Year: 1862

Central Committee, held the 29th ult the fol-
lowing resolution was adopted:


RESOLVED, That the Chairman call upon
the loyal men of Pennsylvania, through the
Democratic Standing Committees of the sew.
eral counties, to meet in the several cities
and counties Of the State, at such places as
shall be designated by the said standing
Committees respectively, on the 18th of Sep
tenber next; to celebrate that day as the
anniversary of the day of the adoption of the
Constitution of the United States.


Pursuant to these resolutions, I call upon
the Democratic Standing Committees re-
spectively in the several cities and counties Of
Pennsylvania to request the Democrats and
all other loyal citizens to convene in mass
meetings at such places and at such hours as
they respectively may designate. on the l7th
OF September next, to commemorate the
adoption Of the Constitution of the United
States of America.


Since the lTth Of September, 1887, there
has been nc period in the history of America
when it was SO eminently fitting and import
ant as the present to bring to the attention of
the American people great fundamental prin-
ciples, which must underlie any Government.
where civi and religious liberty exist, and
especially those that undere the Government
of this Union "a Union which rests for its
foundation upon that Constitution which
aftirms and proposes to make sacred and per-
MI Tbo.
and that Union one and riseparable-are now
aSsaied by foes throughout the whole land,
by Secesslonists in the South and Abolition
lists in the North. The former by bold or
ganized armed movement, strike directly and
avowedly at the whole sovereignty and exist
ence of our Constitutional Government. The
latter by equally direct efforts but from nm
der the cloak Of recently declared friendship
and patriotism, are seeking to thrust their =.
traitorous s'illettoes into the hearts blood of
the nation.


The people, Of this land are the soarce of
all power. They made Constitutions, and
they can, and, (uness they would become the
victims OF despotism or anarchy must uphold
them. Ths great fundamental principles Of
civil and religious liberty asserted in the
American Constitution are essential to secure,
US IN the enjoyment of life and property, and
IN the pursuit of happiness. Among these are
he freedom of speech and of the Press the
right of the people peacebly to assemble, the
right oc the people to be secure IN their per.
off
reasonable searches aud seizures, that no
warrant shall issue but upon probable cause
supported by oath or affirmation, that no
person shall be held to answer for capital or
or indictment of Grand Jury except in cases
arising in the land and naval forces, or in the
militia when in actual service in time of war
ar public danger, that no citizen shal be de-
prived of life, liberty or property without due
process of law that in all criminal prosecu-
ions, the accursed shall enjoy the right to
speedy and public trial, by an impair tial jury


the State or District where the crime shall
nave teen committed, which District shall
nave been previously ascertaned by law, and
to be informed of the nature and cause of the
accusation to be confronted with the witnesses
against him; to have compulsory process for
obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have
the assictance of counsel for his defence
That the powers not delegated to the Unitsd
States, by the Constitution, nor prohibited
by it to the States, are reserved to the States
respectively, or to the people.


Among the powers not delegated to the
United States, but reserved to the Sta tes re-
spe ctively or to the people, as the right to
hold elections and to determine upon and fix
the qualifications of vot.rs. With the people
If Pennsylvania this great right Is fixed by.
the Constitution, of the State, and no power
but that Constitution, had laws enacted in
pursuance thereof can prohibit the exercise
of; or limit or restrain that right "a rignt
most inestimable to our people, and formids-
BILE to tyrants only.


Fellow countrymen, on the coming ami
versary Of the day of the adoption of the
American Constitution, in the exercise of
the right of the people peaceably to assem-
ble,'' let us all solemny and teyerentiy, in
the face of all men and before Heaven, declare
our firm determination " to pledge our lives
our fortunes, and our sacred, honors,n - to
preserve protect and defend the Constitution
of the United States Let US afford TO Ptesi-
dent Lincoln the most indu bitable evidence,
that in the observance of his oath of Office to-
do the same thing, we will uphold and sup
port HIN, just as readily as We have already
sLown him tha in filling up from our ranks
the great bulk Of the ARMY, now and hereto-
fore in the field, we have always been ready
at whatever sacrifice to strike down opei, and