The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1867-12-19
UNION LEAGUE OF AMERICA,
Proceedings of the Session of the Ma.
81 tIonal Council. S
IMPORTANT OPERATIONS OF THE LEAGUE
DTRING TIE PAST YEAR.

wards Hall on wednesday morning, Ihei'
being about two hundred delegates present
representing the State Councils OF nearly al
the States and Territories. During the
session. which occupied two days, many in
teresting addresses were delivered ny mem
bers of Congress and other prominent per
sons and the proceedings throughout were
of deep interest and entirely harmonious.
The subioined is a condensed report OF such
of the proceedings of the Council as it was
deemed advisable to lay before the public
the organization being secret i'll its character
III: wEDNEsDAY-MoRNING SESSION.
The convention met at 1880 P. NJ, and
was called to order by Hon j. M. Edmunds,
president Mr. James B. Boney, of Penn,
sylvania, was appointed secretary, and
= Brother D. r. Brewer, of Virginia, as as
y sistant secretary.
A committee on credentials was appoint
ed, and reported favorably on the credentials
of nearly two hundred delegates, who were
admitted to seats; and after the admission
of all members in good standing to seats In
the council. and adoption Of password, the
council commenced business.
Resolutions to the effect that the Republl-
can nominating convention should not be
held prior to the 1st Of June, 1868, and that
a committee of three be appointed to com
municate this expression Of opinion to the
National Republican Committee, We're
offered and passed, and a committee APP
pointed.
A committee to nominate officers for the
ensuing year and to suggest amendments to
the constitution appointed.
= The National Executive Committee pre-
sented their annual report, which was read
by Hon. j. NJ. Edmunds, chairman, and of
which the following IS an abstract:
Z The meeting was the first annual meeting
of the National Council of the Union League
of America, an organization which has been
watching over the institutions OF the people
and guarding against unwarrantaDle oppres-
sions and encroachments upon the sacred
rights of those of whom the nation IS COM
posed. Though it was organized amid the
., storm of the rebellion and the convulsive
struggle of the people for national life, on
the present occasion it had assembled when
% more vital issues are pending.
The report further says that the situation
of affairs was anticipated at the last meeting
of the National Council, and every means
possible were used to avert it. To prove
this the report quotes the resolutions adopt
ed by the National Council of 1868, 1864,
1865, and 1866.
The condition of the order at the date of
the last annual report, briefly stated, was:
list. In the strong Republican States of
the West. Northwest, and New England,
the active work of the order had been sus-
pended in consequence of a conviction that
the supremacy OF loyalty had been fully es-
tablished
I'd. In the great central but more evenly
balanced States the organization was yet
vigorous, and had participated with energy
and success in their recent elections.
Sd. In the border States and non-recon-
structed States the order was vet in the first
stages ofprogress with State or central Or
CARNATIONS in but few of them, but with
local though disconnected councils in ALL
which were gradually and surely laying the
foundations for the State organizations
Since the last meeting the Executive Com
mittee had proceeded to the extension of
the order over that region with all possible
ability, but during the earlier part of the
year were somewhat embarrassed by want
OF finances. 1t was not till the expiration
of the Thirty-Ninth Congress that any
public man could be found who appreciated
the vital importance of the work, the wide
spread application OF which Invested the
authors of that direct responsibility which
they would have incurred in view of local
or less important measures. A number of
prominent Republicans then came to tie
support OF the League, they being told that
it the Northern States should be held firmly
to the Republican standard, the League
would add the unreconstructed States and
Tennessee, and that those States would sus-
tain the reconstruction measures of Con-
gress. This promise has been fully redeem
eel, and though the result cannot he claimed
to be wholly due to the League it is not too
much to say that it could not have been
gained without its work
The cardial CO operation of the League
with the Union Republican Congressional
Committee since July last has added greatly
to the efficiency of both organizations, and
has been productive of economy in their
management.
49, The practical and direct results of extend
ing the League over the South are:
1. That IN Tennessee and at least nine of
the unreconstructed States effective working
State Councils have been established, and
subordinate councils spread over them with
a sufficient membership to control results in
almost every county. In Texas a State
council will soon be formed, and the man to
whom the authority was granted is the act. |
ing Governor, who is in hearty sympathy. |
and believes that the State will be carried |
for the Republican party.
2. The party is indebted to the League for |
Republican Governor, and for Republican |
Senators and Representatives in Congress |
from Tennessee.
8. In nine of the unreconstructed States ;
elections have been held, and the party has !
triumphed. There are about twenty-five
hundred subordinate councils in the South.
In New England and the Northern and
Northwestern States no work is being done.
The order has been reorganized in Mary
land; and in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and
New York the organization is in full opera
ton, and has large, effective strength. The
work of the order is temporarily suspended
in the Territories and Pacific States. The
receipts were $4,647 rs for the year, and this
sum, By strict economy, has betrayed nearly
all the expenses.
The report then goes on to consider the
present position of public affairs, and, in
Herewith, the committees states:
1st 1t is not only possible, but feasible,
by the extension and continued vigilance of
The League, to hold firmly and to complete
he work of reconstruction, and also to
our ascendency in Tennessee; thus
ldding to the Republican strength eleven
ntire States, which have always been solid
apital for the Democratic party. These
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