The Conservative. (M'connelsville, Ohio) 1866-1871, 1866-08-31
DECLARATION Of PRINCIPLES
ADOPTED BY
THE PHILADELPHIA CONVENTION,

The National Union Convention, now assembled
in the city OF Philadelphia, composed " delegates
from every State aud Territory In tho Union, nd.
monished by the solemn lessons which for the last
five years II has pleased the Supreme Ruler Of the
Universe 10 give the American people, profoundly
grateful for the return Of peace, DESTROYS az ara q
large majority Of their fellow countiymen, in all
sincerity, TO forget ard 10 forgive the past, rover.
ing the con %siitutiou as il comes to us from our an
c%estors, regarding The Union, in It's restoration, as
more sacred than ever, looking with anxiety into
the future as Of Instant Importance, hereby Issues
and proclaims the following declaration OF prlnci.
ciples and purposes, on which they have with per
feet unaniuity agreed:
]. We hail. with gratitude to Almighty God, the
end Of war, aud the return Of peace TO our afflicted
and beloved land.
=. The war Just closed has maintained the au.
thority Of tho constitution, with all the no wers
which IL %conlers, and all the restrictions which ii
imposes upon the general government unabridged
aud unaltercd, ana ii has preserved the Union with
the equal rights dignity and authority Of the states
perfect and uuimpaired.
,. Representation in the Congress Of the United
States, aud in the Electoral College, ia RICH, req
ognized In the constitution as abiding in every
State and as a duty imposed upon IL people fun.
damental In It's nature, ana essential TO tho exls.
tence OF our republican Institutions, neither Con.
giess nor the General Government has any power
Or authority to deny this right 10 any State, or TO
withhold It's enjoyment, under tho constitution.
from the people thereof.
1. We call upon the people OF the United States
10 elect to Congress as. members thereof none but
men who admit this fundamental right OF repre.
s~entation, and who will recommend tn seats therein
loyal representatives from every State In allegiance
to the United States, subject only to the cons tltu.
tional right Of each House to Judge Of the election
returns aud qualifications Of It's own members.
S. The constitution Of the United states and
laws made Ia pursuance thereof, are the supreme
law OF the land, any thing in the constitution or
Jaws oil any state to the contrary Notwithstanding.
All powers not conferred by tho constitution mon
the General Government, nor prohibited bv II 10
States, are reserved to the several States or 10 tho
people thereof and amVng the rights thus resery.
cd 10 me states $ the right to prescribe the
qlallhcntlons for the elective franchise therein
"hlch rght Congress can not Interfere with. No
state or combination Of States has the right 10
Withdraw irou the Union, or TO exclude through
lhelf actidn IN Congress, or Otherwise, any Othel a
state or StOtes-frOm the Union. The Union of
these STATES Is perpetual and can not be dissolved.
b. Sueh amendments 70 the constitution OF the
United States may be made by the people thereon
"a - ~FH 80" AA NAA NAAAL uNANL
ont by It's provision aud in proposing s.si,
amendments, whe ther by Congress o. ~ n cOnyen.
ton, aud IN ratiying the saGS, sl tho states in
the Union nave an ccaHi and an indeleasible RIGHT
to o voice and tote thereon. e
=. S"vcry Is abolished and forever prohibited.
mere Is neither design nor purpose, on the part
al tho Southern States, that il should evOr be- re-
established npon the soil or within the Jurisdiction
OF the United states, and the enfranchised slaves
IN all the States OF the Union, should receive. in
eOinmon with all their inhabitants, equal pr1tec
ton, Ia every right Of person aud property.
3. While we regard as utterly invalid aud never
TO be ASSUMED or made VI binding force, any Obli-
cation incurred or undertaken in making wal
against the United States, we hold the debt OF The
nation TO be sacred and inYiOlable, and we proclaim
our purpose, In disclargiug this duty as in per
forming all other national obligations, TO maintain
unimpaiTed aud unimI cached the honor aud iatL
VI the Republic.
o. IL is the duty Of The National Government L
recognize the services Of the Federal soldiers anC
sailors In the contest juFt closed by NEE, ing prOmp
lily and fully all their just and rigbtful claims fo
services they have rendered tue nation, and by ex
tending 10 those who have survived, aud the wild.
yows and Orphans OF those who fell, the most gene
rOus and cOnsiderate care.
10. In Andrew johnson, President Of the United
Statet, who IN bis great office has proved sleadias
la bis devotion 10 the Constitution aud the int
ests u country unmoSed by persecution and undo
served GepToaeh, having faith unassailed In In
people aud the principle OF free government, ",
recognize a Chief Magistrate who is worthy OF thl
nation, and equal 10 the great crisis upon which
his lot is cast, aud we tender 10 him ia the dis
charge OF his high aud responsible duties our pro
iDund respect and the Sssnlanc Of our eoidla
lLd sincere support.