Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1867-02-12
Union Organization in Alabama.

The unconditional union people of
northern Alabama held q convention
at Moulton, Jan. 9Th, for the purpose
of permanent organization. 1t was
a distinguishing feature Of the meet
ing that several late rebels, now cop
perheads, were present, who moved
any amount of amendments to resolu-
tions. They were willing for Con-
gress to rule, bit only according to the
Constitution. They moved any a
mount of IFS and butts which were all
voted down and very simple resolu
ton adopted, pledgihg support to
Congress in any present or future re-
construction policy for preserving re-
publican government in Alabama
30 that the republicans were in con-
trolling majority.
Among the proceedings Of the con-
vcntion we notice that Col. j. B. Cal.
lis was present and spoke as follows
mr.. President and Gentlemen OF the
Conventional come before you to-
day, not as the distinguished orator
YOU have represented me in the call
for this Convention: ] appear before
you not as citizen of your State,
but as an officer of the Army, and as
such do not deem it becoming in me
to take the initiatory in a purely pos
litical movement like the present
That, gentlemen, is left for You to do.
| meet you, however, as an uncondi-
tional Union man, and am truly glad
to m ct so large an assembly of the
same sort here tosday, and to acqu'-
esce in their action. | regard this
convention as the initiatOry step to
results Of vast Importance, hence the
necessity ofcool and deliberate action,
lest certain plausible pretexts be Civ
en- to those who are not in sympathy
with you, fer their bubbles and cons
demnation.
This | deem the most important
meeting held in Alabama since the
war, and your cool and determined
deliberation in this convention, will
lead to the most satisfactory results
Hasty and thoughtless action in bod
les like this, as we'll as in Legislative
bodies, often prove fatal to the results
sought for. | say, therefore, be care
full what you do.
am satisfied that the Government
a4n,,l.. Jov~ Nth nran aYsrn1 m ..a
ceivc you, provided you accept the
easy terms offered by the Congress
Of the United States. To all those,
then, WHO in any manner engaged
in the rebellion | would say, cling no
longer to the damnable heresy of Sc
cession that has plunged your State
into ruin. Coalesce with no one who
even sympathizes with it. Speak OF
it in public places and in the private
family circle in terms of derisiOn.-
Teach your children to despise Sc
cession and love the old Flag; but al
the same time treat the unfortunate
victims who are to-day smarting IN
der the humiliation Of defeat and
mourning the loss of loved ones, with
kindness. A voice-"what is Con-
gress going to do with us2') | an
not able to tell you. That depends
upon your own action One thing
will tell you, Congress will never g
back.
l think however you will have am
pie time TO mark out your futur
course before they take any decided
action but if you let the time pass
and your State continues to show
factious and rebellious spirit, woe b
unto you.
II celebrating upon and adopting
platform on which to organize anC
form a nucleus of a Union organize
ton it is best to recommend sue
measures rs will make a distinction
between an original participation il
the rebellion, and those who voteC
against the ordinance of secession
but were coerced into antagonist
against the Government by various
forms of pressure. Such resolution
will be an element of strength, ant
without it tie ends Of justice capno
be met, even under the COnstitu
tional amendment.