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Bidwell, Bingham, Blaine, Blow, Boutwell, Brandegee, Brom- |
well, Broomall, Buckland, Bundy, Reader W. Clarke, Sidney
Clarke, Cobb, Conkling, Cook, Cullom, Darling, Davis, Dawes,
Defrees, Delano, Deming, Dixon, Donnelly, Driggs, Eckley,
Eggleston, Eliot, Farnsworth, Farquhar, Ferry, Garfield,
Grinnell, Griswold, Hale, Abner C. Harding, Hart, Hayes,
Henderson, Higby, Hill, Holmes, Hooper, Asahel W. Hub-
bard, Demas Hubbard, jr., John H. Hubbard, Hulburd, James
IIumphrey, Ingersoll, Jenckes, Julian, Kasson, Kelley, Kelso,
Ketcham, Laflin, George V. Lawrence, William Lawrence,
Loan, Longyear, Lynch, Marston, Marvin, McClurg, McKee,
Mereur, Miller, Moorhead, Morrill, Morris, Moulton, Myers,
O'Neill, Orth, Paine, Patterson, Perham, Pike, Plants, Pome-
roy, Price, Raymond, Alexander H. Rice, John H. Rice,
Rollins, Sawyer, Schenck, Scofield, Shellabarger, Sloan,
Spalding, Starr, Stevens, Stillwell, Thayer, Francis Thomas,
Trowbridge, Upson, Van Aernam, Burt Van Horn, Robert
T. Van Horn, Ward, Warner, Ellihu B. Washburne, William
B. Washburn, Welker, Wentworth, Williams, James F. Wil-
son, Stephen F. Wilson, Windom, Woodbridge-123.

Van Horn-34.

Mr. Darling modified his motion so as to postpone until the first Tuesday in March, which was disagreed to-yeas 34, nays 138, as follow: YEAS-Messrs. Anderson, Banks, Conkling, Darling, Davis, Defrees, Eggleston, Farquhar, Ferry, Griswold, Hale, Hart, Henderson, Hill, Hogan, Jas. Humphrey, Kasson, Ketcham, Kuykendal', Laflin, Latham, George V. Lawrence, Marvin, Mercur, Miller, Orth, Phelps, William H. Randall, Raymond, Smith, Stillwell, John L. Thomas, jr., Trimble, Robert T. NAYS-Messrs. Alley, Allison, Ames, Ancona, Delos R. Ashley, James M. Ashley, Baker, Baldwin, Barker, Baxter, Beaman, Benjamin, Bergen, Bidwell, Bingham, Blaine, Blow, Boutwell, Boyer, Brandegee, Bromwell, Brooks, Broomall, Bundy, Chanler, Reader W. Clarke, Sidney Clarke, Cobb, Cook, Cullom, Dawes, Dawson, Deming, Denison, Dixon, Donnelly, Driggs, Eckley, Eldridge, Eliot, Farnsworth, Finck, Garfield, Glossbrenner, Goodyear, Grider, Grinnell, Aaron Harding, Abner C. Harding, Hayes, Ilighy, IIolmes, Hooper, A. W. Hubbard, Chester D. Hubbard, Demas Hubbard, jr., John H. Hubbard, Edwin N. Hubbell, Hulburd, James M.

greaves, Sloan, Smith, Spalding, Starr, Stevens, Strouse, Taber, Taylor, Thayer, Francis Thomas, John L. Thomas, jr., Thornton, Trimble, Upson, Van Aernam, Voorhees, Ward, Ellihu B. Washburne, Welker, Wentworth, Williams, James F. Wilson, Stephen F. Wilson, Windom, Winfield-117.

The bill was then passed-yeas 116, nays 54, as follow:

YEAS-Messrs. Alley, Allison, Ames, James M. Ashley, Baker, Baldwin, Banks, Barker, Baxter, Beaman, Bidwell, Bingham, Blaine, Blow, Boutwell, Brandegee, Bromwell, Broomall, Buckland, Bundy, Reader W. Clarke, Sidney Clarke, Cobb, Conkling, Cook, Cullom, Darling, Davis, Dawes, Defrees, Delano, Deming, Dixon, Donnelly, Driggs, Eckley, Eggleston, Eliot, Farnsworth, Ferry, Garfield, Grinnell, Griswold, Hale, Abner C. Harding, Hart, Hayes, Higby, Holmes, Hooper, Asahel W. Hubbard, Demas Hubbard, jr., John H. Hubbard, Hulburd, James Humphrey, Ingersoll, Jenckes, Julian, Kasson, Kelley, Kelso, Ketcham, Laflin, George V. Lawrence, William Lawrence, Loan, Longyear, Lynch, Marston, Marvin, McClurg, Mercur, Miller, Moorhead, Morrill, Morris, Moulton, Myers, O'Neill, Orth, Paine, Patterson, Perham. Pike, Plants, Pomeroy, Price, Raymond, Alexander H. Rice, John H. Rice, Rollins, Sawyer, Schenck, Scofield, Shellabarger, Sloan, Spalding, Starr, Stevens, Thayer, Francis Thomas, Trowbridge, Upson, Van Aernam, Burt Van Horu, Ward, Warner, Ellihu B. Washburne, William B. Washburn, Welker, Wentworth, Williams, James F. Wilson, Stephen F. Wilson, Windom, Woodbridge-116. NAYS-Messrs. Ancona, Anderson, Delos R. Ashley, Benjamin, Bergen, Boyer, Brooks, Chanler, Dawson, Denison, Edridge, Farquhar, Finck, Glossbrenner, Goodyear, Grider, Harding, Henderson, Hill, Hogan, Chester D. Hubbard, Edwin N. Hubbell, James M. Humphrey, Johnson, Jones, Kerr, Kuykendall, Latham, Le Blond, Marshall, McCullough, McKee, Niblack, Nicholson, Noell, Phelps, Radford, Samuel J. Randall, William H. Randall. Ritter, Rogers, Ross, Sharklin, Sitgreaves, Smith, Stillwell, Strouse, Taber, Taylor, Thornton, Trimble, Robert T. Van Horn, Voorhees, Winfield 54. IN SENATE.

June 27, 1866-The bill, as reported to the Humphrey, Ingersoll, Jenckes, Johnson, Jones, Julian, Kel- Senate from its committee amended, was conley, Kelso, Kerr, William Lawrence, Le Blond, Loan, Longyear, Lynch, Marshall, Marston, McClurg, McCullough, Mc-sidered, the pending question being Mr. MorKee, Moorhead, Morrill, Morris, Moulton, Myers, Niblack, rill's motion to insert in the first section the Nicholson, Noell, O'Neili, Paine, Patterson, Perham, Pike, Words in brackets, below: Plants, Pomeroy, Price, Radford, Samuel J. Randall, Alexander H. Rice, John H. Rice, Ritter, Rogers, Rollins, Ross, Sawyer, Schenck, Scofield, Shanklin, Shellabarger, Sitgreaves, Sloan, Spalding, Starr, Stevens, Strouse, Taber, Taylor, Thayer, Francis Thomas, Thornton, Trowbridge, Upson, Van Aernam, Burt Van Horn, Voorhees, Ward, Warner, Ellihu B. Washburne, William B. Washburn, Welker, Wentworth, Williams, James F. Wilson, Stephen F. Wilson, Windom, Winfield, Woodbridge-135.

The question recurring on Mr. Wilson's motion to commit with instructions, Mr. Schenck moved to strike from the proposed instructions these words: "Those who are assessed for and pay taxes on real or personal property within the district;" which was agreed to.

The motion to recommit as amended, was then disagreed to-yeas 53, nays, 117, as follow:

YEAS-Messrs. Anderson, Banks, Blow, Brandegee, Brom. well, Buckland, Reader W. Clarke, Conkling, Darling, Davis, Dawes, Defrees, Delano, Deming, Dixon, Driggs, Eckley, Eggleston, Ferry, Griswold, Hale, Hart, Hayes, Henderson, Ho per, Hulburd, James Humphrey, Jenckes, Kasson, Ketcham, Kuykendall, Laflin, Latham, George V. Lawrence, Wiliam Lawrence, Longyear, Marvin, Miller, Moorhead, Morris, Myers, O'Neill, Plants, Raymond, Alexander II. Rice, Schenck, Stillwell, Trowbridge, Burt Van Horn, Robert T. Van Horn, Warner, William B. Washburn, Woodbridge-53. NAYS-Messrs. Alley, Allison, Ames, Ancona, Delos R. Ashley, James M. Ashley, Baker, Baldwin, Barker, Baxter, Beaman, Benjamin, Bergen, Bidwell, Bingham, Blaine, Boutwell. Boyer, Brooks, Broomall, Bundy, Chanler, Clarke, Cobb, Cook, Cullom, Dawson, Denison, Donnelly, Eldridge, Eliot, Farnsworth, Farquhar, Finck, Garfield, Glossbrenner, Goodyear, Grider, Grinnell, Aaron Harding, Abner C. Harding, Higby, Hill, Hogan, Holmes, Asahel W. Hubbard, Chester D. Hubbard, Demas Hub' ard, jr., John H. Hubbard, Edwin N. Hubbell, James M. Humphrey, Ingersoll, Johnson, Jones, Julian, Kelley, Kelso, Kerr, Le Blond, Loan, Lynch, Marshall, Marston, McClurg. McCullough, McKee, Mercur, Morrill, Moulton, Niblack, Nicholson, Noell, Orth, Paine, Patterson, Perham, Phelps, Pomeroy, Price, Radford, Samuel J. Randall, William H. Randall, John H. Rice, Ritter, Rogers, Rollins, Ross, Sawyer, Scofield, Shanklin, Shellabarger, Sit

That from and after the passage of this act, each and every male person, excepting paupers and persons under guardianship, of the age of twenty-one years and upwards, who has not been convicted of any infamous crime, or offence, and who is a citizen of the United States, and who shall have resided in the said district for the period of six months previous to any elec have voluntarily left the District of Columbia tion therein, [and excepting persons who may to give aid and comfort to the rebels in the late rebellion,] shall be entitled to the elective franchise, and shall be deemed an elector and entitled to vote at any election in said District, without any distinction on account of color or

race.

Mr. Morrill moved further to amend by inserting, also, after "therein," the words "and who can read the Constitution of the United States in the English language, and write his name;" which was disagreed to-yeas 15, nays 19, as follow:

YEAS-Messrs. Anthony, Cragin, Edmunds, Fessenden, Foster, Harris, Kirkwood, Morrill, Poland, Pomeroy, Sherman, Trumbull, Wade, Willey, Williams-15.

NAYS-Messrs. Brown, Buckalew, Conness, Davis, Grimes, Guthrie, Hendricks, Howard, Howe, Morgan, Norton, Nye, Ramsey, Sprague, Stewart, Sumner, Van Winkle, Wilson, Yates-19.

Mr. Willey offered this substitute for the bill : In all elections to be held hereafter in the District of Columbia, the following described persons and those only, shall have the right to Vote, namely: first, all those persons who were actually residents of said District and qualified

February 8-The bill passed-yeas 112, nays 29; the latter all Democrats, except Messrs. Driggs and Latham.

to vote therein at the elections held therein in | James F. Wilson, Stephen F. Wilson, Windom, Woodbridge-104. the year 1865, under the statutes then in force; second, all persons residents of said District who have been duly mustered into the military or naval service of the United States during the late rebellion, and have been or shall hereafter be honorably discharged therefrom; third, male citizens of the United States who shall have attained the age of twenty-one years, (excepting paupers, persons non compotes mentis, or convicted of an infamous offence,) and who, being residents of the ward or district in which they shall offer to vote, shall have resided in said District for the period of one year next preceding any election, and who shall have paid the taxes assessed against them, and who can read,

and who can write their names.

No further vote has been taken up to date of putting this page to press.

West Virginia Bill.

February 6, 1866-The HOUSE passed a joint resolution giving the consent of Congress to the transfer of Berkeley and Jefferson counties to West Virginia-yeas 112, nays 21; (the latter all Democrats except Mr. Baker.) The SENATE passed it, March 6-yeas 32, nays 5.--Mr. Johnson, of Maryland, voted aye; the other Democrats, voting, voted nay.

Extending the Homestead Act.

IN HOUSE.

The bill as finally passed provided that until January 1, 1867, any person applying for the benefit of the act shall swear that he has not borne arms against the United States, or given aid and comfort to its enemies" Habeas Corpus.

IN HOUSE.

March 20-The bill to amend an act entitled ing judicial proceedings in certain cases," ap"An act relating to habeas corpus, and regulatproved March 3, 1863, was passed-yeas 113, nays 31, as follow:

YEAS-Messrs. Alley, Allison, Ames, Anderson, Delos R. Ashley, James M. Ashley, Baker, Baldwin, Banks, Barker, Baxter, Beaman, Bidwell, Bingham, Blaine, Blow, Boutwell, Bromwell, Broomall, Buckland, Bundy, Reader W. Clarke, Conkling, Cook, Cullom, Delano, Deming, Dixon, Driggs, Garfield. Grinnell, Abner C. Harding, Hart, Hayes, HenderDumont, Eggleston, Eliot, Farnsworth, Farquhar, Ferry, son, Hill, Holmes, Hooper, Asahel W. Hubbard, Chester D. Hubbard, Demas Hubbard, jr., John II. Hubbard, James R. Ketcham, Kuykendall, Laflin, Latham, George V. Lawrence, Hubbell, Hulburd, Ingersoll, Jenckes, Kasson, Kelley, Kelso, William Lawrence, Loan, Lynch, Marston, Marvin, McClurg, McKee, McRuer, Miller, Moorhead, Morrill, Morris, Moulton, Myers, Newell, Noell. O'Neill, Orth, Paine, Perham, Phelps, Pike, Plants, Price, William II. Randall, Raymond, John H. Rice, Rollins, Rousseau, Sawyer, Scofield, Shellabarger, Sloan, Smith, Stevens, Stillwell, Thayer, Trowbridge, Upson, Van Aernam, Burt Van Horn, Robert T. Van Horn, Ward, Warner, Ellihu B. Washburne, William B. Washburn, Welker, Wentworth, Whaley, Williams, James F. Wilson, Windom, Woodbridge-113.

February 7, 1866-A bill providing that all the public lands in Alabama, Mississippi, Louis- Coroth, Dawson, Eldridge, Glossbrenner, Grider, Hale, Aa NAYS-Messrs. Ancona, Bergen, Boyer, Brooks, Chanler, iana, Arkansas, and Florida, shall be disposed ron Harding, Hogan, Edwin N. Hubbell, James M. Humof according to the stipulations of the home-phrey, Jones, Kerr, Le Blond, Marshall, McCullough, Nicholson, Samuel J. Randall, Ritter, Rogers, Ross, Sitgreaves, stead law of 1862, no entry to be made for more Strouse, Taber, Thornton, Trimble, Winfield-31. than eighty acres, and no discrimination to be made on account of race or color, and the mineral lands to be reserved, was considered.

IN SENATE.

April 20-The bill passed-yeas 30, nays 4, as follow:

YEAS-Messrs. Anthony, Chandler, Clark, Conness, Cra

Mr. Taber moved to add this proviso: And provided, also, That nothing in this act shall be so construed as to preclude such persons gin, Doolittle, Edmunds, Foster, Henderson, Howard, Howe, as have been or shall be pardoned by the Presi-Johnson, Kirkwood. Lane of Indiana, Morgan, Norton, Nye, Pol ind, Pomeroy, Ramsey, Sprague, Stewart, Sumner, Trumdent of the United States for their participation bull, Van Winkle, Wade, Willey, Williams, Wilson, Yatesin the recent rebellion from the benefit of his NAYS-Messrs Buckalew, Guthrie, Hendricks, Saulsbury act.

Which was disagreed to-yas 37, Lays 104, as follow:

30.

4.

No Denial of the Elective Franchise on Account of Color.

IN HOUSE.

1866, May 15-Pending the bill to amend the organic acts of the territories of Nebraska, Colorado, Dakota, Montana, Washington, Idaho, Arizona, Utah, and New Mexico, of which this is the ninth section:

YEAS-Messrs. Delos R. Ashley, Bergen, Boyer, Brooks,
Buckland, Chanler, Eldridge, Finck, Glossbrenner, Grider,
Aaron Harding, Hogan, Chester D. Hubbard, Edwin N.
Hubbell, James M. Humphrey, Kerr, Latham, Le Blond,
Marshall, McCullough, McRuer, Niblack, Nicholson, Noell,
Phelps, Ritter, Rogers, Ross, Shanklin, Sitgreaves, Strouse,
Taber, Taylor, Thayer, Thornton, Trimble, Voorhees -37.
NAYS-Messrs. Alley, Allison, Ames, James M. Ashley,
Baker, Baldwin, Banks, Barker, Baxter, Beaman, Benjamin,
Bidwell, Bingham, Blaine, Blow, Boutwell, Brandegee,
Bromwell, Broomall, Bundy, Reader W. Clarke, Sidney
"That within the territories aforesaid there
Clarke, Cobb, Conkling, Cook, Cullom, Darling, Davis,
Dawes, Defrees, Deming, Donnelly, Driggs, Eckley,' Eggles shall be no denial of the elective franchise to
ton, Eliot, Farnsworth, Farquhar, Ferry, Garfield, Hale, citizens of the United States because of race or
Abuer C. Harding, Hart, Hayes, Higby, Hill, Hooper, color, and all persons shall be equal before the
Hotchkiss, Demas Flubbard, jr., John H. Hubbard, Ingersoll,
Jenckes, Julian, Kasson, Kelley, Kelso, Kuykendall, Laflin, law. And all acts or parts of acts, either of
George V. Lawrence, William Lawrence, Longyear, Lynch, Congress or the legislative assemblies of the ter-
Marston, Marvin, McClurg, McIndoe, Mercur, Miller, Moor-ritories aforesaid, inconsistent with the pro-
head, Morris, Moulton, Myers, Newell, O'Neill, Orth,
Paine, Patterson, Perham, Price, William II. Randall, Alex- visions of this act, are hereby declared null and
ander H. Rice, John H. Rice, Rollins, Sawyer, Schenck, void."
Sloan, Smith, Spalding, Starr, Stevens, Trowbridge, Upson,
Van Aernam, Burt Van Horn, Ward, Warner, Ellihu B

Washburne, William B. Washburn, Welker, Wentworth,

Mr. Le Blond moved to strike it out, which was disagreed to-yeas 36, nays 76, as follow:

YEAS-Messrs. Ancona, Delos R. Ashley, Bergen, Boyer, Chanler, Dawson, Denison, Eldridge, Finck, Glossbrenner, Goodyear, Grider, Aaron Harding, Chester D. Hubbard, Edwin N. Hubbell, Kerr, Kuykendall, Latham, Le Blond, Marshall, Niblack, Nicholson, Phelps, William H. Randall, Ritter, Rogers, Ross, Rousseau, Shanklin, Sitgreaves, Strouse, Taber, Taylor, Trimble, Whaley, Wright--36.

NAYS-Messrs. Allison, Ames, Anderson, James M. Ashley, Baker, Baldwin, Banks, Baxter, Blaine, Blow, Boutwell, Brandegee, Broomall, Sidney Clarke, Cook, Cullom, Darling, Davis, Dawes, Deming, Donnelly, Dumont, Eggieston, Farnsworth, Ferry, Garfield, Griswold, Hart, Hayes, Higby, Holmes, Hooper, Hotchkiss, Asahel W. Hubbard, Demas Hubbard, John H. Hubbard, Hulburd, Ingersoll,

Jenckes, Julian, Kelley, Kelso, William Lawrence, Loan,
Longyear, Lynch, Marston, McClurg, McRuer, Mercur,
Miller, Moorhead, Morrill, Orth, Paine, Patterson, Perham,
Pike, Plants, Price, Rollins, Sawyer, Spalding, Thayer,
Francis Thomas, Van Aernam, Burt Van Horn, Ward, War-
ner, Ellihu B. Washburne, William B. Washburn, Welker,
Williams, James F. Wilson, Stephen F. Wilson, Win-
dom-76.
The bill then passed-yeas 79, nays 43.

IN SENATE.

June 29-The bill was considered but not voted on.

XII.

POLITICAL AND MILITARY MISCELLANEOUS.

Union National Platform, June, 1864. Resolved, That it is the highest duty of every American citizen to maintain against all their enemies the integrity of the Union and the paramount authority of the Constitution and laws of the United States; and that, laying aside all differences of political opinions, we pledge our selves, as Union men, animated by a common sentiment and aiming at a common object, to do everything in our power to aid the Government in quelling by force of arms the Rebellion now raging against its authority, and in bringing to the punishment due to their crimes the Rebels and traitors arrayed against it.

Resolved, That we approve the determination of the Government of the United States not to compromise with Rebels, or to offer them any terms of peace, except such as may be based upon an unconditional surrender of their hostility and a return to their just allegiance to the Constitution and laws of the United States, and that we call upon the Government to maintain this position, and to prosecute the war with the utmost possible vigor to the complete suppression of the Rebellion, in full reliance upon the self-sacrifiing patriotism, the heroic valor, and the undying devotion of the American people to the country and its free institutions.

Resolved, That as Slavery was the cause, and now constitutes the strength of this Rebellion, and as it must be, always and everywhere, hostile to the principles of Republican Government, justice, and the National safety demand its utter and complete extirpation from the soil of the Republic; and that, while we uphold and maintain the acts and proclamations by which the Government, in its own defence, has aimed a death-blow at this gigantic evil, we are in favor, furthermore, of such an amendment to the Constitution, to be made by the people in conformity with its provisions, as shall terminate and forever prohibit the existence of Slavery within the limits or the jurisdiction of the United States.

Resolved, That the thanks of the American people are due to the soldiers and sailors of the Army and Navy, who have periled their lives in

defence of their country and in vindication of the honor of its flag; that the nation owes to them some permanent recognition of their patriotism and their valor, and ample and permanent provision for those of their survivors who have received disabling and honorable wounds in the service of the country; and that the memories of those who have fallen in its defence shall be held in grateful and everlasting remembrance.

Resolved, That we approve and applaud the practical wisdom, the unselfish patriotism, and the unswerving fidelity to the Constitution and the principles of American Liberty, with which Abraham Lincoln has discharged, under circumstances of unparalleled difficulty, the great duties and responsibilities of the Presidential office; that we approve and endorse, as demanded by the emergency and essential to the preservation of the nation and as within the provisions of the Constitution, the measures and acts which he has adopted to defend the nation against its open and secret foes; that we approve, especially, the Proclamation of Emancipation, and the employment as Union soldiers of men heretofore held in slavery; and that we have full confidence in his determination to carry these and all other Constitutional measures essential to the salvation of the country into full and complete effect.

Resolved, That we deem it essential to the general welfare that harmony should prevail in the National Councils, and we regard as worthy of public confidence and official trust those only who cordially endorse the principles proclaimed in these resolutions, and which shoull characterize the administration of the Government.

Resolved, That the Government owes to all men employed in its armies, without regard to distinction of color, the full protection of the laws of war; and that any violation of these laws, or of the usages of civilized nations in time of war, by the Rebels now in arms, should be made the subject of prompt and full redress.

Resolved, That foreign immigration, which in the past has added so much to the wealth, development of resources, and increase of power to

this nation-the asylum of the oppressed of all nations should be fostered and encouraged by a liberal and just policy.

Resolved, That we are in favor of the speedy construction of the Railroad to the Pacific coast. Resolved, That the National faith, pledged for the redemption of the public debt, must be kept inviolate, and that for this purpose we recommend economy and rigid responsibility in the public expenditures, and a vigorous and just system of taxation; and that it is the duty of every loyal State to sustain the credit and promote the use of the National currency.

Resolved, That we approve the position taken by the Government that the people of the United States can never regard with indifference the attempt of any European Power to overthrow by force or to supplant by fraud the institutions of any Republican Government on the Western Continent; and that they will view with extreme jealousy, as menacing to the peace and independence of their own country, the efforts of any such power to obtain new footholds for Monarchical Governments, sustained by foreign military force, in near proximity to the United States.

Democratic National Platform, August, 1864. Resolved, That in the future, as in the past, we will adhere with unswerving fidelity to the Union under the Constitution as the only solid foundation of our strength, security and happiness as a people, and as a framework of government equally conducive to the welfare and prosperity of all the States, both northern and southern.

Resolved, That this convention does explicitly declare, as the sense of the American people, that after four years of failure to restore the Union by the experiment of war, during which, under the pretence of a military necessity, or war power higher than the Contitution, the Constitution itself has been disregarded in every part, and public liberty and private right alike trodden down and the material prosperity of the country essentially impaired-justice, humanity, liberty and the public welfare demand that immediate efforts be made for a cessation of hostilities, with a view to an ultimate convention of the States, or other peaceable means, to the end that at the earliest practicable moment peace may be restored on the basis of the Federal Union of the States.

Resolved, That the direct interference of the military authorities of the United States in the recent elections held in Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, and Delaware, was a shameful violation of the Constitution; and a repetition of such acts in the approaching election will be held as revolutionary, and resisted with all the means and power under our control.

Resolved, That the aim and object of the Democratic party is to preserve the Federal Union and the rights of the States unimpaired; and they hereby declare that they consider that the administrative usurpation of extraordinary and dangerous powers not granted by the constitution; the subversion of the civil by military law in States not in insurrection; the arbitrary military arrest, imprisonment, trial and sentence of

American citizens in States where civil law exists in full force; the suppression of freedom of speech and of the press; the denial of the right of asylum; the open and avowed disregard of State rights; the employment of unusual testoaths, and the interference with and denial of the right of the people to bear arms in their defence, is calculated to prevent a restoration of the Union and the perpetuation of a government deriving its just powers from the consent of the governed.

Resolved, That the shameful disregard of the Administration to its duty in respect to our fellow-citizens who now are, and long have been, prisoners of war in a suffering condition, deserves the severest reprobation, on the score alike of public policy and common humanity.

Resolved, That the sympathy of the Democratic party is heartily and earnestly extended to the soldiery of our army and sailors of our navy, who are, and have been in the field and on the sea, under the flag of their country; and, in the event of its attaining power, they will receive all the care, protection, and regard that the brave soldiers and sailors of the Republic have so nobly earned.

Call for a National Union Convention, 1866. A National Union Convention, of at least two delegates from each congressional district of all the States, two from each Territory, two from the District of Columbia, and four delegates at large from each State, will be held at the city of Philadelphia, on the second Tuesday (14th) of August next.

Such delegates will be chosen by the electors of the several States who sustain the Administration in maintaining unbroken the Union of the States under the Constitution which our fathers established, and who agree in the following propositions, viz:

The Union of the States is, in every case, indissoluble, and is perpetual; and the Constitution of the United States, and the laws passed by Congress in pursuance thereof, supreme, and constant, and universal in their obligation;

The rights, the dignity, and the equality of the States in the Union, including the right of representation in Congress, are solemnly guaranteed by that Constitution, to save which from overthrow so much blood and treasure were expended in the late civil war;

There is no right anywhere to dissolve the Union or to separate States from the Union, either by voluntary withdrawal, by force of arms, or by Congressional action; neither by the secession of the States, nor by the exclusion of their loyal and qualified representatives, nor by the National Government in any other form;

Slavery is abolished, and neither can, nor ought to be, re-established in any State or Territory within our jurisdiction;

Each State has the undoubted right to prescribe the qualifications of its own electors, and no external power rightfully can, or ought to, dictate, control, or influence the free and voluntary action of the States in the exercise of that right;

The maintenence inviolate of the rights of the States, and especially of the right of each State

Address of Democratic Congressmen, 1866. To the People of the United States:

citadel of our liberties-is directly assailed. The Dangers threaten. The Constitution-the future is dark, unless the people will come to the

rescue.

to order and control its own domestic concerns, according to its own judgment exclusively, subject only to the Constitution of the United States, is essential to that balance of power on which the perfection and endurance of our political fabric depend, and the overthrow of that system by the usurpation and centralization of power in Congress would be a revolution, dangerous to re-be the watchword of every true man. In this hour of peril National Union should publican government and destructive of liberty; Each House of Congress is made by the Con-tain unimpaired the rights, the dignity, and the As essential to National Union we must mainstitution the sole judge of the elections, returns, and qualifications of its members; but the exclu: equality of the States, including the right of sion of loyal Senators and Representatives, prop-right of each State to control its own domestic representation in Congress, and the exclusive erly chosen and qualified under the Constitution and laws, is unjust and revolutionary;

Every patriot should frown upon all those acts and proceedings everywhere, which can serve no other purpose than to rekindle the animosities of war, and the effect of which upon our moral, social, and material interests at home, and upon our standing abroad, differing only in degree, is injurious like war itself;

concerns, subject only to the Constitution of the United States.

tion for more than half a century, the assumption of new and arbitrary powers in the Federal Government is subversive of our system and destructive of liberty.

After a uniform construction of the Constitu

A free interchange of opinion and kind feeling to the perpetuity of the Union. At present between the citizens of all the States is necessary eleven States are excluded from the national council. For seven long months the present Congress has persistently denied any right of representation to the people of these States. Laws, affecting their highest and dearest inter

The purpose of the war having been to preserve the Union and the Constitution by putting down the rebellion, and the rebellion having been suppressed, all resistance to the authority of the General Government being at an end, and the war having ceased, war measures should also cease, and should be followed by measures of peaceful administration, so that union, har-ests, have been passed without their consent, mony, and concord may be encouraged, and industry, commerce, and the arts of peace revived and promoted; and the early restoration of all the States to the exercise of their constitutional powers in the national Government is indispensably necessary to the strength and the defence of the Republic, and to the maintenance of the public credit;

All such electors in the thirty-six States and nine Territories of the United States, and in the District of Columbia, who, in a spirit of patriotism and love for the Union, can rise above personal and sectional considerations, and who desire to see a truly National Union Convention, which shall represent all the States and Territories of the Union, assemble, as friends and brothers, under the national flag, to hold counsel together upon the state of the Union, and to take measures to avert possible danger from the same, are specially requested to take part in the choice of such delegates.

But no delegate will take a seat in such convention who does not loyally accept the national situation and cordially endorse the principles above set forth, and who is not attached, in true allegiance, to the Constitution, the Union, and the Government of the United States. WASHINGTON, June 25, 1866. A. W. RANDALL,

President.

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and in disregard of the fundamental principle of has been made to all the members from a State, free government. This denial of representation 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 repunder any existing constitutional or legal test." resentatives whose loyalty cannot be questioned

States have not been consulted with reference to The representatives of nearly one-third of the the great questions of the day. There has been There has been no intercourse between the repreno nationality surrounding the present Congress. confidence and respect. In the language of the sentatives of the two sections, producing mutual distinguished lieutenant general,

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'It is to be regretted that, at this time, there citizens of the two sections, and particularly cannot be a greater commingling between the of those intrusted with the law-making power."

This state of things should be removed at once and forever.

vindicate the sufficiency of our admirable ConTherefore, to preserve the National Union, to stitution, to guard the States from covert attempts to deprive them of their true position in the Union, and to bring together those who are unnaturally severed, and for these great national purposes only, we cordially approve the call for a National Union Convention, to be held at the city of Philadelphia, on the second Tuesday (14th) of August next, and endorse the princi ples therein set forth.

We, therefore, respectfully, but earnestly, urge upon our fellow-citizens in each State and ted States, in the interest of Union and in a Territory and congressional district in the Unispirit of harmony, and with direct reference to the principles contained in said call, to act promptly in the selection of wise, moderate, and conservative men to represent them in said Con

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