Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1866-08-15

l over which the symbolic stars are fixed
' completes this decoration. Il may be re
| marked that the States include West Yir.
ginia. This is a general outline of the in
/ side appearance of the Wigwau:
: The ground outside is covered with booths
from which water melons, cigars ginger
: beer, and other such combustibles are to be
sold. The prOprietors Of most of these es-
adjustments had laid in stores of whisky
and lager beer, but the District Attorney in
terfered with their little arrangements.
The national flag floats from high flag
staff over the building. The weather is
warm and pleasant
The delegates seem to be in friendly ac-
cord with each other. The band is playing
national and other melodies, and under
these combined harmonious influences the
Convention opens its proceedings. At
about noon the members Of the Convention
began to arrive, and soon filed W the body
of the hall, The galleries also became
pretty well filled. The Post Master Gen
eral Randall announced that the delegation
from Massachusetts and South Carolina
would now enter arm in arm. This caused
the guidance to rise and cheer Justify: and
as the representatives. Of those two States,
| headed by Mr. Orr, of South Carolina, and
| GeHeFi Couch, Of Massachusetts,, walked
mp one Of the aisles, and IN this fraternaI
manner the highest degree Of excitement
! and enthusiasm was manifested.
The band played alternately Rally
| ROu1d the Flag" Away Down South in
Dixie, The Star Spangled Banner" and
Yankee Doodle" Men waved their hats
and elapped their hands and cheered vo-
eiferously, and the few ladies present mot
more than score or two) waved their
handkerchiefs.
PnILADELPHIA, August l4.-At 1880 p. m.
Mr.. Randall opened the Convention By say
ing: " Gentlemen, I have to announce that
the delegates from South Carolina and Mas
sachusetts will come arm in arm into this
Convention" This announcement was
greeted with great applause, the entire au-
dience rising to their feet and the band
playing " The Flag Of our Union" Hon.
John 4. Hogan, from the stage, when quiet
had become restored, proposed three cheers
for the thirty six States Of the Union, all
loyal, which were enthusiastically given
This was followed by tremendous cheers for
President Johnson.
The organization of the Convention was
then effected by the election OF General !
John \. Dix as temporary chairman. L. O. |
Perrin, Of New York; John F. Coyle, of the |
District of Columbia A. r. Potts, of Penn |
sylvania, and James Z. Obeirn were then |
chosen temporary secretaries. The an |
nOunccment of the name of General Dix !
was received with the greatest enthusiasm. /
Mr.. Rsndail-The Convention will please /
come to order for the purpose Of ehecing a /
temporary organization of this Convention. |
propose the name Of Gen. J. A. Dix of |
New York, as temporary Chairman of this
Convention. LApPlause-l
General Dix came forward and said
~ / a - =
citizens Of the whole Union, I return to YOU
my sincere thanks for the honor you have
done me in chosing to preside temporarily
over your deliberations. I regard il as a
distinction Of no ordinary character, not
only on account of the high, social and pO-
litical standing Of gentlemen who compose
this Convention, but because it is q Con-
vention Of the people of all the States Of
tnis Union, Iapplausel and because We
cannot doubt if its proceedings |
are conducted with becoming and good
judgment it will lead TO most important re-
suits. 1t may be truly said no body Of men
have met on this continent to consider
events so mOmentOus and important since
the year l776-[ Applause the year when
our ancestors assembled in this city to form |
better government for the States which
compared the old cOufederation-a govern
ment which has been confirmed and made
more enduring. as we trust, by fearful trials
and perils which it has encountered and
overcome. [Applause. The Constitution
which they come here to frame we are here
to vindicate aud restore. IApplausel We
sentative government We all are within
the confines of the Union. applause A
government which cannot, without a viO-
Iation of its fundamental principles, be
extended over any lu. those who are repre-
scented in it; over those who, by virtue of
that representation, are entitled to a voice
in the administration OF public affairs. 1t
was such q Government that our fathers
framed and put in operation; it is such a
Government which we are bound by every
principle of fidelity and Justice and good
faith to defend and maintain. Applause.
Gentlemen, we are not now living under
such a government. Applause ] Thirty
six States have for some time been governed
by twenty-five States. lApplause Eleven
States have been wholly without represen-
tatiou in the legislative bodies of the Ma
ton. The numerical proportion of the rep
resented and unrepresented States has just
been changed by the admission of the dele
cation from Tennessee unit taken from
the smaller has been put 20 the larger num-
Der; but there are ten States still denied
in Congress, to which they
are entitled under the Constitution. The
President, not in pursuance Of any Consti-
tutiOnal power, had called on the Conioder
ates to accept conditions for their admission |
to the exercise Of their functions as mem
bers of the Union. The Radicals, of the
to the Constitution, abolishing
slavery, and the reputation of debts con-
tracted to overthrow the Government, were
the conditions. They were met and ac-
cepted. The exacLion Of new conditions
Q IL -. F.gE Ly,Fa- !
Government; subversive Of the purposes Of
our palitical system, and dangerous to the
public prosperity and peace. Applause
Each house Of Congress may as well judge
Of the qualifications of It's own members,
and reject individuals for Just cause; but
the two bodies acting conformity, can not
exclude an entire delegation without an Un-
warrantable assumption Of power. APP
plause. Congress has not only done this,
but it has gone farther. 1t has Incorporated
new conditions with amendments to the
Constitution, and submitted them for ratih
cation of the States. There Is no probability
that these amendments will be ratified by
three -fourths of The States Of this Union.
TApplause.1 To insist on the conditions
they contain is to prOlong indefinitely the
exclusion of more than One-fOurth of the
States from a right TO be represented in the
legislative bodies. They had a right under
the Constitution, and they had a right un-
der resolutions passed in both Houses of
in 1861. LApplause.l Those reso-
lutiOns were not concurrent, but they were
substantially Identical Moreover, they
were entitled to be represented on other
and good faith 1t IS this
wrong which we have come here to protest
against, and, as far as in us lies, redress it.
Applause When the President of the
United States declared that armed resist
ance TO the authority of the Union was over.
all the States had right to representation | {
in Congress. Applause.l Is this the gov
erument our fathers fought 10 establish ?
( Loud cries Of no. Is this the government {
we have been fighting 10 preserve? No, {
mol The President has done all in his I
power to correct this wrong. Applause | ]
He has done all in his power 20 restore the
rights of States in the legislature of the
country by giving to each section its full
status. Legislation without representation
is anomaly in our political system aad {
under any other form of government it !
would be but another name for usurpatiOn !
and misrule. Gentlemen, trust that in I
our deliberation here We shall confne our {
selves to one main purp0se-that of re-
dressing the wrong 10 which I have {
There is much in the admins
tration of the government which needs i
amendment Some things need to be done {
and others need TO be undOne. There are s
commercial and financial reforms which
are indispensable to the public welfare, but {
we shall not have the power to carry out {
these until we change the political com /