The States and Union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1868-1872, 1870-08-03
TIE CAMPAIGN.
an address 10 the Friends of Constitu-
tionak, EonomtcaL and Honest Cor.
ernment, Issued by the Democratic
Members of Congress.

WAsHINGrOX, June 24.-The De
mocratic Senators and members of
Congress, at a caucus held last night,
agreed upon an address, which WAS to
day signed and issued, as follows:
10 oar Ee{low citizens of the United
States, Friends of Constitutional,
Economical and Honest Government j.:
The undersigned beg leave to call
your attention to the peculiar import
ancc 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, reIriy 0 he third of the u. S.,
Senate will he 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
clement shall have q majority in. the
House of Representatives, and; as a
consequence, whether we shall have a
constitutional, economical. and honest
government, or continuance ofrcvolu-
tionary, eXtravagant and wasteful
partisan rule. Whether we shall have
general, uniform, just and constitutions
al legislation. with reasonable taxation
and frugal expenditure, or unconsti-
tutional, partial, unjust class legisla-
ton, with oppressive and unequal
taxation and wasteful expenditure.
That we have strong reasons to. hope
for a favorable result is plainly APP
parent. The elections already held
clearly show that the tide of reform
has set in with a power that cannot be
resisted, if no plumbers be committed
by the friends OF reform. If they do
their duty and act wisely. if they throw
eff all apathy and act with vigor and
steadfastness There is every reason to
hope that the. r efforts will be reward
ed by success Let there no dissen
sions about minor matters; no time
lost manifestation of SORROW or pro-
scriptive feelings; no sacrifice of the
cause to ratify personal ambition or
resentment, and let the best men be
chosen for candidates and we may
hope to see our country redeemed
from m~isrule. And in this connection
we beg leave to say a word to our fell
low-citlZens of the Southern States.
not risk the loss of Senators or
Representatives, by electing men who
cannot take the test oath, or who are
under the disability imposed by the
Fourteenth Amendment. Whatever
may be said as to the validity of that
Amendment, or OF the Test Oath act,
you 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,
and that members of the House of
Representatives thus disqualified will
also be excluded. 1t is the plainest
dictate 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 n majority in the next
House of Representatives, by putting
it in the power of our adcersaries to
overthrown or disregard yeurelections.
Signed by
q a G Thurman. OHIO .>ae
VIM T Hamilton, Md .nfI
'a Jno w Johnston, Va at.aia g,din
Garrett Davis, KY Hl'--65
a And othes.I r.1