South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1870-07-01
Address of the Democratic and
Conservative Congrs,sn.cn 70 he People.


wAsHISGToS, June 24.-The democratic Sc
majors end members in Congress at caucus
held last night agreed upon IN address, which
was to-day signed and issued as follows:
To ol,r fcilo,c-citi-ens Of the United States,
friends Of constitutional, economical and
honest government:
The undersigned beg leave to call your
attention to the peculiar importance of the
elections which take place this year, and
respectfully to submit some suggestions
for your consideration. BY the State Le-
gislatures to be elected nearly enc third Of
the United Senate will be chosen Near
ly all the members Of the next House of
Representatives are to be elected next fall.
Upon the coming elections, then, depends
the question whether tho democratic and
conservative element in the Senate shall be
increased, and whether that element shall
have a majority in the House of Represen-
tatives; and, as a consequence, whether we
shall have constitutional, economical and
honest government, or continuance ofrev-
dictionary, extravagant and wasteful parti-
san rule whether we shall have general,
uniform, just and constitutional legislation,
with reasonable taxation and frugal expen-
diture, or unconstitutional, partial, unjust,
class legislation, with oppressive and une-
quail taxation and wasteful expenditure.
That we have strong reasons to hope for
n favorable result is plainly apparent
The elections already held clearly show
that the tide of reform has set III with u
power that cannot be resisted if no blum
ders be committed by the friends of reform.
If they do their duty and act wisely, if
they throw off all apathy and act with
vigor and stcadfastness, there is every rea.
son to hope that their efforts will be re-
warded by success. Let there be no dis
sensions about minor matters, no time lost
N the discussion of dead issues, no mani
festation of narrow or proscriptive feeling,
no sacrifice Of the cause TO crafty personal
ambition or resentment, and let the best
men be chosen for candidates, and we may
hope to see our country redeemed from
misrule. And, in this connection, we beg
leave to say word to our fellow citizens
of the Southern States. Do not risk the
loss of Senators or Representatives by elect
ing men who cannot take the test-oatb, or
who are under the disability imposed by
the fourteenth amendment.
w ha'eFeT may pe Salu us 10 the Valldl-
ty Of that amendment or of the test. ath
act, you may rest assured that Senators
elected by the votes of members of Legis-
latures who are held by the radicals to be
thus disqualified will not be permitted to
take their seats, and that members of the
House Representatives thus disqualified
will also be excluded. 1t is the plaincst
dictate of practical wisdom not to incur
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 opportunity to strengthen the
democratic and conservative force in Con.
gress, and the possibility, nay probability i,
of Obtaining majority in the next House
of Representatives, by putting it in the
power of our adversares to overthrow or
disregard your elections.