Record Data
"Illinois," The American Cyclopedia and Register of Important Events of the Year 1866 (New York: D. Appleton and Company, 1873), 399-400.
Transcription
The following text is presented here in complete form, as it originally appeared in print. Spelling and typographical errors have been preserved as in the original.
Resolved, That in the great Union party of the nation, whose counsels safely guided the country through the rebellion, and whose arms conquered and subdued it, we recognize the party whose principles alone can be relied upon and adhered to with safety in the reconstruction of the State governments of the rebellious States.
Resolved, That we cordially endorse the policy of the Congress of the United States with reference to the restoration of the State governments destroyed by the rebellion; that we fully approve of the amendment to the Constitution of the United States adopted by Congress, and submitted for ratification to the
people.
Resolved, That under the Constitution, which provides for a qualified veto upon the legislation of Conress by the President, when that body has enacted laws by the constitutional majority of two-thirds over the Presidential negative, the President himself, as well as the people, should bow to their decision, as that of the highest power in the nation; and that any attempt on his part to oppose the faithful execution of such laws and to substantiate in lieu thereof his own will, is an uuwarrantable usurpation and dangerous to the liberties of the people.
Resolved, That Congress, without the cooperation of the President, has the sole power of proposing amendments to the national Constitution; that, as the people's representatives, it is the only standard of the national will, and that in the present disturbed condition of the Southern States in their relations to the General Government, we recognize Congress as the supreme power, and will sustain its action in all just and patriotic modes in behalf of the Constitutional Amendment now submitted to the States.
Resolved, That it should be a recognized maxim in political science, to give the friends and defenders of a government its direction and control; that to its enemies and assailants should be accorded only such privileges as can be intrusted them without danger to the Republic.
Resolved, That we regard the Congressional test oath as one of the great bulwarks of union and liberty, and that we are unalterably opposed to any change or abridgment thereof.
Resolved, That our sympathies as a party go out in favor of the struggle of liberty-loving people for freedom, believing that we should accord to others all that we claim for ourselves.
Resolved, That in common with, and as part of the great Union party of the nation, we hereby tender to the soldiers and sailors of our country, our most unfeigned and heartfelt thanks for achievements and triumphs that will ever immortalize them and the nation whose government they saved; and we trust the time may never come when the people will cease to hold in grateful remembrance, or fail to reward the preservers of the Union.
Resolved, That the recent massacre by reconstructed and pardoned rebels of loyal men in New Orleans, is the egitimate result of the policy of President Johnson, and we hold him responsible for the murders on that occasion of loyal white and black men, whose only offence was their loyalty to the country.
Resolved, That we are in favor of that kind of legislation which shall tend to alleviate the hardships, shorten the hours of labor, and improve the condition of the laboring classes.
Resolved, That this convention fully approves the proposed action of Congress in the modification of the neutrality laws of the United States, and that we deeply sympathize with our Irish fellow-citizens in their love of their native land, and that we will rejoice with them on the redemption of Ireland from British misrule and wrongs, and that thev shall have our countenance and support in all lawful means employed to accomplish that end.
