New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1866-08-24
Address of the Philadelphia Convention


having met IN COhVeD ION, az the city OF Phila-
dephiA in the State Of Pennsylvania this 10th day
of August 1866, as the rcpresGnAtiyes of the pe0-
PIE in all sections, and all the States and terrific
r1es Of the UuiOn, To Con4ut upon the condition |
and the wants of our common country we address
to you this teclaraGion of oar principles, and of
the political purposes we seek to promote
Since the meeting OF The last National COnven- |
llOn, IN the year lSGO, events have occurred
which have changed the character Of our internal |
politics, and given tue United States new place
among the nations of the earth. Our government
has passed through the veissitudcs and the
perils Of civil war--a war which, though
mainly sectional in its character, has neyerthe-
less decided political differences that from the
very beginning Of the government had threat |
ened the unity of our national existence and has
left its impress deep and inehaceablC upon all the
interests, the sentiments and the destiny of the |
republic While IL has inflicted upUn the whole |
country severe losses in life and in property and
has imposed burdens which must weigh on its re-
sources for generations to come il has developed
degree of national courage in the presence of
national dangers-a capacity for military organi-
Zati0n and achievement, and devotion on the
part Of the DeOple to the form of government
which they have ordained, and TO the principles of
liberty which that government was designed to
promote, which must confirm the confidence of
the nation in the pgrpemity of lis republican in
etituti0us and command the respect Of tile civil
iZed world.
Like all great contests which rouze the pas
EiOns and test the endurance of nations, this war
has given new scope to the ambition OF political
parties, and fresh impulse to plans OF innovation
and reform. amidst the chaos OF cOnilcuhg
sentiments nseDArable from SuCh an era. Whlle
the public heart is kCeuly alive to all the passions
that can sway the public Judgment and Affect the
public action; while the wounds OF war are still
fresh and bleeding on either side, and fears for
the future take unjust proportions from the
memories and resentnents Of the past, it is diff
tCult but an imperative duty which, on your be-
half we, WHO are here assembled, have under
taken to perform.
For the ir5t time after six long years OF allena-
hOn and Of conflict, we have come together from
every State and every section OF our land, as
citizens of a common country under that tag, the
symbol again OF a common glory, to consult to-
gether how best to cement and perpetuate that
Union which il again the object Of our common
love, and thus secure the blessings OF liberty to
ourselves and our posterity.
In the first place, we invoke you to remember
always and everywhere, that the war is ended,
and uha nation is again al peace. The shock of
couterdinr arms no longer asgait5 the shuddering
heart Of the republic The lnsurrecfOn against
the supreme authority Of the nation has been sup
pressed and that authority has been again ac-
kn0wlCdged, by word and act in every State and
by every citizen within its iurisdicti0u We are
no longer required or permitted to regard or
treat each other as enemies. Not only have the
acts of war been Discontinued, aud the weap-
gu5 Of war been laid aaide. but the state of war
no longer exists, and tas sentiments, the pas
giOns, the relations OF war have 10 longer lawful
or righttul places anywhere throughout our broad
domain We are ageA people OF the United
States. fellow.citizans Of one country, bound by
the duties and Obligations Of a common patriot
from a common destiny. The duties ihat deYOve
anon US now are again lhe duties oil peace, and
no longer the duties OF war. We lave assembled
here to take counsel concerning th9a interests OF
peace: to decide how we may most wisely and
etfeCtualIy heal the wounds the war has made, and
perfect and perpetdate the benefits it has secured,
and The blessings which, under wise aud benign
Providence, have sprung up in its fiery track.
Thisis the work not of passion, but Of calm and
sober Judgment; not Oh resentment for past
ofienses, prolonged beyond the limits which JUS
tice and reason prescribe, but oil liberal states
Inanship. which tOeTates what it CannOt prevent
and builds its plans aud its hopes for the future
rather upon q community OF interest and ambition
thanupon distrust and the weapons Of force.
In the next place, We call upon you to recognize
in their full Significance and to accept with al
their legitimate consequences, the political result!
of the war just closed. 10 two most importan
particulars the victory achieved by the natiOna
government has been final and decisive. First, i
has established beyond all further controversy
and by the highest OF all hulnau sanctions, the ap
sOlute supremacy OF the national government a.
defined and limited ny he CONSTITUTION OF INT
United States, and the permanent integrity an
indissOubility of the federal Unlon as neces
sarY consequence; ; and second, ~ mas p1t an en-
finally and forever to tue existence Oh SLAYER
upon the soil or within the jurisdiction OF tn
United States. Both these points became dlrectl
involved in the contest. and controversy upo
both was ended absolutely and finally by tn
result.
In the third place, we deem it Of the utmost IN
portanCe that the real character OF the war an
theylCtOry by winch III WIS closeu suOulu ne az
curately understood. The war was carried on
the government of tie United States in maintel
ance of its own authority, and in defense of i
OWE existence, both OF which were menaced /
the insurrection which it sought to suppress. II
suppressiOnof that insurrecuon accomplished th
result. The government of the United States mai
tanned by force Of arms the supreme authority oY
all the territory, and over all the States and peop
within its iursdict,n whichthe Constitution confe
upon it but it acquired therein no new power, I
enlarged jurisdiction, no rights either OF territori
possession or ofciy authority which it did n
possess before the rebellion broke out. All t
rightful power it can ever possess is that which
conferred upon it, either in express terms
by fair and necessary implication by the Cons
tuition Of the United States. 1t was that pow
and that authority which the rebellion sought
overthrow, and the victory OF the federal arr
was simply the defeat of that attempt. The &c
ernment Of the United States acted throughout
war on the defensive Itsought tonlyt to hold pos
sion of what was already its own. Neither
war nor the victory by which it was close
changed in any way the Constitution of the Unit
States. The war was carried on by virtue of
provisions, and under the limitations which th
prescribe, and the result of the war did not eitl
enlarge, abridge or in any way change or aft
the powers it cOnfers upon the federal govenme
or release that government from the restrcht
which it has imposed.