The States and Union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1868-1872, 1870-07-20

CtOtut, L<COftOHfCdC una If0bfSI OOO-
ernment, Issued by the Democratic
Members of Congress.
WASHINGTON, juno 24.-The De-
mocratic Senators and members of
Congress, at n Caucus held last night,
agreed upon an address, which was to-
day signed and issued, as follows:
10 our FsuoO citizens Of tie Unaed
States, Friends Of Constitutional,
Economical and Honest Government:
The undersigned beg leave to call
your attention to the peculiar import
ance of the elections which take place
this year, and respectfully to submit
some suggestions for your considera-
ton. BY the State Legislatures to be
elected, nearly one third of the u. S..
Senate will be chosen nearly all the
members of the House OF Representa-
tives are to be elected next fall. Up
on the coming elections, then, depends
the question whether the Democratic
and Conservative element in the State
shall be increased, and whether that
element shall have a majority in the
House of Representatives, and, as a
consequence, whether we shall have a
constitutional, economical and honest
government, or a~continuance ofrevolu
5tionary, ~extravngant and wasteful
ptrtisan rule. Whether we shall have
GENERAL, uniform, Just and constitution
al legislation, with reasonable taxation
and frugal expenditure, or u%nconsti-
t~n.iona1, partial, unjust class legisla-
tim, with oppressive and unequal
Z xation and wasteful expenditure.
That we have strong reasons to hope
E : Il favorable result is plainly APP
p,rent. The elections already held
,Ir@irly show that the tide of reform
set in with a power that cannot be
llsisted, if no blunders be committed
bv the friends of reform. If they do
their duty and act wisely, ifthey throw
al. all apathy and act with vigor and
AIeadfastness, there is every reason to
lrnae that their efforts will be reward
eli by yIccess. Let there no dissen-
Is about minor matters; no time
r. t manifestation of sorrow or pro-
iptive feelings /; no sacrifice of the
cause to crafty personal ambition or
resentment, and let the best men be
r:.osen for candidates and we may
h,pe to see our country redeemed
f.om misrule. Andin this connection
wo beg leave to say a word to our fell
l!!uw-citlzens of the Southern States.
ID not risk the loss of Senators or
Representatives,, by electing men who
,1nnot take the test oath, or who are
ulder the disability imposed by the
Fourteenth Amendment. Whatever
ray be said a to the validity of that
amendment, or of the Test Oath act,
y.Iu may rest assured that Senators
elected by the votes of members OF
legislatures who are held by the
Radicals to be thus disqualified, will
not be permitted to take their seats,
md that members of the House of
Representatives thus disqualified will
also be excluded. It is the pIainest
,~lictate of practical wisdom not TO in
cur any such risks. We hope soon to
see the day when all disabilities will be
removed, but, in the meantime, do
not, we entreat you, lose the oppor-
tunity to, strengthen the Democratic
and Conservative force in Congress,
and the possibility, nay the probability
of obtaining a majority in the next
House Of Representatives, by putting
it in the power Of our adcersaries to
ioverthEown or disregard your elections.
SIGNED by