Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1867-09-19


Maryland, Missouri, ani Kentucky, aud
the District of Colulnbi. we're very fully
represented
The object OF the meeting was, in the
language Of the call, to advance the
cause OF manhood suffrage, and to de.
mand Of Congress the passage Of the
Sumner Wilson bill
A temporary organization was effected
by the selection Of Hon. Lewis Thomp
son, ofDelaware, chairman, aud Mr.. Jas.
w. Clayton, of Maryland, secretary.
Letters we're then read from Sumner,
Wilson, Bob. Schenck, John Sherman,
Richard Yates, and Godiore S. Ortb, all
expressing their Puritan sympathy.
a committee was appointed to select
permanent officers, who reported Hon.
Horace Maynard for President, with two
Vice Presidents from each Border State
and the District-A. P. Clark and John
Thomas Johnson representing the Dis
trict of Columbia.
The following resolutions were
adopted; -
|. 1t is the duty of Congress, under
the National Constitution, to protect the
equal voting rights Of all loyal Ameri.
can citizens, regardless of their com
plexion, for the reason that 10 admit the
rights of a State to limit the franchise
to one class admits its right to limit it
to any extent, an abuse efiectually
guarded against by the Constitution in
recurring that the United States shall
guarantee to every State in the Union
republican form of government.
2. That with this duty placed upon it
by the fundamental law Of the Republic,
the Congress that has prescribed code
of equal rights for nine States latel y in
rebellion cannot, in reason or in justice,
withhold its patient audience nor its
swift and thorough relief from the States,
q majority Of whose people have always
faithfully adhered to the Republic,
8. That this action Of Congress, de-
manded by constitutional authority,
would be not only an act of justice to in
dividuals. and o measure OF protection
in the Border States, but bond of unity
to the Republic in seasserting the rights
of man as proclaimed by the Declare
ton of Independence.
4. That we respectfully urge Congress
to act bravely and thoroughly in the adop-
ton of whatever measure they may de-
termine to be requisite to the establish
ment of peace and prosperity through
out the whole land, and we expect them
to repose full faith in the courage, 10y
atty, and intelligence of the masses of
the. people who regard no perils as more
to Be Stunned than timidity and indif-
ference in their representatives, and
who will always sustain Congress in
their efforts to establish by law the most
thorough development of true republi-
can institutions.
s. That while we affirm the constitu-
tional power and duty of Congress, by
statute, to secure to the States repub.
lican form of government, yet we earn
estly urge upon Congress- to present to
the States for their adoption an amend
ment to the Constitution of the United
States, providing that mo State shall
disfranchise any citizen because of race
or color, and thus put beyond the danger
of political changes the fundamental
rights of American citizenship.
The other resolutions approve the &C.
ton of Congress in the reconstruction of
the rebel States; acknowledge the
patriotic services of Hon. E. NJ. Stanton,
and calls upon Congress to reinstate
him; applauds the services, prudence,
and frmness of Grant, and the country
looks to him to execute the reconstruc-
ton acts of Congress
The tenth resolution is as follows:
10. That it is the duty of the House of |
Representatives, as the paramount ne
cessity of the approaching session, to
present articles of impeachment to the |
Senate for the trial of Andrew Johnson |
for high treason and misdemeanors |
against the Constitution and the
laws passed in pursuance thereof;
for the usurpation of the powers dele
gated to the legislative department of the |
for obstructing, hindering
and delaying the reconstruction of the
States lately in rebellion; for the removal
Of faithful officers in violation of the law
he indecency and indecorum of his
public administration the perverse
,bstinacy by which he intensifies the
iisloyalty of unrepentant rebels, and his
persistent opposition to the will of the
oval people of the nation.