The Conservative. (M'connelsville, Ohio) 1866-1871, 1866-09-21
OF PRINCIPLES
ADOPTED By
THE PHILADELPHIA CONVENTION.

The National Union Convention, now assembled
In the city of Philadelphia, composed Of delegates
from every State and Territory in the Union, ad.
monished by the solemn lessons which for the last
i've years II has pleased the Supreme Ruler Of the
Universe TO give the American people, profoundly
grateful for the retnrn Of peace, DESTROYS as are a
large majority OF their fellow.cOuntrymen in all
sincerity, TO forget and 10 forgive the past, rever.
Ing the constitution as II comes TO Us from our an
eeStors, regarding the Union, in its restoration, as
moraaacred than ever. looking with anxiety into
the future as of instant importance, hereby issues
and prOclaims the following declaration Of princi.
siples and purposes, on which they have with per.
feet unanimity agreed;
L We hal. with gratitude to Almighty God, The
end Of war, and the return Of peace to our afflicted
and beloved land.
2. The war just closed has maintained the au.
thority OF the constitution, with all the DO wers
which 1t e%oniers, and all the restrictions which 1t
imposes upon the general government unabridged
and unaltered, and II has preserved the Union with
the equal rights, dignity and authority OF the States
perfect and unimpaired.
3. Representation in the Congress Of the United
States, and in the Electoral College, isa right rec.
ognized In the constitution as abiding 10 every
State, and as a duty imposed upon its people fun.
damental In its nature, and essential to the exis.
tence Of our republican Institutions, neither Con.
gress nor The General Government has any power
or aut horty TO deny this right TO any State, or TO
withhold its enjoyment, under the constitution
from the people thereof.
4. We call upon the people Of the United States
70 elect TO Congress as members thereof none but
nan wh0 aAVnfN Nkta -.
S~entation, and who will to seats therein
loyal representatives from every State in allegiance
10 the United States, subject only to the cons titu.
tional right Of each House TO Judge Of the election
returns and qualifications Of It's own members.
8. The constitution Of the United States and
laws made In pursuance thereof, are the supreme
law Of the land, any thing in the Constitution or
laws OF any state 70 the contrary notwithstanding.
All powers not conferred by the constitution uDon
the GENERA government, nor prohibited by Il to
States, are reserved TO the several States or To the
people thereof aud amcng the rights thus resery.
ed 10 the States Is the right 10 prescribe the
EXAMINATIONS for the elective franchise therein,
which right Congress can not interfere with. No
State or combination OF States has the right 10
withdraw from The Union, or 10 exclude through
their action IN Congress, or otherwise, any otheis
State or 6tates--from the Union. The Union Of
these States ID perpetual and can not be dissolved.
8. such amendmenls " the Constitution of lie
United States may be made by the people thereon
~ they may deem ezpedient, In the mode pointed
cut ~ us provision and in proposing such
amendmentas Wit ther BY Congress or By 4 conVen.
ton, and ~ raniying the same, all the States in
the Union have Az equal aud an indefeasible right
10 Q voice aud vote thereon.
=. Slavery il abolished and forever prohibited.
There 70 neither design nor puTpose, on tile mar
Of the Southern States, that Il should ever be- re,
established upon the soil or within the iuriadieliou
Of the United States, and the enfranchlsed slaves
In all The states Of the union, should receive, In
common with all their Inhabitants, equal prvtec
ton, 70 every right Of person and property.
D, While We regard as utterly Invalid, and never
90 be assumed or made OF binding iOIee, any obi
CATION incurred or undertaken in making wal
against the United States, we hold the debt Of the
nation 70 be Sacred and inviolable, and we proclaim
our paTpoae, IN diseharking this duty a. In per
forming all other national obligations, 10 maintain
unimpnired and unimpeaehed the honor and iaitL
Of the kepuplic.
o. IL is the duty Of the National Government Il
recognize the services OF the Federal soldiers and
sailors ~ me contest Jnft closed BY NEE ing promp,
ty and tuuY al their Just and riRhtful claims Tor
seryices they have rendered the nation, aud by ex.
tending " those who have survived, aud the wid.
ows and Orphans OF those who fell, the most gene,
vous aud cOnsldente care.
10. In Andrew johnson, President Of the Uuited
Statet, who IN his great office has proved steadlasl
IN his devotion 10 the Constitution aud the inLeI
esis Of country, unul0eed by persecution and nnde
served reproach, having faith unassailed in the
people anu the principle OF free government, we
IeeOgpAze = Chtet Magistrate who Is worthy OF the
nation, and equal 70 the great crisis upon watch
his lot 10 cast, and We tendsr 70 him Ia the dis
charge, OF bis high and Eesponaibls duties our pro
tssna relpeots and the Ssursnss Of our cordial
and anoars support.