Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1866-08-01
The Southern UntOnists.

CIRCULAR ACCOMPANYING THE CALL FoR CON-
vEMIoN OF SOUTHERN LoYALISTs.
The call for the convention of Southern
Unionists was accompanied by the following
circular:
WASHINGTON, ID. c.. 10th of July, 1866.
"Sir: The undersigned have been appointed
by the signers of the accompanying call com
mittee TO address you in their behalf, and urge
you to prompt and energetic efforts in the ap
pointment OF delegates from your state aud
section to meet delegates from the other sOuth-
ern states in Philadelphia, on the first Monday
in September next. BY the strong ties of COM
mon suffering of the past, and the dangers pres
ent aud future which surround u.s. We appeal to
you once more to come the rescue 10 a mo-
ment of immenent danger to yourselves and
our country.
1--WE mad all hoped that when treason was
beaten il the field aud her armed traitors cap
tive to the government which they had wicked
ly sought 10 destroy, we of the South who,
through fur long years of untold sufferings
and horrors, adhered to her fortunes and her
banner amidst all the changes and vicissitudes
OF war, would at least receive protection to all
constitutional rights of America citizens. We
relied confidently the sense of Justice
and gratitude of all the loyal citizens of the
United States, through their senators and
presentallyes IN Congress, to guard IN the most
etfeclual manner our future peace and security
against the maevolence, vindictiveness, hate
and disl0yaliy of the late rebels. This conf
dence, bel eve, has not been misplaced.
We relied, too, as we had right TO rely, on the
earnest and efficient cooperation of the Exec
utye of the nation, placed in power by the
great Union party of the country, bee .use of
mis- supposed devotion 10 the government, and
| uis adherence OF tresson, and desire to see
| intelligent, conscientious traitors punished
and made dsreputable.
| "We confidently expected his hearty CO.
| operation with the political depar tment of the
government 10 providing such governments in
| the States lately in rebellion as would protect
The country from conspirltors in official position
| against its peace, and secure the loyal citizens
in life, liberty and property, together with the
| lnestlmtbe privilege Of impresslng upon the
| minds # others his conscientious convictions OF
| truth by speech or through the medium OF the
| press. W e also had reason tc hope that the
| reedmtn as well as the loyal white man of the
south would find ample protection for his rights
as an American citizen, by actual military force
If necessary, until equal laws and corrected
| public sentiment would place them on hrm
anC enduring basis. In these hopes, predicated
on the oft-repeated declarations OF the Presi
cruelty deceived.
We have neither seen treason made odious
| nor traitors disreputabie by any act OF The Ex-
| ecutiye of the nation. We have seen traitors
| leading, Intelligent, conscious traltoGs-bearng
away from the national capital with exultstion,
| in the same pocket, indemnity for the past and
Endorsement and security for the future, IN the
| form of special psrdons and appointments to
federal office, while leading intelligent Unlonists
| do, laItfxr fha
ernment was dot the passport to Executive
favor, but, on the contrary, servile subserviency
to the President and his 'policy as against the
! deliberate and matured Judgment OF the loyal
! people of the United States and the constitu-
tional power of the Senators and Representa-
tiyes in Congress, were the only conditions re-
quirei of applicants for favor, whose claims thus
| sustained were in no instance impaired by
treasonabe anteoedents.
ave have seen our states that remained IN
rebellion to the close of the war, without an
exception, reunited to the control of rebel
magistracy, elected by rebels 10 the exclusion
of the friends of the Unicn With one voice
we can testify to the encouragement given to
traitors and treasonable sentiments in the South
| in the past twelve months, and the deep gloom
ard despo ndency which has settled upon the
minds and hearts of the loyal people In those
| states
| "When the effect Of the Presidents policy
was first fel, to be pernicious and ruinous, We
were justi6ed-certainiy excusable-in believ :
| ing that it was but an error IN Judgment which
would be corrected by him with promptltude as
soon as discovered. We had well hoped that
he would hold to just accountability those
| who We believe had so grossly abused his Glenn
ency and apparent magnanimity. They have
| doubtless understood him far better than we.
| The entire course of the rebels seems to meet
his unqualified assent and appreciation. The
| election of an unpardoned rebel to the Chief
| Magistracy of rebel state, who in his first
| message to the legislature denounced the war
on the part of the United States against the re-
bellion as the most unhoy and disgreceful In
character ever practiced by Christian nation,
had the effect of procuring MS speedy pardon.
"The entire control, by the late rebels and
present eonspirators against the peace of the
country of eleven states; men who cherish the
most deadly hatred of all lovers of the govern
ment, and are threatening them with violence,
as in the beginning of the rebellion, who de-
nounce the loyal people of the loyal states and
heap invectives on their loyal Senator'S and Rep
resen,atives in Congress, who they pray may be
| forcby elected by the bayonet from the halls
OF the National Capitol, and the government
administered by the will of the President; these
| and such these, together with their northern
| SympatnlZere, are eetccneu III asSocidles anu
counsellors of the chief magistrate of the nation,
and constitute the material out of which a new
party-the johnson party-is to be formed to
guide the country through its present perlls
| and mould its future destinies.
| "The leaders of the movement are well under
stood by the loyal country. The President
and his friends, we'll knowing that he has for
ever forfeited the confidence of the great Union
party which elected him, have madly determin-
ed to organize new party of this 'speckled
progency of many confunctions. This effect
| has been to consolidate and chrystalize the
Union party. 1t stands to-day more compact,
powerful and confident than at any period Of
Its existauce Its triumph in the approaching
fall elections is not only certain, but Will be
overwhelming. What is the duty of the un-
conditional Union men of the South and what
is to be done in their positionp Our duty is
plainly to act with the friends OF the govern
| ment, who are our friends aud our only friends.
We must take position with the loyal people
and Congress of the nation against the ma
chination of the new coalition of rebels and their
northern sSmpathizers.
"We can have no utilization with those whc
deride and hate US because of our love OF the
Union now and in the past, and who, there Il
abundent reason to believe, are at this mo
ment again conspirng to overthrow the gov
ernment. If those who are to constitute this
new party should attain power and posses
themselves OF the control of the government
what consideration may be expected at thel