The national Republican., 1866-07-16
LETTER FROM sECRErARv SEWARD
APPROvtSs rHE PHILADELPHIA

III
wAsHiHeroS, ~ c., July II, l-ed
sIR: Excuse me for expressing surprise that you
a.k me vhs,hsr spprovs Of The call Of proposed
National Unios Convention at Phiisdsiphia.
AZ or more than ave years Of disiocatiou BY civil
war regard . restoration Of the unity. Of the
country - It's most immediate - we'll - its most
vital interest. That restoration will BE- complsts
when loyal men srs sdmittsd o. representatives Of
the loyal people Of the eleven statss long snrep.
resented In Congress. Nothing but this can CON.
plsts It. Nothing more remains TO bs done and
nothing more 10 necessary. Every days delay 10
attended BY multiplying and increasing iuoon.
vssisuces embarassmsou and dansso st
homs and abroad. Congress posssssss the power
ssciusivsly; congress, AFTER . session Of seven
months. still omiss to exercise that power. "what
can be dons 70 indacs Congress TO actr This 10
the question Of the day. Whatever 10 done must
bs In sscordsnos with the Constitution and laws.
It 10 In perfect accordance With the Constitutiou
and laws that the people Of the United States shall
assemble, BY delegates, in convention, and that
when so assembled they shall address Congress By
respectful petition and rsmoustrsnos and that the
people in their several ststes Districts and Terri.
tories shall approve. sanction, and unite in such
party could do this sfsctuaiy, or sven seems viii
ling to do 1t slone no local popular organisation
could do It efsctuay It 10 the interest Of al par
ties alike; Of al the States, and Of all ssotionss
national interest," the interest Of the whole people.
The Convention, indeed, may not sucosed In in
ducing Congress TO set. but II they fail, the at
tempt can make matters no worse II will be slaw-
full and patriotic attempt made III me right dirsc-
tion, an effort to DO remembered with pride and
satisfaction, whether II succeed fail Tho orisi-
nal union Of the Ststss was brought about BY move
msnts Of the same character. Tho oitissp who OBJ
jscts to the Conv.ption is bound to propose bet
ter plan Of proceeding to effect the desired end No
other plan is offered or even thought Of Those
sho should oppose 1t would seem to me to manifest
at best unconcern, II not oppositou 10 all recon.
struotion, restoratioa, and reconciliation between
the alIsnsted masses Of the Amsriosu peo
pie. To admit that the convention will fail,
would bs to admit that the people Of
the United States deficient In either the wisdom
the virtue nscesary TO continue the sxistsucs Of
the Republic. believe no such thing A great
political writer s#ys that government is secular
religion, aud that the people Of every country
divided into two classes each maintaining dstipct
political faith The one class sways fear the very
worst that oan possibly happen and the other hooper
under every circumstances the very best that osn
in any svent hsppsn.p ,.' n.# "a. 1l 11
Without accepting this thing as absolutsly true.
think that all men do generally act from motive
to guard against publ danger or else from posi-
tive desire to do good Roth classes may, there
tire, favor the present attempt to restore the unity
Of the nation. ...'.
l AN, SIR, your obsiient servant,
WILL IAN II. eEwARD.
Hon. J, R DooLIrrLE, Chairman Executive Com.
miltee, DO. .Hr