The Conservative. (M'connelsville, Ohio) 1866-1871, 1866-08-31
ADDRESS ADOPTED
Is "
TRE PAILADELPH!A CONVENTION.
Appeal to the People.
Address to tho People Of the
United states

AAAAGnR ~ NAO AGODhG Oh kHR
United states.
Having met in Convention, at the
city Of Philadelphia, in the State Of
Pennsylvania, this 10th day of August
1866, as the representatives of the pco-
pie in all section, and from all the
States and Territories of the Union, to
consult upon the condition and the
wants of our common country we adj
dress to you this declaration of our
principles, and of the political purposes
we seek TO promote
The Late War.
Since the meeting of the last National
Convention, i'm the year 1860 events
have occurred which have changed the
character Of our internal politics, and
given the United States new place
among the nations of the earth Our
Government has passed through the
vicissitudes and the pcrils OF civil war
"a war which, though mainly yscctional
in its character, has, nevertheless, de-
cided political differences that from the
very beginning of the Government had
threatened the unity Of our national
existence, and has left its impress deep
and ineffaceable upon AL the interests
the sentiments, and the destiny of the
republic. While il has inflicted upon the
whole country severe losses in life and
in property, and has imposed burdens
which must weigh on its resources for
generations to come, il has developed
degree Of national courage in the
presence Of national dangcrs-a capac-
ity for military organization and
achievement, and devotion on the
part Of the people to the form of gov
ernment which they have ordained,
and to the principles of liberty which
that government was designed to pro-
mote, which must confirm the conf
denoe of the nation in the perpetuity
OF its republican institutions, and com
mand the respect Of the civilized
world.
Like all great contests which rouse
the passions 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 con
iiicting sentiments inscparablo from
such an era, while the public heart is
keenly alive toall the passions that can
sway thepublic Judgment and affect the
public action; while the wounds OF war
arc still fresh and bleeding on either
side, and fears for the future take un-
Just proportions from the memories
and rosentments of the past, it is a
difficult but an imperative duty which,
on your behalf, we, who are here as
semblcd, have undertaken to perform.
ASscmbIagc in Amity.
For the first time after six longyears
Of alienation and of conflict, we have
come together from every State and
every section Of our land, as citizens of
Il common country, under that flag the
symbol again Of common glory, to
consult together how best to cement and
perpetuate that Union which is again
the object Of our common love, and thus
secure the blessings of liberty to our
selves and our posterity.
l. In the first place, we invoke you
70 remember, always and everywhere,
that the war is ended and the nation is
again at peace. The shock Of contend
ing arms no longer assails the shud-
dering heart Of the Republic. The in
eurrection against the supreme author
ity Of the nation has been suppressed,
and that authority has been again ac-
knowledged, by word and act, in every
State and by every citizen within its
jurisdiction. We are no longer re
quired or permitted to regard or treat
each other as enemies. Not only have
the acts Of war been discontinued, and
the weapons of war laid aside, but the
state Of war no longer exists, and the
sentiments, the passions, the relations
of war have no longer lawful or right
full place anywhere throughout our
broad domain. We are again people
ofthe United States, fellow. citizens of
one country, bound by the duties and
obligations Of common patriotism,
and. having neither rights nor interests
apart from a common destiniy
Duties of Peace.
The duties that devoIve upon us now
are again the duties Of peace, and no
longer the duties Of war, we have
assembled here to take counsel concern
ing the interests of peace-to decide
how we may most wisely and effectu-
ally heal the wounds tho warhas smade,
and perfect and perpetuate the benefits
1T has secured, and the blessings which,
under a wise and benign Providence,
have sprung up in its fiery track. This
is the work, not Of passion, but Of calm
and sober judgment; notof resentment
for past offenses prolonged beyond the
limits which justice and reason pro-
scribe, but of liberal statesmanship,
which tolerates what it cannot prevent,
and builds its plans and its hopes for
the future rather upon community of