Year: 1866

the Union now and 10 the past, and who,
there Is abundant reason 10 believe, are at
this moment again .couspiring to overthrow
the Government. Ifthose whe are 10 con.
stitute this new party should attain power
and possess themselves Of the control of the
Government, what consideration may we
expect at their hands, what mercy can we
hope2 They have proved faithless to
every pledge and obligstion however sacred,
both before and since the Rebellion. The
most solemn oaths are used by them as a
mere cloak for treachery, and maenanimity
and mercy on the part OF an outraged Govern.
ment and its friends are impudently and in
sultingly derided the moment they are reliev
ed from dread Of punishment. No history
furnishes an example Of such incorrigible
guilt, and shameless audacity.


To the Union party, and to that alone, we
look for relief from eur present unhappy
condition and for permanent security 10 the
future. The party is powerful enough for
success without our aid, but it is none the
less our duty to signalize our devotion to the
principles of republican liberty which thai
party is so nobly sustaining by active afir
NATIVE cooperation on eur part. Moreover,
II we wish the support. the countenance and
protecting care of the Union party to shield
us from the dangers which new threaten rs,
we must not be afraid to make known to
them our condition and dire necessities. 1t
is scarcely too much to say that the south
ern Unionists, though too weak for self
protection, hold 10 their hands the key to
the solution of the question of the reorgani.
cation of civil State Governments in the
South. We know that it has been said that
we have been ignorant by all parties in and
out of Congressional we are being ground
to death between the upper and neither mill
stones. Let it be remembered that as a
party in the South we have made no effort
to make known our wants, our conditions,
our hopes and our sufferings.


We do assure you that il is the wish, the
ardent desire and intention of Congress to
give us protection and security when fully
advised of our needs. |.


Let US then perform our duty to ourselves
and our country by meeting together fer
consultation upon our present condition and
future interests, and present to the conntry
the united voice of the down trodden Union
lists of the South, presenting fearless and
mand the attention and challenge the conf.
Government and Of human liberty through
out the land.


1t may be that fear of the same despstism
over the minds and consciences of men that
existed in the beginning of the Rebellion
and reignsd supreme in the South during its
continuance, will again assert its power and
condemn to eternal punishment those who
may dare respond to our call We have but
to say that whatever danger threatens, and
whatever sacrifices are involved we must aid
in breaking the shackles that bind us.


IF the enemies of free government do not
yet understand that the rights Of American
citizenship are to be paramount and supreme
over the hellish spirit born of slavery and
nurtured by bigotry, ignorance and preju-
dice, they will learn it in the throes and
struggles of the next civil commotion which
thev and their abettors inaueurate.


One other step, and they will have placed
themselves forever without the pale of for.
giveness. The fat has gone forth. The
people of the United States have resolved
that this shall be a Government of freedom,
and equal rights for all; and woe to those
who shall hereafter resist this solemn jndg-
ment. He who is guilty of second rebel
lion against this Government will appeal in
vain for pardon. Let us act boldly, as be-
comes free men; and if we should thereby
incur danger, the country will understand
and appreciate the shameless hypocrisy of
those who prate of their loyalty and right
to re-admission into the Union in one breath,
and in the next excite brutalized mob to
violence upon citizen for exercising the
constitutional right of meeting his fellow.
citizens to petition the political power of the
nation for redress of grievances. Let us
do our duty, and trust to God and our loyal
countrymen for vindicatiOn and protection.


We urge you to lose no time in making
your nominations by public meetings OF
otherwise, as may be most convenient for
you. You can scarcely conceive of the i'm
portance which gentlemen from every part
of the country attach to this proposed meet
ing of Southern Unionists We venture to
say we have, in a great measure, our destiny
in our own hands. 1t is earnestly hoped
that we will wisely use the power We possess.
Your obedient servants,


A. j. HAMILTON, of Texas,


nj. J. Stafford, of Ala, Com.


VIM. B. Stokes, of Tenn.