Year: 1866

nave puDIiSueu cali Tor q NallOndl Ion


vention. to be held in the city of Phila


delphia, on the 14th of August. and tc


be known as the National Union Con


vention. This call is formal dishand


ment of the Democratic party, and re-


nunciation of the name Democracy, and


an invitation for its members to meet in


convention with such dissatisfied persons
of the Union party as can be induced to


unite with them in forming a new or
ganiZation. 1t is a direct confession
that the Democratic party, indelibly
stained with treason as it is, is a name
too grievous to be borne, and the cum
ing signers of this call, who are stagger-
ing under its weight, are striving to re-
lieve themselves from the dreadful bur-
dens


This proposition to change its name
is an humiliating acknowledgement of
| defeat, and dshonor and a national con
demnation, which could have been wrung
from these men only by the direst suffer
ing and necessity. And yet it will not
avail. The new party, whatever name or
| shape it may assume, will be the same
old Copperhead concern. Composed of
the same men, clothed with the same
history, and plotting the same dishonors
and disasters to the country.


The 'scall'' establishes the fact, how
ever, that the recent revelation to the
Democracy of this District, that the
war was just and necessary" was local
in its character, and did not extend to
Washington, for it makes no mention of the
rdr at all, and for aught that appears in
lion. They discuss the dangerous situa-
ton of the country, utterly ignoring the
fact that there has been a rebellion,
and innocently seem to expect that the
people will be equally dumb; apparently
entertaining the idea of the ostrich, who
believes that when his head is thrust into
the dirt his body is out of sight But
allow me to quote passage from it:


At present eleven States are excluded
from the National Council. For seven
long months the present Congress has
persistently denied any representation
to the people of these States Laws
affecting their highest and dearest inter
ests have been passed without their con-
sent and in disregard of the fundamental
principle of free Government.


Here it complains in piteous terms that
for seven months eleven States have not
been represented in Congress, but makes
no reference whatever to the manner in
which the Senators and Representatives
from those States went ont of Congress.
or the condition of those States for the
five years preceding these seven months.


1t affects to treat the subject as if the
Senators and Representatives from those
States had been rudely expelled from
Congress, without cause or fault on their
part, and wickedly kept out of their
seats for the long period of seven months.
and very foolishlv tries to ignore the
fact that these Senators and Representa-
tives five years before that time, and in
violation of their oaths. had voluntarily
abandoned their seats and inaugurated a
cruel war, in which, after costly and
bloody struggle OF four years, they were
Overwhelmingly defeated.


The attempt to suppress the great
facts of history, and keep out of sight
| the mighty events which mark the annals
o: the rebellion, is an admission clearly
fatal to the pretended honesty and
soundness of their doctrines.


Again they say:


| As essential to national union, we must
maintain unimpaired the rights, the dig
nifty and the equality of the States, in
Guiding the right of representation in
/ Congress, and the exclusive right of each
/ State to control its own domestic con
Germs. subject only to the Constitution
of the United States


Now, all this is a mere trick of words,
I intended to obscure the truth There is
no issue involved concerning the rights
or the dignity and equality of the States,
but the real question is, what shall be
the status and condition of the re6eliious
Inhabitants of the rebel States; upon what
terms shall they be admitted back TO the
enjoyment of political rights, and what
security shall be taken, what guarantees
exacted by the loyal people of the ma
tion TO prevent the errors and atrocities
of another rebellion.


In conclusion, the authors of this call
use the following language:


We therefore respectfully but earnestly
urge upon our fellow citizens in each
State. Territory and Congressional Dis
triet in the United States. in the interes,
of union, and in 8 spirit 81 harmony,
and with direct reference to the princi


Piles contained in said call. to act prompt


" in the selection of moderate and con


servative men to represent them in said


Convention. to the end that all the States


shall st once be restored to their practi


cal relations to the Union, the Constitu


ton be maintained, and peace bless the


whole country.