The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1866-08-23
ADD II Il s.
OF THE
PHILADELPHIA CONVENTION.


from al the States aud Territories Of the
Union. 10 consult npOn the condition and
the wants Of our common country, We all
dress 10 sou this declaration OF our prinei-
pies, aud Of the political purposes we seek
10 promote.
Since the meeting Of the last National
Convention, IN the year l-GO, events have
occurred which have changed the character
Of our internal politics, and given the United
States a new place among the nations Of the
earth. Our Government has passed through
the vicissitudes and perils Of civil war--a
war which, though mainly sectional in its
character, has nevertheless decided political
influences that from the very beginning of
the government had threatened the unity of
our national existence, and has left its i'm
press deep and ineiiaceable upon all the in
tcrests and sentiments and the destiny Of the
Republic. While 1t 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, it has developed a degree Of ma
| ti0nal courage in the presence Of national
dangers, a capacity, for military Organiza
| ton and achievement. and devotion on the
part of the people TO the form of govern
ment which they have ordained, and to the
| principles Of liberty which that government
was designed to promote, which must con-
firm the confidence Of the nation in the per-
petuity of its republican institutions, and
command the respect of the civilized world.
Like all great contests which rouse the pas
sions 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.
Amid the chaos of conflicting sentiments
inseparable from such an era; while the
public heart is keenly alive to all the pas
sions 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 aud resent
ments of the past, it is difficult but an i'm
peratiye duty which, on your behalf, we,
who are here assembled, have undertaken to
perform.
For the first time, after six long years of
alienation and of conflict. we have come to-
gether from every State and every section of
our land as citizens of a common country
under that flag, the symbol again of com
mon 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 party.
In the first place we invoke you TO remem-
Der, always and everywhere that the war is
ended, and the nation is again at peace The
shock of cOntending arms no longer assails
the shuddering heart of the Republic. The
nsuuection against the supreme authority
of the nation has been suppressed, and that
authority has been again acknowledged
by word and act, in every State, and by
every citizen within Its jurisdiction. We
are no longer required 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 rightful place anywhere
throughout our broad domain.
We are again people of the United States,
fellow-citizens of one country, bound by
the duties and obligations of common
patriotism, and having neither rights nor
interests apart from common destiny. The
duties that devOlve upon MS now are again
the duties of peace and no longer the duties
of war. We have assembled here to take
counsel concerning the interests of peace, to
decide how we may most wisely and effect
ually heal the wounds the war has made,
and to perfect and perpetuate the beneitsit
has secured, and the blessings which, under
u wise and benign Providence, have sprung
up in its track. This is the work, not of pas
sion, but of calm and sober Judgment, not of
resentment for past otienses prolonged be-
You'd the limits which justice and reason
prescribe, but of a liberal craftsmanship |
which tOlerates what ii cannot prevent, and |
builds its plans and its hopes for the future,
rather upon a community of interest and |
ambition than upon distTust, and the weap- |
ons of force.
In the next place, we call upon you to re-
cognize in their full significance and 10 ac-
cept with all their legitimate consequences, |
the political results of the war just closed
In two most important particulars, the vic
tory achieved by the National Government |
has been final and decisive First, il has
beyond all further controversy,
and by the highest of all human sanctions,
the absolute supremacy of the National
Government as defined and limited by the
Constitution of the United States, and the
permanent integrity and indissOlubility of
the Federal Union as a necessary conse-
quence; and second il has put an end, final
ly and forever, TO the existence of slavery
upon the soil or within the jurisdiction OF
the United States. Both these points be-
came directly involved in the contest and
controversy. Upon both depended, abso-
lutely and finally, the result.
In the third place, we deem il of the ut
most Importance that the real character of
the war. and the victory by which it was
closed, should be accurately understood.-
The war was carried on by the Government
Of the United States in maintenance of its
own existence; both of which were menaced
by the instruction which it sought TO sup
press. The suppression of the instruction
accomplished that result. The Government
Of the United States maintained by force of
arms the supreme authority over all the ter
ritory and over all the States and people
within its jurisdiction winch the Constitu-
ton confers upon il; hut il acquired thereby
no new power, no enlarged Jurisdiction, no
rights, either of territorial possession or Of
civil authority. which il did not possess
before the rebellion broke out. All the right
'ul power it can ever possess is that which
IS conferred upon il either in express terms
lr by fair and necessary implication, by the
Constitution of the United States. Ii was
hat however, and that authority which the
rebellion sought to overthrow; and the vic
ory Of the Federal arms was simply the
leieat OF that attempt.
The Government ofthe United States act
II Throughout the war ON the defensive 1t
,ought ouly to hold possession of what was
llready its own. Neither the war nor the
.ictory lay which il was closed, changed IL
my way the Constitution of the United
states The war was carried on 10y virtue
Il its provisions. and under the limitations
which they prescribe. aud che result Of the
var did not enlarge, ahridge, or in any way
.hancc OF affect the powers il confers upon
he Federal Government. or release that Gov
,rnment from the restrictions which IL has
imposed. The Constitution Of the United
states is to-day. precisely as il was before the
war. the supreme laws of any state to the