Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1866-08-18
JOHNSON CONVENTION.
The Address to the People Of the
United States.

The following is the Address in full OF
the Copper-Johnson Convention to the
people of the United States. Il was pre-
pared by and read to the Convention by
Henry J. Raymond, after having received
the necessary pruning by Randall, Doc
little, Cowan, sc, and probably the en-
dorsement of johnson and Seward:
Having met in Convention at tho city Of
Philadelphia State Of Pennsylvania,
August l6, 1866, as the representatives, of
the people in all sections, and from all the
States and parties of the Union, to con-
suit on the condition Of our common
country, we address to you this declara-
ton OF our principles, and of the political
purposes we seek to promote. Since the
meeting of the last Convention in the
year 1860, events have occurred which
have changed the character of our inter-
nal politics, and given the United States a
new place among the nations Of the earth
Our Government has passed through the
perils Of civil war; q war, which, though
mainly sectional in its character, has, not
withstanding decided political differences
which from the very beginning of the
Government had threatened the unity of
our national existence, exercised infu-
ences upon the destinies of the republic,
while it has inflicted upon the whole
country severe losses in life and in prop
erty, and has imposed burdens which must
weigh on its resources for generations to
come.
1t has developed a degree Of national
courage in the presence Of national dan
ger, and capacity for military achieve
ments, and a devotion on the part Of the
people to the form of government which
they have ordained, and to the principles
of liberty which that Government was de-
signed to promote, which must confirm
the confidence of the nation in the pros
perity of these Institutions, and command
the respect of the civilized world.
TCheers. This war from which we have
Just emerged has given new scope to the
ambition of political parties, and fresh
impulse to plans of innovation and reform.
Amidst the chaos of conflicting ele-
ments, insepaTable frem such an array
while the public heart is keenly alive to
all the influences which sway the public
judgement ard affect a public action,
while the wound OF war is still fresh and
bleeding on their sight and on the mem-
ories ofthe land-it is the glorious and i'm
perative duty which we on your behalf
are here assembled, and have undertaken |
to perform for the first time for six long |
years ofdesolation and conflict, and have |
come together from every State and every |
section of our land as citizens of . common |
country under that flag the symbol again
Of a common glory TO consult together how |
best 20 restore an perpetate the Union
which has again been brought together,
and thus secure the blessings Of liberty to |
ourselves and our posterity.
Now, in the first place we invoke you |
to remember always, aod everywhere, the |
war is ended, and the nation is again at |
peace. The shock of coRtending armies
no longer shudders the heart cf thc repub-
lie.
An instruction against the authority |
of the Union has been suppressed, and
that authority has again been acknOw
lodged by word and act in every State and
by every citizen within its Jurisdiction. /
We are no longer reqired or permitted
to treat or judge them rs enemies, for not
only have the acts os war been discontin-
ued, but the weapons of war hsve been
laid aside, and the state Of war on longer
exists, and its consequences no longer
nave rightful sway over US.
We are again the people Of the United |
States, fellow-citizens of one country |
bound by the duties and obligations of a
common patriotism, and having neither
interests nor rights apart from a common |
destiny.
The duties that devolve upon us now |
are again the duties which have not been |
affected by war. We have assembled here |
TO take counsel concerning the interests of |
peace, to decide how we may most wisely |
heal the wounds of war, and perpetuate |
the benefits it has secured, which, under |
wise and benign Providence, have sprung |
up in its fiery track.
This is the work, not of passion, but of |
calm and sober judgment-no resentment |
for past deeds prolonged beyond the lin |
its which Judgment and reason prescribe, |
but of liberal craftsmanship which toll |
crates what it cannot prevent, and pleads |
its purpose with the future, rather upon |
"A community of interests than upon re- |
by weapons Of force.
In the next place, we call upon you to |
recognize in their full significance, and |
TO accept as their Ie3ltlLAdle consequent |
ces, the political results of the war just |
closed. The most important part of the
victory achieved by the National Govern
ment.hss been final and decisive.
First. 1t has established, beyond all fu- |
tare controversy, and by the highest of
all human sanction, the absolute supre-
macy of the National Government, as de-
fined and limited by the Constitution of
the United States, and the permanent in
tegrity and indissolubility of the Federal
Union, as a necessary consequence
Second. 1t has Put an end, finally and
forever, TO the existence of slavery upon
the soil and within the jurisdiction of the
United States. Both of these points de-
tailed, directly involved in tie contest
and controversy have been ended, abso-
lutelv and finally, by the result.