American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1867-09-28

ing the views and aims of the patri
otIe organization of which he is &
member, which were unanimously
adopted
Declaration and Principles of the Con
stitutional Union Party
Believing that the time has come
when citizens of Southern States may
hepe for an impartial hearing from q
majority Of their fellow citizens OF
Northern States, and that a necessi
ty exists for united action and zeal.
Gus effort by the American people to
/ preserve constitutional liberty and
! union-wa, citizens of Mississippi.
appealing to all good citizens every
| where, without regard to former par
ty associations, TO unite together up
on the common PLATFORM OF THE
CONSTITUTION, do hereby associate
together as members Of the CONsTI.
TUTIoNAL UNION PARTY, and pledge
ourselves to maintain the following
Declaration and Principles:
/. We recognize the whole country
embraced within the American Union
and every State and part Of it. as the
common country Of all American cit
liens, and that every citizen is free
to enter any State to Sojourn or re.
side, and is of right entitled, in com
men with resident citizens, to the
full protection of Just and equal laws.
We need increase ofpopulation, in
crease of capital and increase of the
pursuits Of diversified industry. TO
make our State great and prospe Gus;
and we cordially invite good citizens
from all party of the Union. and
from abroad, to come and dwell
with uS-hereby pledging TO thea
full protection and cordial vel
come.
We Shall hail the day wi Ell the
animossities OF the past are forgotten,
and there shall be, practically, in 30
ltical and social life, no North, no
South, no East, no West, but Fl. te,-
nal harmony and good will between
all citizens Of all parts of our com
mon country. Let this great Union
he what our fathers hoped fOr-thr
happy home Of Il common brother
hood Of American citizens.
.. We declare orr hearty devO-
ion to the Federal Union as it was
by the CONSTITUTIONAL COM
pick system Of government with a
wise distribution of powers, a part of
which are vested in the General GOV.
eminent, AMI parts are reserved to |
the States and to the people the
righttul powers Of each, unim paired /
bel g essential to the existence of
The Union OF the Constitution. We
are for Constitutional Union, one |
and indissOluble, as the only hope for
the preservation of domestic peace |
aud civil liberty. We declare against /
as en- jmfosSibiHty, and |
against consolidation as utter de.
't"ucton TO Constitutional Union.
3 We recognize the Federal Con.
,ti,utiOn as the Great Charter Of the
Union, and the Supreme Law, alike
" "''' az ~ pC''N' oNt! cldltS anu
}eopie. and over Federal and State
We pledge ourselves
o support it as it is, and will labor
o maintain it inyiolate, as the only
means to preserve liberty and per
,etuate the Union.
t. We recognize and will main,
ain inviolate tie freedom of our ne
gro population, and pledge TO them
I'LL protection of person and proper
Y, and The benefit Of inst and equal
avs. We desire their prosperity,
nd will CheertulIy labor to promote
heir practical good. But truth and /
andOr cOnstrain US to declare them
Incompetent, mt this time, to exercise
he dHtieS of the elective franchise, \
nd that their own interests, no less
han those Of the white population,
eguIre their exclusion from the bal /
OF box.
5. In no factiOus or hostile spirit,
,ut with an carne t desire to restore
peace and order, we
ieclare, in addition to the foregoing,
he following as our principles of ac-
ion:
Opposition, By all peaceful and legal
means. 10 all attempts to craft the Fed-
rdl OF state gorerhmcnts, or any de-
,artmeat Of either, ADORE the ConstitU-
ION.
Opposition TO all attempts TO impair
he right Of representation and self
IOrernmeHf IN the Sererdl States. Il
Opposition To M attempt 10 coercp Il
'weRdmeats IF either Federal or State
OF state la,cs, r1gpldt-
n9 sgfrGgc o. 01her matters II right
'M State administration, /!
Opp0Htion to df attempts Jy anu
authority TO gorerR any State or sec
ion BY martial lar, or toPpRisb ,ritL-
,ut trial, or prescribe By erpd-t fdcto
y
Security and equal protection torrery
eitisea ofercry state, IN al his ridafs
IF person and property, and especially
his right to the blessings Of GIRL gor-
1TmeRt, trial By jury, and due admin
IF lar in the GIRL courts and
the same equal protection to the freed
men by just lars impdrtidlly admins
tered to al classes Of our population.
Impartial equality in Federal lars 1
md administration throughout the ,
I-'oU 'boi OH may enjoy ma blessings