The national Republican., 1866-08-16
S,en. Dix.s speech.

Gen. JONI A. DIX upon taking the chair as
temporary President Of the National Con-
vention at Philadelphia Tuesday. An ab-
stract Of this speech was publisbed in our
special report OF the proceedings Of the Con-
vention yesterday morning, but we desire to
place on record the entire speech, which is
worthy Of the widest circulation that can bc
given N: II ttfti tif - " .Itl,
Gov. Randall said For the purpose Of the
temporary organization Of this Convention.
i propose the name Of Gen. John A. Dix, OF
New York, as temporary Chairman. Amid
loud cheers, Gen. Dix said:
SPEECH OF GEN. DIX.
Z Gentlemen of the Convention and Fellow
my sincere thanks for the honor you have
done me in choosing me 10 preside tempo
rar:ly over your deliberations. / regard 1t as
distinction Of no ordinary character, not
only on account Of the high moral and polit-
ical standing Of the gentlemen who compose
this Convention, but because II is Conven-
ton Of the people [cheersl Of all the States
Of ftis Union, and because II cannot full, II
It's proceedings are conducted with harmony
and good Judgment, TO lead to most impor-
tant results. II may be truly said that no
body OF men has met on this continent under
circumstances SO momentous and SO delicate
since the year 1887, the year when our ances-
tors assembled in this city to frame better
Government for the States that were united
under the old Confederacy-a Government
which has been made more enduring, we
trust, by the fearful trials and perils IL has
encountered, and the Constitution which they
came here TO form we are here to vindicate
and to restore. Cheers. '' f.'fr.
We arc here to assert the supremacy Of
representative government over all who are
within the confines Of the Union--a Govern
ment which cannot permit the violation Of
its principles or Of the protection II extends
to tho people who are represented In it.
over those who by virtue Of that representa-
ton are entitled TO voice in the administra-
tion Of the public affairs. (Cheers. Itwas such
Government our fathers framed and put in
operation. 1t is the Government which we
are bound by every consideration Of fidelity,
justice, and good faith to defend and TO
maintain. Gentlemen, we are not living
under such Government Thirty-six States
have for months been governed by twenty
FIVE. a1 r.,
Eleven, States have been wholly without
representation in the legislative body. That
numerical proportion OF the represented and
unrepresented has been changed by the ad-
mission Of the delegation from Tennessee
unit taken from the smaller and added 10 the
larger number. Ten States are still denied
the representation in Congress to which they
are entitled under the Constitution.
1t is this wrong which we have come here
to protest against, and, as far as in US lies, to
redress. Long and continued applause.
When the President of the United States
declared that armed resistance to the au-
thority Of the Union was over. all the States
had right to be represented in the legisla-
tive body. [Applause.l They had the right
under the Constitution. They had the right
under resolutions passed by both Houses of
Congress in 1861. Applause.l ha
These resolutions were not concurrent,
but they were substantially identical. More
over, they were entitled be SO represented
on other grounds Of fairness and good faith.
The President, not in pursuance Of any con-
stitutional power, had called on the confed-
Grated States to accept conditions Of their
admission TO the exercise Of their legitimate
functions as members Of the Union-the rat
ifcation Of the amendment to the Constitu-
tion abolishing slavery, and the reputation
of the debts contracted to overthrow the
Government. These conditions were made
and accepted. The exaction Of new oondi-
tions is unjust; violation Of the faith Of the
Government, subversive Of the principles Of
our political system, and dangerous to the
public prosperity and peace. Applause.
Of the qualifications Of its members, and can
reject individuals for just cause; but the two
bodies act conformity, and cannot exclude
ant Aala with . xab1
assumption Of power. Applause Con-
gress has not only done this; it has gone
further.
II has incorporated new conditions in
amendments to the Constitution, and sub
mitted them for the ratification of the States
There is no probability that these amend.
ments will be ratified by three-iourths Of the
States of the Union. 10 insist on the con-
ditions they contain is to prolong indefinitely
the exclusion of more than one fourth Of the
States from their representation in Congress.
Is this the Government our fathers fought
to establish Cries of "No,' "No"l Is
this tho Government we have been fighting
to preserveY Cries Of mo-" .No"J The
President has done all in his power 10 cor
rect this wrong, Applause and cheering to
restore the legislative body to its full pro-
portions by giving to the members Of the
Union their proper place in the public coun-
ellis. Legislation without representation is
IN anomaly under our political system. No!
In our form Of government 1t would be an
other name for usurpation and misrule.
Gentlemen, / trust that in our delibera-
tions here we shall confne ourselves to one
main purpose, that Of redressing the wrong
to which have referred. There is much in
the administration Of our Government which
needs amendment-some things to be done
and others to be undone.
There are commercial and financial re-
forms which are indispensable to the public
welfare, but we shall not have the power to
carry out these until we change the political
complexion Of Congress. Loud cheering
and applause. This should be our first, our
immediate aim. Applause. 1t is in the
Congressional districts that the vital contest
is to take place. The control of one body
will enable us to prevent partial. unjust and
pernicious legislation. But the control OF
both Houses, with the power to introduce
and carry out salutary reforms, to bring the
Government back, in the language Of Jeffer-
son, "to the republican track" will come
later. Applause.
But with wise, harmonious, judcious &C.
tinn nm our mart and op tho mart of thoaa