Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1866-09-08
r O T. I II L Q a II

y, ~ vac aoufeSS Issued by tn
Natlsn'' Convention, lately held in philsdel
ph'a' to the people of the United States:
10 ne Isople efMe Uaitc1 States:
LAYING met ia convention mt the oitv q
,!!''aan,phla, 4, in the State of Pennlyl~an;a
TINS 10Th dny OF August, 1866, rs the renrc
senthtlvcs of the people Of all sections. and nj
tho States and Territories of the Union !,
consult upon the condition and the wants ot
our common country, we address to you hi.
deciaration of our principles and political pur
poses NO seek to promote
sincc the meeting Of the last National Con.
Sentlon, IN the year 1860, events lave occnr.
iea winch have changed the character of our
i"ternai politics and given the United States
ne" place among the nations of thu earth.
Cu! government has pass.d through the vi
c'ss"udes and the perils Of civil war; war
WINCH though mainly sectional in it's chsrac.
tor, mas nevertheless decided political differ.
onccs that from the very beginning of th.
Governmcnt had threatened the unitv Of ,mr
national existence, and has left its imnrcss
deep and incffaccablc, upon all the interests
sentiments ss., and the destiny of the Rcuublic
T" h'ic 1t has inflicted upon the whole countrv
severe losses IN life and in property, and has
imposed burdens which must weigh on it's rc-
eourees lor generations to come, it has dcy,l
oPed a degree OF national courage in the nres-
e"ce OF national dangers. a capacity for mill
tnry organization and achievement. and ,l,.
Sotlon on the part Of the people to The form
OF Government which they have ordained. and
I" the principles of liberty which that Gov.
srhnie't was designed to promote, which must
eo""rin tile confidence Of the nation in tho
P'fpetu'ty Of its republican institutions, and
Q Tc1'mnnd tho respect of the civilized world.
iHke oil great contests which rouse the nag.
'ons an" Test the endurance Of nat;o:.s, this
"H. ''s given new scope to the ambition of
R1a,.e"l Rs.s.ss end fresh ssa
conflicting sentimcnts, inseparablc from such
an era. whilo the public heart is kcenly alive
70 all the passions that can sway the public
Judgment and affect the public actions while
the wounds of war are still fresh and bleeding
on either side, aud fears for the future take
unjust proportions from the memories aud re-
sentiments Of the pnst, it is difficult but an
Imperative duty which on your behalf, we
who are here assembled have undertaken t.
perform.
For the first time after six long years of al
i.nation and of conflict, we have cnnc tngcth-
-r from every State and every section Of our
land as citizens Of common country, under
that flag, the symbol again of common glory.
to consult together huw hest to cement and
perpetuate that Emiun which is again the OBJ
joct Of our common love, and thus secure the
blessings Of liberty to ourselves and our pos.
trrity.
in the frat place, VIC invoke you to rcmom-
Der always aud everywhere that the war is
cndod, and the nntion is again at peace. The
shock Of contending arms no longer assails the
shuddering heart of tho Republic. The in
surrcction against the supreme authority of
the nation has been suppressed and that au-
thorty has boon again acknowledged by word
aud net in every State, and by every citizen
within its Jurisdiction. We arc no longer rc-
quircd or permitted to regard or treat cacl,
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
main. We arc again people Of the United
States-fcllow citizens of one country, bound
by tho duties und obligations Of common pa
triotism, and having neither rights nor inter
ests apart from common destiny. The du
ties that dovolve upon US now arc again the
duties Of peace, and no longer the duties o
war. Wo have assembled here to take counse
concerning the interests Of peace; to decide
how We may most wisely aud effectively hea
the wounds the war hus made, and perfect ant
perpctuatc tho benefits it has secured, and th'
blessings which, under wiso aud benigl
Providence, have sprung up in its fiery track
This is tho work, not Of passion, but of cain
and sober judgment; not Of resentment 70
past offences, prolonged beyond the limit
which justice and reason prescribe, but Of
liberal craftsmanship. which tolcrates what
cannot prevent, and builds it's plans and it
hopes for the future rather upon II communit
Of interest and ambition than upon distrus
aud tho weapons of force. In the next place
we call upon you to recognize, in their fu
significance, and to accept with all their legi
innate consequences, the political results of tn
war just closed. In two most important pal
&iaulura the uirtoru aehicxcd hv the Nntinni