The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1867-11-20

Address Of the Constitutional Union
Party Convened at jackson, Mis-
sissippi, Oct. Is, 1861. sft1 -.,,.t I.

Addr esS 0,thef G0nStltutl 0nal Union
Party Convened at jackson, Mis-.
isissippi, Oct l5, 1862. si'1 .',5t :,
! blads.i,sli 4ts3 ls-----I Il 1io i9iIi4
TO THE People OF MISSISSIPPI :4Fbe
State Conyentiop of tile Constitutional
Union party, held in the city ofJacksen,'
on the 18th Of October, adopted and pub
,lished resolutions expressive Of the opin-,
ions and policy of that party, to which we
invite special attention. $3.50 ati fa.i =
zgBy unanimous vote the convention adj
,vised the people, not to vote, either upon
the convention. question: or for delegates,
at the ensuing election under the military
bill las thereby we might involuntarily
aid in enforcing the provisions of the said
bill" A brief consideration will show the.
wisdom oftlis policy Bp the terms of the.
.bill,1 two things are required to be done be-
fore q convention can, be called. First, q
majority, of all the persons who have regis
tered must vote OF \ he elections. Second,
a majority Of those who do. vote must east,
then, vote. for a convention ID To- illustrate
the working Of the Congressional plan.
suppose that 100000 persons are registered
as, voters, and that all who oppose a cons
fvention decline to, vote, III that case the.
convention would fail if even $4,000 voted
for it, But if 50,00l voted at the election
some for and some against, t-thep 25,-
DOL votes would secure the convention,
Thus if we. decline to vote,rit will require
one vote more than bali the entire number
Unregistered persons to carry the conver-
ton /; but five vote, then. one vote over
one-qaarter Of the registered votes may
secure it. It is thus seen how non-voting
may be mastery, lfthe delegates had
been apportioned, as the b,H requires, ,ac-
cording to the law Of the State, we might
have elected d majority Of delegates. The.
manner Of the superintendent presents an
other and strong reason for not voting at
all, Some may desire to vote at least for
delegates, but snch votes may be counted.
as votes given for a convention; and we
regard the policy as most unwise, i not IA
tai. ~ s.f' = pan = 'i ,f = '.
But this policy OF n6n-v9tlns, does not
imply non-action. On the contrary, the
convention argos the people to organize
forthwith, in every precinct, and to work
jealousy for our principles. Upon our
success depends the supremacy of the Con-
stitution and the perpetuity ofthe Union,
civil government liberty and peace. The
success Of the Radical plan involves the
destruction Of the Constitution and the
Union; the overthrow of'civil order and
the prostitution of industry. 1t presents.
no,hope of peace or good to either poputa-
sion--White or black; but threatens un-
mixed evil to both. Looking to the re-
suits of the registration,it may be truly.
said that Congress is unable to contriVe
asains US evils SO lmonstrous as those
whicq may be imposed upon US If this plan,
ofreconstruction is adopted. 3@at5 = ii3s...t
The results of the late elections should
inspire all to earnest efforts to support the
Constitution and secure the restoration of
constitutional peace and order. The Con-
servatives of Ohio wenttfinto the canvass
against a triumphant majority Of over AZ, :.
600 votes and their opponents had all
! that talent, skill and wealth could give to
aid them. You have heard the glorious re-
suit. Some off, had hoped fora reaction
in the North, and loi edelnge sweeps
over the land. Hundreds of thousands of
Constitutional Union men, their numbers
ueW swelling into millions, exhort US to be
firm and patient law abiding; and to work
and wait in hope, soon to be realized, for
perfect restoration7 ofgthe constitutional
Government Of our fathers, Our ALL is at
stake---the Constitution, the Union, our
liberties, our every interest, social and po-
litical and shall we not labor to- secure
them?
The interests of the freedman are the
same as our own; and we freely pledge to
him all that he can enioy-much more than
he can ever secure under the Radical plan.
The fate of parties is constantly changing,
as we now see at the North. The party
triumphantly successful last year, is now in
danger of utter defeat and that defeat
caused in great degree by hostility Of
Northern men to negro suffrage.ulf these
States are, to, be subjected to negro rule,
the Northern men will be. practically, ex-
cluded from the South. Negroes will re-
present these States ia Congress; and
possessing this large balance oflpower. will
soon rule the country, The Northern peo-
I pie begin to see these things, and the result
lis that hundreds Of thousands abandon The
Republican party.Hasi'o y a1'isaf71 a9i'''9
It.was afatal policy I'd attempt to make
the poor negro a scape goat in party polli
ftics. In the ups and downs Of party he is
sure ITO tie che sufferer. 1t was d mon
strcus iniquitytto drag aim IN as an iis'ru
ment OF party ehicanery.9 1al Gilss99
We must labor to save him sas we'll as
ourselves. and teach him that his welfare i
|inseparablY connected with our own. LIE.
all organize and work Let every speaker
take the field Let the press put forti, It'll
power, and urge our principles and polio,
in every issue. Let every citizen, in every
|rneighbofhood, appeal to his neishbors--
white and black land p'ead the cause o
Etrnth and Justice. Let every man see tina
every voter in his neighborhood is forth
with notified Of the policy not 70 r'ote, LIE
notices also be posted everywhere. LIE
the people of the counties meet and pro
claim to. their brethren ofthe North, thei
yearnugs for the Constitution, and for con
stitutional peace and Union. Let all Ia
Dor and wait in hope, and our deliveranc
bis sure ]; bur five voluntarily take upol
! ourselves the yoke of perpetual seryitude
, who shall deliver us ?tas 4 Il zea b
We are sworn, to support the Consst ll
tuition" and therefore may not sustaia II i!
! military bill, which, as 19had. Stevens ae
, mits, is violation Of the Constitution
We are sworn not. only to support the Cor
! stitution, but /" to thesbest Of ability I
encourage Others 80 to do" Let US faitf
fully keep that oath, and exhort our 1eigl
bors, white and black, SO to do
ass sa GEO. L. POTTER, pass
! wa gR u Il. NJ. iYERGER, % sfa
D. SHELTON,
4as sat,taitl W. BROOKE s. 4
"a .s.at DIV MeRAE, III J rs,
4 =. r. JONES, Il ,sl&l
State Central Executive Committe
ler tsssfts-3 - s1s- Z ORR