Year: 1867

is a majority of the entire population Of th


State. 1t does not answer to say that thes


things always existed liz the past. Than


God, we do not live in the past, and we ar


not going to live in the past. When the ne


gro was slave he had no right to vote. bu
! his master represented him. But he is nov
| declared Il citizen oi' the United States. -


Any State constitution which depriycs one
! fourth Of its whole population Of the right
/ Of franchise for no crime is an oligarchy ant


anti.repabican. Oar appeal to Congress is


not only an appeal on behalf Of loyalty
against rebellion, Of the oppressed against


the oppressor, but to the Constitution of the
United States as the paramount law Of the
land. which expressly says that the Consi.
tuition of the United States shall guarantee
to every State republican form of govern.
mcnt. The Rebels have found during this
war that there are many clauses Of the Con.
stitution perfectly clear and plain, which in
times of peace and quietncss there was no
opportunity to exercise, but which were
none the less powers. This power is as
clear and strong as any other part of the
Constitution. If this Convention is called,
we must proceed to call our Convention. -
[Great applausc.l We must make up our
minds to see, if we call that Convention,
TINT the loyal vote of this State, both white
and black, is brought out. IApplause. ] We
mast call upon the Congress of the United


States by its military power, it necessary,
20 protect that vote, [Applause,] We must
see to it that the loyal people of this State,
black and white, have their way clear to the
ballot. box, free from all distractions. ZAP
plause, We must demonstrate that the day
of oppression has gone; that the hour of
liberty has arrived. [Grcat applause We
must demonstrate to this people that the
men that have carried the dag of this Union
from the Potomac to the Gulf Of Mexico
and back again in their triumphant march
past the Capital of the nation; that have
kept themselves loyal to the Government
aadcr all circumstances, are not to bo deter
red by threats; are not to be put down by
force that these men stand in their tracks,
willing, ii necessary, to die in their tracks
Enthusiastic applause The future is aus.
picious. This day Of seeming peril will
bring peace and bring safety, anl time will
soon come when the people of this State
will live under government that protects
every man within its limits; that allows
every man to express his will on the govern
mcnt that governs him; to educate his chill
dren and have them educated by the State
when there shall be seen law, and liberty,
and progress, and Development under II
Constitution not made by these owlsh Con.
servatiycs that dwell only in the dark re.
cesscs Of the past. and live only to nuttcr
ameng the dast and decay Of the gone past,
and that cannot open their eyes to the glori-
Gus light of the future Let US arm our.
selves for the work Let us go home from
this Convention determined to carry out
what we have resolved, and my word for it,
that there are people III this State who do
not agree with US in everything who will see
the course of reckless legislation which is
bringing us to rain, and who will unite with
Us in cndeavoring to take this State ont of
the hands of these rcvolutionists, and bring
it back again to,peacc, and order and quiet,
and perpetual safety. [Great applause.]