Year: 1866

10 the People Of the United States:
| Dangers threaten the Constitution The cita-


del of our liberties is directly assailed The fu-


ture is dark unless the people will come to the
rescue In this hour of peril national union


should be the watchword of every true man. As
essential to national union must maintain un-
impaired the rights, the dignity, and the equality


of the States, including the right of representa-


ton IN Congress, and the exclusive right of each
State to control its own domestic concerns sub
ject only to the Constitution of the United States


After an uniform construction of the Constitution
for more than half century, the assumption of


new and arbitrary powers in the federal govern
ment is subversive of our system, and destructive
of liberty


| A free interchange of opinion and kind feeling


between the citizens of all the States is necessary


to the perpetuity of the Union. At present eleven


States excluded from the national councils
For seven long months the present Congress has
perslstenty denied any right of representation to
the people Of these States. Laws affecting their
highest and dearest interests, have been passed


without their consent, and in disregard of the fun


damental principle of free government. This de-
NAL of representation has been made to all the


members from State, although the State. in the
language Of the President presents itself not only
in an attitude Of loyalty and harmony but in the
persons of Representatives whose loyalty cannot be
questioned under any existing constitutional or e


gal test The Representatives of nearly of


the States have not been consulted with reference
to the great questions of the day. There has been
no nationality surrounding the present Congress-
There has been no intercourse between the repre-
sentatives of the two sections, producing mutual


confidence and respect. In the language of the
distinguished Lieutenant General cit is to be
regretted that at this time there cannot be q
greater commingling between the citizens of the


two sections and particularly of those entrusted
with the law-maklng power" This state of things
should be removed at once and forever. There
fore, to preserve the national UniOn to vindicate
the sIlfficiency of admirable Constitution, to
guard the States from covert attempts to deprive
them of their true position in the Union, and to
bring together those who unnaturally severed


and for these great national purposes only, we
cordially approve the call for National Union
Convention to be held at the city of Philadelphia


on the second Tuesday, fourteenth of August
next and indorse the princi pies therein set forth


We, therefore, respectfully, but earnestly urge
upon our fellow-citizens in each State and Terri
tory, and Congressional District in the United
States, in the interest of union and in spirit of
harmony, and with direct reference to the princ-
pies contained in said caD to act promptly in the
selection of wise, moderate and conservative men
to represent them in said convention, to the end
that all the States shall at be restored to their
practical relations to the Union the Constitution
be maintained, and peace bless the whole country
z