Year: 1862

The Meeting of Conservative Member,


of Congress-.Declarat of Princi-


pies.


The following are the resolutions adopted
at the meeting of conservative members of Con
gress, presided over by Mr. CRIrTENDEN, of Ken
tucky:


Feeling the great weight of our responsibility
as members of Congress, we lave met in par
ty spirit nor for any party purpose, but for the
purpose of celebrating and consulting together
how we may best perform constitutional du-
ties in the present great and perous crisis of our
country fate, and we have come to the follow
ing conclusions viz:


/. Resolved. That the Constitution and the
Union and the laws must be preserved and main
tanned in all their proper and rghtful supremacy,
and that the rebellion now in arms against them
must be suppressed and put down, and that It is
our duty to vote for all measures necessary and
proper to that end


2. That the true interests of the country as
well as the dictates of humanity, require that no
more war, or acts of war, should be prosecuted
or done than are necessary and proper for the
prompt and complete suppression of the rebel


lion.


3. That the States are component and essential
parts of the Union, bound together inseparably
by the Constitution of the United States; that
none OF them can cease to exist such so long
as that Constitution survives; and that il is the
exclusive sphere and duty of the States to order
and direct their own domestic affairs While the
rebellion. therefore, has not annued or destroyed
the constitutional relations of the so called 'se
ceding States" to the Federal Government, Meth
er has it dvested those States of any rights or
powers, municipal or otherwise, properly belong
ing to them rs members of the Federal Union.
The actual exercise of those rights and powers
may for time be interrupted or obstructed by
rebellion. and some illegtimate authority, it may
be. substituted in its place, but. so soon that
rebellion is suppressed, those States will ;be en-
titled as OF right, to resume the exercise of all
the rights and powers, dignities and immunities,
which properly belong to them States of this
Union.


4. That the present war. as avowed by the
President and Congress and understood by the
people, was commenced and prosecuted for the
purpose of suppressing the rebellion and preserv-
ing and yndicating the Constitution, the Union,
and the laws, and for that purpose only. 1t was
great and noble purpose, high above any mere
sectional party objects, and at once it inspired
and united in its support all loyal men of every
creed, party and section. At the call of the Gov
ernment a mighty army-the noblest and most
patriotic-sprung at once into the field and is
bleeding and cOnquerng in the defense of its
Government. Under these circumstances il
would, in our opinion, be most unjust aud un-
generous to give any new character or direction
to the W, r, for the accomplishment of any other
than its first great purpose. and especially for the
accomplishment of any mere party or sectional
scheme.


5. That the many and great victories lately
achieved by our armies and navies, whilst they
ought to convince the world of the vast military
power of our Government. give us the pleasing
assurance that cur deplorabe civil war will soon
be brought to a close, should the proper objects
of the war as hereinbefore defined be kept stead
lily in view. When that is done, and when such
punishment is inflicted on such of the guilty
leaders as will satisfy public justice, and upon
such Others as have made themselves conspicuous
for crimes committed in the prosecution of the
rebellion, il is our opinion that our Government
should adopt such wise measures of clemency as
will tend to bring back cordial reconciliation and
peace to the whole country.


g. That the doctrine of the secessonists and
of the Abolitionists, as the latter are now repre-
sented in Congress, are alike Inconsistent with
the Constitution and rreconcilable with the unity
and peace of the country. The first have already
involved us IN a cruel civil war, and the others
the Aoolitionists-wil leave to the country but
little hope Of the speedy restoration Of union or
peace if the schemes of con6seation, emancDa.
ton and other unconstitutional measures which
they have lately carried and attempted to carry
through the House OF Representatives, shall be
enacted into the form of laws and remain unre-
buked by the people.


T. That Congress has no power to deprive any
person of his property for any criminal offense
unless that person has been first duly convicted
of the offense by the verdict of jury, and that
all acts Of Congress, like those lately passed by
the House Of Representatives, which assume TO
forfeit confscate the estates of men for offenses