Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1866-08-16
TELEGRAPHIC.
NATIONAL UNION CONVENTION.
COMM POINTED.
DECLARATION OF PRINCIPLES.
FINAL ADJOURNINEN1

Snyder, Of Mississippi, Senator Doolitt|e in
| the chair ~
The Chair read dispatch announcing the
election of A. G. Hunt, administration candl-
date for Congress in Colorado. Applause.
| Mr.. Crowell, of N. j., offered a resolution
| for the appointment Of National Union Ex-
ecutive Committee Of two from each State and
Territory
On motion of Hon Revcrdy johnson a re<o
luton was adopted appointing a Committee
to wait on the President Of she United States,
with an official report Of their proceedings A
| Committee on finance was appointed. .
On motion of Senator Cowan resolutions
were unanimously adopted thanking Mayor
McMichael, for the excellent police arrange
ments for the preservation of peace.
Mr.. Cowan, from the Committee on rcsolu
tons, presented declaration of principles.
DECLARATION OF PRINCIPLES. e., -.
The National Union Convention, now assem-
bled 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 are large major
ity Of their countrymen in all sincerity to for
| get and to forgive the past; revering the Con-
| stitution as it comes to us from our ancestors;
regarding the Union in its restoration as more
sacred than ever; looking with deep anxiety
into the future as of instant and continuing
trial, hereby issues and proclaims the following
declaration of principles and purposes, on which
they have with perfect unanimity agreed
lst We hail, with gratitude to Almighty
God, the end of war and the return Of peace to
an afflicted and beloved land.
2nd The war, just closed, has maintained
the authority Of the Constitution with all the
powers which it contcrs and all the restrictions
which it imposes upon the General Govern
ment unabridged and unaltered, and it has
preserved the Union with the equal rights,
dignity and authority of the States perfect and
unimpaircd,
3rd. Representation in the Congress of tho
United States and in the electoral college is
right recognized by the Constitution as abiding
| in every state, and US duty imposed upon its
people, fundamental in its nature, and essential
to the existence Of our republican institutions,
and neither Congress nor the General Govern
ment has any authority Or power to deny this
right to any State or to withhold its enjoyment
| H. 4 ., tb
4th We call upon the people of the United
States to elect to Congress, as members thereof,
| none but men who admit this fundamental right
Of representation, and who will receive TO seats
therein, loyal representatives from every State,
in allegiance to the United States, subject to
the constitutional right Of each House to judge
of the elections, returns, and qualifications of
its own members = =
5th. The Constitution Of the United States,
and the laws made in pursuance thereof, are
the supreme law of the land anything in the
Constitution or laws of any State to the contra
ry notwithstanding All the powers not con-
ferrcd by the Constitution upon the General
Government nor prohibited byit 10 tic States,
arc reserved to the States, or to the people
thereof, and among the rights thus reserved to
the States is the right to prescribe qualifications
for the elective franchise therein, with which
right Congress cannot interfere. No State or
convention Of States has the right to withdraw
from the Union, or to exclude through their
action in Congress, Or otherwise, any other
State or States from the Union. The Union
of these States is perpetual.
9Th. Such amendments to the Constitution
of the United States may be made by the peo-
pie thereof, as they may deem expedcnt, but
only in the mode pointed out by its provisions
and in proposing such amendments, whether by
Congress or by Convention, and in ratifying
the same, all the States Of the Union have an
equal, and an indefeasible right to voice and
a vote thereon.
7th Slavery is abolished, and forever pro-
hibitea, and there is neither desire nor purpose
on the part of the Southern States, that it
should ever be reestablished 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 person and property.
Sth. While we regard as utterly invalid, and
! never to be assumed, or made Of binding force,
any obligation incurred or undertaken in max
ing war against the United States, VIC hold the
deot of the nation to be sacred and invoable
| and we proclaim our purpose in discharging
this as in performing all other national obliga-
tons, to maintain unimpaired and uDimpcach-
ed the honor and the faith of the republic.
9th. It is the duty of the National Govern
ment to recognize the services Of the Federal
soldiers, and sailors, in the contest just closed,
by meeting promptly end fully all their Just and
mghtful claims for the services they have rem
I Il IL