The New era. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1865-1871, 1866-10-25
DECLARATION OF PRINCIPLES
ADOPTED BY THE
IT A I'll Q N A L
UNION CONN ENTION.
HELD AT
PHILADELPHIA

The National Union Convention, now
assembled in the city OF Philadelphia,
composed of delegates from every state
and Territory in the Union. admonished
by the solemn lessons which for the last
five years it has pleased the supreme
Ruler of the Universe to give TO the
american people; profoundly grateful
for the return of peace DESTROYS, as a
large majority of their countrymen, In
all sincerity, to forget and forgive the
past; revering the Constitution az it
comes to Us from our ancestors; regard
ing the Union, in its restoration, as more
sacred than ever: looking with deep
anxiety into the future as of instant and
continuing trial, hereby issue and pro-
claim the following declaration Of prin-
eiples and purposes upon Which they
have with perfect unanimity agreed
fnst-We hail with gratitude to AL
mighty God the end of war and the re-
turn Of peace to an afflicted aud beloved
land.
,Seco,ad-The war just closed has main
tanned the authority of the constitution.
with all the powers which it confers and
all the restrictions which it imposes
upon the general government, una
bridged and unaltered, and it has pre-
served the Union with the equal rights,
dignity and authority of the States per-
feet and unimpaired.
7hird-Representa in the Con-
yress Of the United States and in the
Electoral College is right recognized
by the constitution as abiding in every
State and as duty imposed upon its
people, fundamental in its nature and
essential to the exercise of our republic
can institutions; and neither Congress
hA hoe
authority or power to deny this right to
the constitution, from the people thereof.
IoHth-We call upon the people of
the United States to elect to Congress as
members thereof none but men who adj
nit this fundamental right of represent
tation, and who will receive to seats
their loyal representatives from every
State in allegiance to the United States,
subject to the constitutional right of
each house to judge Of the election re-
turns and qualifications Of itsown MEM
bers.
fIih.-Fhe constitution of the United
States, and the laws made in pursuance
thereof, are the supreme laws of the
land, anything in the constitution or
laws Of any State to the contrary not
Withstanding. All the powers not con-
ierred by the constitution upon the gen
eral government nor prohibited by it to
the States are reserved to the States or
the people thereof; and among the
rights thus reserved to the States is the
rights to prescribe qualifications for the
elective franchise therein, which right
Congress cannot interfere with. No
State or convention Of States has the
right to withdraw from the Union, or to
exclude, through their action in Con-
gress or otherwise, any State or States
from the Union. The union of these
States is perpetual.
stitution of the United States may be
made by the people thereof as they may
deem eXpedient, but only in the mode
pointed out by its resolution, and pro-
posing such amendments, whether by
Congress or by a convention, and in
ratifying the same, all the States of the
Union have an equal and an indefeasi-
bic right to a voice and a vote thereon.
Serenh-Slavery is abolished and for
ever prohibited, and there is neither de-
sire nor purpose on the part of the
Southern States that it should ever be
re-established upon the soil or within
the jurisdiction of the United States,
and the enfranchised slaves in all the
States of the Union should receive, in
common with all their inhabitants,
equal protection in every right of per-
son and property.
E1ghth-While we regard as utterly
invalid and never to be assumed or
made of binding force any obligation
incurred or undertaken in making war
against the United States, we hold the
debt of the nation to be sacred and in
violable, and we proclaim our purpose
in discharging this, as in performing all
other national obligations, to maintain
unimpaired and unimpeached the honor
and the faith of the republic.
Ninth-1t is the duty of the national
government to recognize the services of
the federal soldiers and sailors in the
contest just closed, by meeting promptly
and fully all their just and rightful
claims for the services they have rem
dered the nation, and by extending to
those OF them who have survived, and
to the widows and orphans of those who
have fallen, the most generous and con-
siderate care.
Ienth-In Andrew Johnson, President
M the United States, who in his great
office has proved steadfast in his devo-
ton to the constitution the laws and