Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1867-10-05
Preamble and Resolutions

ADOPTED By THE UNION LEAGUE OF PHILA-
DELPmIA, IN GENERAL MEETING, SEPT.
1S, 1867.
WHEREAS, The League was organized for
the purpose of sustaining the National Gov
ernment, and the measures adopted by its
authority for the suppression OF the rebel.
lion, and Of discountenancing by all proper
means and influences that disloyal spirit
which was in sympathy with slavery and
treason, and animated all the conventions
and councils of the Democratic party.
AND WHEREAS, The efforts of the Demo
cratic party, now led by weak and faith
less man in the accidental exercise OF the
Presidential Office, to keep alive the spirit
of rebellion by a war upon Congress, by the
notification of the laws, by insidious at
tacks upon the public credit, and by their
apparent sympathy with prominent traitors,
prove that the work of loyalty is not yet
accomplished, an6 admonish us of serious
dangers to the public peace, which would
be greatly enhanced by the success of that
party in the popular elections now at hand.
/. THEREFoRE RESOLVED, That we do
most earnestly invoke the loyal citizens of
Pennsylvania to serious consideration of
our present political condition, and to the
Importance of q united and vigorous effort
to hasten the reconstruction of the Union,
and tranquilizc the country by the defeat of
the Democratic party and all its candidates
at the approaching election.
2. That the laws passed by Congress hav-
ing for their object the reconstruction of the
Union on the basis of liberty and justice to
| all men, rejecting as they do the loyal SEN
timents of the country, offer to the people
l<1fk kha tha f,, Il.
which they can reasonably hope to be rein.
vested with the rights they voluntarily re-
| linquished, in their mad attempt to destroy
the government which conferred them.
| 8. That the public acts of Congress under
the Constitution are the supreme laws of the
land that it is no less the duty of the Presi-
dent to see that they are faithfully executed
than it is of the people to obey them that
whether those laws relate to the reconstruc.
tion of the Union or to other subjects, every
attempt of the President to Illustrate or delay
the execution of them, is violation of his
trust and an abuse of the power of his Office
4. RESOLVED, That impeachment is the
sole defence of the people against the inca
pacity, negligence, or perfdy of the Chiel
Magistrate. (MADlsoN
That with view to the exercise of the
power OF impeachment, the House Of Repre-
sentatives have right to investigate the
conduct of all public officers under the Gov
ernment, and in such a case, the safety o
the Republic is the supreme law; and the
power OF the House in pursuit of this object
reaches the most secret recesses of the Exc
cutive department. (JAMEs X. PoLK)
That the abuse of power conferred upor
the President may be as criminal as the
usurpation of power which has not beer
granted, and would justify the House o.
Representatives III voting ON impeachment
UAMEs BUCHANAN
That wanton removal of meritorioui
officers by the President is an abuse o.
power which subjects him to the impeach
ment and removal from his own high trust
(MADIsoN)
s. RESOLVED, That the prompt and in
discriminate pardon of persons duly convic
ted and sentenced in the courts of tn,
United States, for counterfeiting the Nationa
currency;
The attempt to nullify the act passed BY
Congress over the executive veto, for thu
reconstruction of the Union;
The suspension of Edwin NJ. Stanton from
the Office of Secretary of War, the duties O
which he had performed not only Will
fidelity TO the country, but with distinguish
ed ability;
The removal of Gen. Sheridan, an accom-
plished and illustrious officer, from his com
mand, ut the instance of prominent traitor
whom he had offended by his faithful eIecu
tion of the laws;
And the recent proclamation of amnesty
issued as we believe without authority, an.
for the purpose of restoring to influence an,
power persons who melted the South to re
bellioD, and who are yet under an oath O
allegiance to government unknown to tn
constitution, which they hope to re.establsh
are acts which constitute prima .tacia, sucl
abuses and usurpations of power, as to de
mand the impeachment and trial Of the OF
fender, in order that the constitution may b
vindicated and the National Governmen
preserved in its integrity.
J y. That In the present alarming crisis o
the country, We conceive it to be our dut
to use all proper means to exclude the poll
tical influence and patronage of the Demo
cratic party from all offices within the gil
of the people and 10 that end we appeal 4