M ft.".! hX (I fiTl 1F(! In' a 4 ftiritr ir yyqj AyVy& peo. B. GOODLANDEE. Editor and Proprietor. PRINCIPLES, not MEN. TERMS: $2 00 Per Annum, if paid in advanco VOL. XXXIII WHOLE NO. 1924. CLEARFIELD, PA, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 20, 13GG. NEW SERIES VOL. VII. NO. 7. iTIOWLi.MOX COXYETI0X.ibuild8 its l'lans a,ld its 1,0P08 the'mcnts of tlio Government may sco fit ' '. I future rather upon h community of to imnoso. Under thin broad nnd R.lilrfiES tO the reoplQ 01 tlio United interest and ambition than upon dis- sweeping claim, that clause of the States. Having met in Convention, nt the trust and tho weapons of force. POLITICAL RESULV8 OF THE WAH. Constitution which provides lhat'-no State shall without Us consent bo de- In the next place, wo cull tiponyoiCprivod of its equal suffrage in tho Sen- Winn nf rfnvfiinnrti.f "ii'tri tlir iuiti' tin tiillitl'''il Tina lpi j in -f'ii'1 ili men t of rights, becomes impossible, case. An insurgent, power, in the ex and the conflicts of party, whic h, nn- 'oroiso of iiNurpcd mid unlawful uulliur der constitution governments, lire tho ity in tho territory under its control, conditions and means of "political pro-i had prohibited that ullcgiaiieo to tlie tr of Philadelphia, in the (State of i to recognize, in their full hiixnilicancc, ' ate of tho United State's," has b eiinsylvania, this lGthday of August, stiO, as the representatives 01 tno oonlcin all sections, and all the States 'ud Territories of tho Union, to con- ult upon tho condition and the wants if our common country, we address 0 you this declaration of our princi ,les, and of the political purposes wo eek to promote, THE LATE WAR. Since the meeting of the last Na tional Convention, in the year lbW, i m 1 dm . 1 it-Lint, Lnvi chun ked the character of our internal politics and given tho United Mates a new place among tho nations of the carta. Our Government has pasted through tho vicissitudes and the perils of civil war a war which, though mainly sectional in its character, has nevertheless decided political differ ences that from the very beginning of the Government had threatened the unity of our national existence, and has left its impress deep and inefface able upon all tho interests, the senti ments, and tho destiny of the Ecpublic. While it has inflicted upon the whole country severe losses in life and prop erty, and has imposed burdens which must weigh on its resources for gen erations to come, it has developed a degree of national courago in tho pres ence of natioual dangers a capacity fur military organization and achieve ment, and a devotion on trie par. 01 tho people to tho form of government winch they have ordainod, and to me principles of liberty which that Gov- een and to accept with all their legitimate annulled, and ten States havo been re- consequences, the political results of , fused, and are still reused, represen tho war just closed. In two most im-! tation altogether in both branches of portant particulars tho victory achiev- J the Federal Congress. And tho Con ed by tho National Government has gross in which only a part of tho States been final and decisive. First, it has and of the people cf the Union are been established beyond all further 'represented has asserted the right and by tho highest of all thus to exclude tho rest from re pro- controversy, uuman sanctions, the absolute suprem acy of tho National Government, as defined and limited by tho Constitu tion 01 the United States, and the per manent integrity and indissolubility of the Federal Union as a necessary consequence ; and, second, it has put an end finally and forever to tho ex istence 01 slavery upon the soil or within the jurisdiction of the United States. Uolh these points became di rectly involved in tho contest, and controversy upon both was ended ab solutely and finally by the result. FRUITS OF VICTORY. In tho third place, we deem it of the utmost importance that tho real character of the war and the victory by which it was closed should bo ac curately understood. Tho war was carried on by the Government of the United States in maintenance of its own authority and in defence of its own existence, both of which were menaced by the insurrection which it sought to suppress. Tho suppression of that insurrection accomplished that result. The Government of the Uni ted States maintained by forco of arms tho supremo authority over all the territory, and over all the States and ernment was designed to promote, people within its jurisdiction which which must confirm tho confidence of the Constitution confers upon it : but flm n'ltinn in 1.1 o nerm-tuitv of its re-1 it acquired thereby no new power, no publican institutions, and command enlarged jurisdiction, no rights either tho respect of tho civilized world. of territorial possession or of civil au Liko all great contests which rouse! thority which it did not possess before tho nassions and test the endurance of tho rebellion broko out. All tho right- nations, this war has given new ecopo to tho ambition of political parties, and fresh impulse to plans of innova tion and reform. Amidst tho chaos of conflicting sentiments inseparable from such an era, whilo the public heart is keenly alive to all the pas sions that can sway the public judg ment and affect tho public action ; whilo tho wounds of war are still fresh and bleeding on either side, and fears fur the future tuka unjust proportions from memories and resentments of the past, it is a ditlicult but an imperative duty which on your behalf we, who arc here assembled, have undertaken to perform. ASsEMllLAfiE IN AMITf. For Iho first time after six long years of alienation and of conflict, we have como together from every State and every section of our land, as citi zens of a common country, under that flii". the symbol again of a common .glory, to consult together how best to cement and perpetuate that Union which is again tho object of our com mon love, and thus secure tho bless ings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity. In the first place wc invoke you to remember, always and everywhere, that the war is ended and the nation is again at peace. The shock of con lending arms no longer assails the shuddering heart of tho Republic. The insurrection against tho supremo au thority of tho nation has been sup pressed, and that authority has been again acknowledged, by word and act, in every State and by every citi zen willnn us juriMiicuoii. mo iuu no longer required or permitted to re gard or treat each other as enemies Not only havo tho acts of war been discontinued, nnd the weapons of war laid aside, but tho stato of war no longer exists, and tho sentiments, tho passions, tho relations of war have no longer lawful or rightful place any where throughout fur broad domain We are again iicp1e of tho United sentatiou, nnd from all share in mak ing their own laws or choosing their own rulers until they shall comply with such conditions and perform such acts as this Congress, thus composed, mny itself prescribe. That right has not only been as serted, but it has been exercised, and is practically enforced at the present time. Nor does it find any support in the theory that tho States thus ex cluded arc in rebellion against the Government, and aro therefore pre cluded from sharing its authority. They are not thus in rebellion. The are one and all in an attitude of loyalty towards tho Government,!! tul of sworn allegiance to tho Constitution of the United States. Innoono of them is there tho slightest indication of re sistance to this authority, or the slightest protest against its just and binding obligation. J his condition of renewed loyalti' has been -officially recognized b' solemn proclamation of tho Executive department. The laws of the United Stales havo been ex tended by Congress all over these States and the people thereof, red-' eral courts havo been reopened, and Federal taxes imposed and levied, and in every resjiect, except that they are denied representation in Congress and tho Electoral College, the States once in rebellion are recognized as holding the same position; as owing tho same ob ligations and subject to Iho same du ties as the other States of our common Union. ' " UNRESTRICTED RKI'H MENTATION KECKS-CAUY. It seems to us, in the exercise of the calmest and most candid judgment we can bring to the subject, that such a claim, so enforced, involves as fatal an overthrow of the authority of the Constitution, and as complcto a des struction of tho Government and Union, as that which was sought to be effected by the States and people in armed insurrection against them both. It cannot escape observation that the power thus asserted to ex clude certain Slates from representa tion is made to rest wholly in the ui and discretion of tho ( ongrcss that asserts it. It is not made to de pend upon nn Fpecitied conditions or circumstances, nor to be subject to any rules or regulations whatever. The right asserted and exorcised is absolute, w ithout qualification or re striction, not confined to States in re bellion, nor to States that have rebell od ; it is the right of any Congress in formal possession of legislative au thority to exclude any State or States, and any portion of tho people thereof, nt any time, from representation in CongresJnnd in the Electoral College, nt its own discretion and until they shall perforin such acts and comp.y with such conditions as it may dictate. Obviously, the reasons for such ex clusion being wholly within the dis cretion of Congress, may change us iho Comrress itself shall change. One O ' ' ful power it can ever poascea is that ..-i.r. i. 1 . :. int;u ia I'uiiii'u vu unuu 11, ciwvr 111 express terms or by fair and necessary implication, by tho Constitution of the United States. It was that power and that authority which the rebellion sought to overthrow, and the victory of tho Federal arms w as simply the defeat of that attempt. Tho Government of the United States acted throughout tho war on tho defensive. It sought only to hold possession of what was already its own. Neither the war, nor the vic tory by which it was closed, changed in any way the Constitution of the United States. Tho war was carried on br virtue of its provisions, and un der tho limitations which prescribe, and the result of tho war did not cither cnlargo, abridge, or in any way change oratlecttho jiowers-it confers upon tho Federal Government, or release that Government from the restrictions which it has imposed. iho Constitution of tho United States is to day precisely as it was be fore tho war, the "supreme law of tho land, anything in the constitution or laws of any Stato to Iho contrary not withstanding : and to-day, also, pre ciscly as before tho war, all tho powers not conlerred oy mo constitution upon tho General Government, nor prohibited by it to the States, are "re served to tho several States, or to the people thereof." This position is vindicated not only bv the essential nature of our Govern ment, nnd tho language nnd spirit of Congress may exclude a State lrom all tho ConstitutiDn. but by all tho acts rll I U III Uiv iun iiiii lib km v 1 iv . son : and. that reason removed, tho next Congress may exclude it tor another One Stato may be excluded I on one ground to-day, nnd another I may be cxciuuea on mo opposite and language ol our government, in all its departments, nnd at all times, from tho outbreak of tho rebellion to its final overthrow. SOLE OBJECT OF Till WAR. In everv message and proclamation ground to-morrow. Northern uscend of the Executive it was explicitly do- nncy may cxoludo Southern States clared that the solo object and purpose from one Congress the ascendancy ofthowarwas to maintain the nu- of Western or of Southern interests, thorily of tho Constitution and to or of both combined, may exclude tho preserve the integrity of tho Union ; Northern or the Eastern Slates from (..11 (;.,. ...a ,.r An,, f.nmit.rv I nnd ( VinrrrfRs morn ih.in oneo rcitera- tho next. Improbable us such usur- '.. v v...... , ..r - v..a- - -- -- ' 4, ,..,. !iound by tho duties and obligations! ted thissoiemn ueciarauon, aim uuucu pauons may seem, mu iw "n-i't . . V ... .1 . 1 1. k . 1 I 1 ...I ,,t..l .,. the assuranco mat, wnenover wus oo- 01 me principle n" 'n n - u iect should be attained the war should te 1 unon by Congress, will render cense, and nil the States should retain them by no means impossible. Tho their equal rights and dignity unim-j Congress and tho Union is made de paired. It is only sinco tho war clos-; pendent solely and entirely upon the ed that other rights have been asserted party and sectional exigencies or 101 on behalf of one department ot tho General Government. ASSERTIONS OF CONHRESg. It has been proclaimed by Congress that, in addition to the powers con- red upon it by tho Constitution. the benefits it has secured, and tho tho l ederal (rovernmcnt may now of a common patriotism, and having neither rights nor interests apart from a common destiny. PVTIKS OP l'EACE. Tho duties that devolve npon us now aro again tho duties of pence, and no longer the duties of war. Wo have assembled hero to take counsel con cerning the interests of peaco : to de cide how wo may most wisely and ClicCttlrtll ill t.l til. WUu5 I.... 1.. . has made, and perfect nnd perpctuato ferr gross, are merged into tho contlicts ot arms; to which they directly and inevi tably tend. It was against this peril so con spicuous and fatal to all free govern ments that our Constitution was in tcndecTtnpecialiy to "provide:" Jfot1 only tho stability but tho very exis tence of tho Government is made by its provisions to depend upon the right and tho fact of representation. RK.IIT OF REPRESENTATION. Tho Congress, upon which is con ferred all tho legislative power of the National Government, consists of two branches, the Senate and House of Representatives, w hose joint ooncuir ence or assent is essential to tho va-lidit- of aiy law. Of these the House of Representatives, says the Constitu tion, (article 1, section li) "shall be composed cf members chosen every second year by the people of the sev eral States." Not only is the right of representation thus recognized as possessed by all the States and by every Slate without restriction, quali fication or condition of any kind, but the duty of choosing representa tives is imposed unon tlio people of each and every State alike, without distinction, or iho authority to make distiiic'.ijns among them, for any reason, or upon any grounds what ever. And in the Senate, so careful is the Constitution to secure to every State this right ui' .representation, it is expressly provided mar "no state shall, without its consent, he deprived ot its equal (suffrage in that boUy, even by an amendment of the Consti tution itself. When, therefore, any State is ex cluded from such representation, not only is a right "f'thc State denied, but iho Constitutional integrity of the Senate is impaired, and the validity of tho Government itself is brought in question."" "Lut Coiigress'af tlio pres ent moment thus excludes from rep resentation, in both branches of Con gress-, ten States of the Union, deny ing them all share in the enactment of laws by which the)' are to bo gov erned, and all participation in the election of tho rulers by which those laws aro to bo enforced Jn other words, a Congress in which only twenty-six States aro represented, asserts the right to govern, absolutely and in it own discretion, all the thirty six States which compose tho Union to inako their laws nnd choose their rulers, and to cxcludo the other ten from ull share in their own Govern ment until it sees fit to admit them thereto, What is there todistingnish tho power thus asserted and exercised from tho most ausoiuio ana intolera ble tyranny ? .itiviLKui; or cuutNHiP JUToni.n. Nor dy tho extravagant and unjust claims on the part ol Congress to powers and authority never conferred upon tho Government by the Consti tution find anv warrant in the argu ments or excuses urged on their be half. It is alleged : First. That these Slates, by the act of rebellion and by voluntarily w ith drawing their members lrom Congress, forfeited their right. of representation, and that they can only receive it again at tho hands of tho supreme legislative authority of tho govern ment, onits own terms and at its own discretion. If representation in Con gress and participation in the Govern- ment were simple privileges conlerred and held by favor, this statement might havo tho merit of plausibility. Hut representation is, under tho Con stitution, not only expressly recog nized us a right, but is imposed as a duty ; and it is essential in both as pects'to the existence of the Govern ment and to tho maintenance ti its authority. In free governments funda mental and essential rights cannot be forfeited, except against individuals, by due process of law; nor can consti tutional duties and obligations bo laid aside. Tho enjoyment of rights may be for a time suspended by Iho failure to claim them, and duties may bo evaded by thcrcfusal to perform them. Tho withdrawal of their members Constitution and laws of tho United States which is made by that funda mental law tho essential coudition of representation in its government. No man within the insurgent States was allowed to take tho oath to support tlio Constitution of tho United Slates, and, as a necessary consequence, no man could lawfully represent those States in tho councils of the Union. I'ut this was only an obstacle to the enjoyment of the right and to the dis charge of a duty ; it did not annul the one nor abrogate tno other ; anu it ceased to exint when the usurpation by which it was created had been overthrown, and tho States Lad again resumed their allegianco to tho Con stitution and laws of the United States. 1 UE REBELLION AN INSURRECTION. Second. But it is asserted, in sup port of tho authority claimed by Con gress now in possession of power, that it Hows directly from the laws of warj that it is among the rights which vic torious war always confers upon the conquerors, and which the conqueror may exercise or waive in ins owuujs crelion. To this we reply that tho laws in question relate solely, so far as tho rights they confer are concern ed, to wars waged between alien and independent nalions, and can have no forco or effect, in this regard, in a war waged by a Government to suppress an insurrection of its own people, upon as conditions of their icadniission to representation in Congress and in the Electoral College. FULL CONCURRENCE OF THE STATES RE QUISITE. It is tho unquestionable right of tho people of tho United States to make such changes in the Constitution us they, upon duo deliberation, may deem expedient. Hut wo insist that they Shall hl- Upl'l" n -vl. llrhi.li 4l Constitution itself points out, in con formity with tho letter and tho spirit of that instrument, and with the prin ciples of self-government nnd of equal rights which lie at tho basis of our republican institutions. We dor.y tho right of Congress to make these changes in tho fundamental law, with out the concurrence of three-fourths of all the States, including especially those to be most seriously affected by them ; or to impose them upon States or people, as conditions of representa tion, or of admission to any of tho rights, duties or obligations which be long uadcr the Constitution to all tho States alike. And with still greater emphasis do we deny the right of any portion of the States, excluding tho rest of the .Slates from any share in llipir councils, to nronoso or (sanction ! changes in tho Constitution which aro to affect permanently their political relations and,, control or coerce tho legitimate action of the several mem bers of tho common Union. Such an exercise of power is simply a usurpation, just as unwarrantable when exercised by Northern States as it would be if exercised by South- Urn, and not to bo fortified or palliated its own soil, against its authority. If, by anything in thepast history cither wo had carried on successful war i ot those py whom u is aitempieu or against any foreign nation, wc might of those upon whose rights and Ubcr ties it is to take effect. It hnds no warrant in the Constitution. It is at war with the fundamental Principles of our form of government. If toler ated in one instance, it becomes tho thereby have acquired possession and jurisdiction ot their soil, with the right to enforce our .laws upon their people, and to impose upon them 6uch laws and huch obligations as wc might. choose. Eut we had before the war j precedent for future invasions ol hbcr completo jurisdiction over the soil of ty and constitutional right dependent the Southern Statc& limited on'y by.UJy 'p u' w'iJI i' tho yartj iu oaf owft Couniuiron. Our laws wero possession ot" power, and thus leads, tho only national laws in furco iipon'l'y direct and necessary sequence, to it. Tho Government of tho United, the most fatal and intolerable of all States was the only Government j tyrannies the tyranny of shifting, through which thoso States and their J and irresponsible political factions. It people had relations with foreign na-j is against this, the most formidablo lions, and its flag was tho only flag by of all the dangers -which menace tho which they were recognized or known (stability of free government, that tho unv where on the face of tho earth. I Constitution of tho United States was in all these respects, and in all oth-. intended most caret ully to provide er respects involving natioual inter-1 csU aud rights, our possession was It did not need perfect aud complete. to bo acquired, but only to be main tained; and victorious war against tho rebellion could do nothing more than maintain it. It could only vin dicate and re-establish tho disputed supremacy of tho Constitution. It could neither enlarge nor diminish the authority which that Constitution con fers upon the Government by which it was achieved. Such an enlarge ment or abridgement of constitutional powerful! be effected only byuinciid- ment 01 tlio ooiisiuuiioii useii, anu such amendment can bo made only in the modes which tho t onstilutioii itself prescribes. The claim that the suppression of an insurrection against the Government gives additional au thority and power to that Govern ment; especially that it enlarges the juribdict ion ot Congress and gives that body the right to exclude Slates from representation in the national coiiii- rils. without which tho nation itself can havo no authority and no exist-' fiieo, seems to us at variauco alike with the principles of the Constitu tion and wT-h the public safety. WAY TO AMEND THE CONSTITUTION. Third. Jut it is alleged that in certain particulars the Constitution of the United Stales fails to secure that absolute justice and impartial equality which tho principles id" our Govern ment require; that it was in these re spects tho result of compromises and concessions, to which, however neces sary w hen tho Constitution was form ed, wo are no longer compelled to sub mit and that now, having the power, through successful war and just war rant lor its exercise in the hostile con duct of the insurgent section, the act ual Government o." the United States may impose ils ow n conditions, and inn'ke the Constitution conform in all We demand a strict and steadfast ad herenco to its provisions. In this, and in this alone, can wo find a basis of permanent Union and peace. LOYALTY OF TUE SOUTH UNQUESTIONED. Fourth. But it is alleged, in justifi cation of the usurpation which we con demn, that the condition of the South ern States and people is not such as render safe their readiiiissiou to u share in the government of the coun try; that they uro still disloyal' in sentiment and purpose, and that pei thcr the honor, credit, nor the inter ests of tli3 nation M ould be safe if they were readmitted toa share iu its coun cils. We might reply to this 1. That we havo no right, for such reasons, to deny to any portion of tho Stales or people rights expressly con. ferred upon them by the Constitution of the U nited States. 2. That so long as their acts aro thoso of loyalty so long as they con form in all their public conduct to tho requirements of the Constitution and laws we have no right to exact from thorn conformity iu their sentiments and opinions to our own. from Congress by the States which I itsprovisions to its own ideas ol equal ...,mwi..,1 il... i .ml ( ;..e..riniii'iit was ii v nnd the riehts id mau. Congress nm.iii.r ilw.ir .wi ti inmiri i'i i ion wasiit. its last session proposed amend one of (ho means nnd agencies by hlessin-s which, under a wise and bo-; claim over tho States, tho territory nign l'rovideiico, have sprung up in j and tho people involved in tho insur- its fierv track. This is the work, not rection, tho right of war, the rights ol of passion, but of calm and sober judg-j conquest and of confiscation, tho right mi nt, not of resentment for past to abrogate all existing governments, offences nroloncd bevond the limits institutions and laws, and to subject which justice and reason prcscri ho, the territory conquered and its inhabi iiut of a liberal statesmanship w hich tants tosuch laws, regulations and do ' tolerates what it cannot prevent, and privations as the legislative tlepart- ben ranee of the hour Wc need not stop to show that such action not only finds no warrant in the ('(institution, but is at war with every princ'pl" of our Government, and with tho very existence oi iree nisiiiuiums. It is, indeed, the identical practice which has rendered fruitless all at- i .. I. III. ....... (n ....I nl.litl. n.wlmnin. i.in froc government in Mexico and I nor the duly to bo represented wus in ; isted ; and it is claimed that these ii... . a i n..-.. ! l.init imiinii'i'il bv iho tiict ofiiihur- uiiicudmt'uts inn v bo maJo valutas IHO Maies 01 ooutii iin'rici. imo i , , .1 .. , n. ,-. , . -,k -.,;.:. i...,.iv,.Da0.,,.r.lrcctioii : butit may have been that1 partsot thcoriginal Constitution With . 1.. i.:..i. iJ ,..nm. nf ilm fiiiTrrf.iinn the con- out tho concurrence ot tho Mates to lor to t no lunuamemui imv, w iuvu ii -v - -- - --- - ni. nid.,inr,w.UpSSob.Hlieneototheir ditions on which the enjoyment ot be mst seriously atlecled h thi m, ot i,,o.i ...i,;ii( .l,ntli. in 1 bn I that right and the performance of that may bo imposed upon those Mates by exercise of power, in the administra-1 duty for tNj time depended could not ihrce-ftml lhs of the remaining Stales, which they sought to impair tho au- authority and defeat the action of the Government, nnd that act was annull ed ami rendered void when the insur rection itself was suppressed. Neither the right of represei. tation ment s to the Constitution, ciilargin in homo verv imi ortaut particulars the authority of tho General Govern ment over that of tho several Mates, and reducing, by iiidiieetdisfranchise- mcnt. the representative power ol the Slates in which shivery formerly ix- :,. That we have no right to distrust iho purpose or the ability of the peo ple of the Union to protect and defend under .all contingencies, and by what ever means may be required, its honor and its welfare. These would, in our judgment, bo full and conilusive snswers to tho plea thus advanced for tho exclusion of these States from the Union. Uul wo say further, that this plea rests upon n complete misapprehension or an uu just perversion ot existing facts. ITS PE VCEAV.I.V.N ESS. Wo do not hesitate to affirm, that there is no section ot the country where tho Constitution and Jaws of the United States find a more prompt and entire obedience than in thoso States, and among those people who were lately in arms against ihom, or where there is less purpose or danger of any future attempt to overthrow their authority. It would seem to bo both natural and inevitable that, ii States aud sections so recently swept by the whirlwind of war, where all tho ordinary modes and methvd f organized industry havo been broken up, and the Kinds and influences that guarantee social order have leen de stroyed ; whore thousands and tens of thousands of ' turbulent spirits have, been suddenly loosed from the disci pliuo of war, and thrown, without re sources or restraint, upon a uisorgan. ized and chaotic society, ;i)d wheru 9
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