North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1866-08-29
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abolished it by thesr State Constitutions
and concurred with the States and people
of the whole Union in prohibiting its exist
ence forever upon the soil or within the
jurisdiction of the Uuited States. They
indicate and cvince their purpose, just so
fast as may be possible and safe, to adapt
their domestic laws to the changed condl
tion of their society, and to secure by the
law and its tribunals equal and impartial
Justice to all classes oftheir inhabitants
They admit the invalidity of all acts of re-
sistance to the national authority and of all
debts incurred in attempting its overthrow.
They avow their willingness to share the
burdens and discharge all the duties and
obligations which rest upon them in COM
mon with other States and other sections
of the Union, AM they renew, through,
their representatives in this Convention,
by all their puoic conduct in every way
and by the more solemn acts by which
States and societies pledge their faith
and allegiance, through all time to come, to
the Constitution of the United States, and
to all laws which may be made in pursu-
ance thereof.
Fellow-countrymer, we call upon you, in
full reliance upon your intelligence and
your patriotism, to accept with generous
and uugrudgng confidence this full surren-
der on the part of those lately IN arms
against your authority, and to share with
them the honor and renown that await
those who bring back peace and concord
to jarring States. The war just closed,
with its sorrows and disasters, has opened a
new career of glory to the nation it has
saved, 1t has swept away the hostilities
of sentiment and of interest which was a
standing menace to its peace. 1t has de-
stroyed the institution of slavery, always a
cause ofsectiohal agitation and strife, and
has opened for our country the way to uni
ty of interest, of principle, and of action
through all time to come. 1t has devel-
oped in both sections a military capacity
and aptitude for achievements of war, both
by sea and land, before unknown even to
ourselves, and destined to exercise hereaft-
er, under united councils, an important in
tlucnce upon the character and DESTINY of
the continent and the world And while
it has thus revealed, disciplined, and com
pacted our power, it has jroven to us be-
yond controversy or doUtt, bv the course
pursued towards both conteRding sections
by foreign powers, that we must be the
guardians of our own independence, and
that the principles of republican freedom
we represent can find among the nations of
the earth no friends or defenders but our
selves,
We call you, therefore, by every con
sderation of your own dignity and safety,
aud in the name of lber throughout the
world, to complete the work of restoration
and peace which the President of the Uni
ted States has SO well begun, and which
the policy adopted and the principles as
serted hy the present Congress alone OBJ
struct.
The time is close at hand when members
OF new Congress are TO be elected. If
that Congress shall perpetuate this policy,
and by excluding loyal States and people
from representation in its halls shall con
tnue the usurpation by which the lrcisla-
tive powers of the Government are now ex-
crci ised, common prudence compcls us to
anticipate augmented discomfort, a sullcn
withdrawal from the duties and obligations
of the Federal Government, internal dis
sensions, and general collision of senti-
ments, and pretensions which NAV renew
in still more fearful shape the civil war
from which we have just emerged. We
call upon you to interpose your power 20
prevent the recurrence OF so transcendant
a calamity. We call upon you IN levery
Congressional district of every State to Sc
cure the election of members who, whatev-
er other differences may charactcrize their
political action, will unite in recognizing
the right of every State of the Union to
representation in Congress, and who will
admit to seats in either branch every oval
Representative from every State in allegi-
ancc to the Government who may be found
by each House. in the exercise of the DOW
er conferred upon it BIZ the Constitution.
to have been duly elected, returned, aad
qualified for seat therein.
When this shall have been done the Gov
ernment will have been restored TO its in
tegrty, the Constitution of the United
States will have been re-established its full
supremacy, and the American Union will
| have again become what it was designed
to be by those who formed it-a SOVEREIGN
nation, composed of separate States, each
like itself moving in distinct and indie
pendent sphere, exercising powers defined
and reserved by common Constitution.
and resting upon the assent, the confidence,
and cooperation of all the States and all
the people subject to its authority. Thus
| re organized and restored to their con-
stitutional relations, the States and the Gen
eral Government can enter in fraternal
spirit, with common purpose and a COM
mon interest, upon whatever reforms the
security ofpersonal rights, the enlargement
OF popular liberty, and the perfection Of
our republican institutions may demand