Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1866-08-21
GREAT NATIONAL CONVENTION.
Grand Demonstration Of Conservative
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Ele first days proceedings of the National
Union Convention at Philalelp',ie, will be
found on our first page. On Wednesday
morning a permanent organization OF the Con-
yentien wOs effected by the election of Hon.
JAMES R, DOOLITTLE, OF W.iscopsin, as
President, and the selection of one Vice Pre-
sident from each State. From the State of
Virginia. Judge JouN w: BaooKESBRouan
occupied the position of Vice President, aud
THOMAS SwEENY for West Virginia en-
takinglthe Chair, Mr.. DooIittlc addressed the.
Convention as follows:
Gentlemen Of the Contention and Fello,D-
Citizens Of the Lnne1 States :-( Cheers y
For the distinguished honor of being called
upon to preside, Sincerely thank You.
could have wished that these responsibilities
had fallen upon another, but rely upon that
perfect and generous confidence which has
called me to the chair.
~ enter upon my duties with earnest homes
of the success Of our great cause. Among
the great events of our day, this Convention
will prove, believe, to be one of the greatest
for peace has her victories not less renowned
than war, and this Convention is one of her
victories. lay not say GROWING victory
Tor tho first time in six years a National Con-
vention representing all the States now as
scmbled SIX long and weary years. and as
: We lock back, what an interim of blood. and
agony and tears During that period we have
peen engaged IN the most gigantic civil war
the world has ever seen, wasting our resources
drenching thousand battle fields in fraternal
blood, and carrying to their graves, our IA
: theirs. our sons and our brothers by hundreds
of thousands. And, thanks be to Almighty
God, thcfwar is over. [Applause.] Peace,
blessed peace, has come. The assurances
which we here witness tell us that peace has
come, and come to stay. EApplausc. I
~ Oh, my fellow-c citizens, if the whole people
Z OF the United States could this moment look
IN upon this Convention; if they could see
what we now witness-the North and South
the East and the West joining together in
fraternal association as friends and fellow
cltizens-our work would be already done if
theyscould have seen as We saw, Massachu-
sets and South Carolina, by their full dele
cations, coming arm in arm into this great
Convention; if they could have seen this
body, greater in numbers and in weight of
character and brain, than ever has assembled
on this continent under one roof melting to
tears of joy and gratitude to witness this com
mlnStlnS, there would be no struggle at the
polls In the coming election. CApplause.1
When [ remember that it was Massachu-
sets aud South Carolina that in the Couyen-
ton which framed the Constitution voted
against the abolition of the slave trade that
1t was Massachusetts in 1872 which, through
some OF her men, taught the doctrines of null
LITIGATION, which South Carolina re asserted
IN 1888, and in the form Of secession re as
serted in 1860; when [ call to mind that
South Carolina fred the first gun in this con-
test, and that the veins of Massachusetts,
poured out the first blood in the struggle;
and when call to mind all these memories
and, at the same time, ask the people of this
country to look in on this Convention and see
these two old States of the Union coming here
In traternal embrace, approaching the common
altar OF common country, ready to make
common sacrifices for the good of the whole;
say again, could the whole people of the
United States witness all this, there would
remain no further work for US 10 Perform
1t the people OF Massachusetts herself could
have witnessed it, not single member would
be returned to Congress from that State until
he had given most sacred assurance that he
would do all In his power in Congress to re-
eognlze the equality and dignity of all the
States under the Constitution, includin" the
sacred and inalienable right of everv State
under the Constitution to representation in
both Houses of Congress.
Gentlemen of tho Convention-I shall 90
into no argument on this occasion. The dis
tlnSulshed gentleman, General Dix,) who
preceded me, has said all l could desire to
say, much better than 1 could say it. l en-
dorse, and take great pleasure in fully en-
dorslng all that he said, sentence by sentence,
word by word
Fellow Observation-Disclosures it may be,
the whole people of the United States are not
here to witness what is now Transporting; there
fore the great work still rests upon US. From
this time until the election of the next Con-
gress, We should be unremitting in our exer>
lions to see to it that the next Congress. if
tins should continue to refuse the sacred right
OF representation to equal States, that the
next Congress shall recognize that right
When that is done, the Union is restored
And when the Union is restored, we shall be
prepared, in my judgment, to enter upon
higher and nobler career, among the nations
OF the earth, than has ever yet been occupied
by any Government upon which the sun of
Heaven ever shone. We shall stand in the
Tanguards of civilization and liberty We
shall lead the way by the light of our exam>
pie, for all the nations of the earth
Gentlemen, without OBTAINING you any long
or, shall enter at once upon the duties of the
chair.
Throughout the whole session of the Con-
vcntion, its proceedings were of the most har-
monious. character, and marked by a spirit of
Cancellation and harmony, which augurs we'll
for she future peace and prosperity of the
country. After the permanent organization
was effected, the following dispatch from the
President was received and read -
WASHINGTON, Aug. 18th, 1866.
To tie Hon. o. H. Bro,rniMg and linn. 4
". Randall, GonreMtiom at FH2adclphiu:
. thank you for your cheering and en-
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