Davis, Virginia, Byon Latin
\ North Carolinai Daniel R, Goodloe, Nortl
Carolina George Reese, Alabama; D. Il
a Bingham, Alabama; NJ. j. salfold, Alabama
q. j. H. Harcombe, Alabama