The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1866-08-29
~ Philadalnhia conrention-Proceedingg

from every State and territory in the Union admonish
ed by the solemn lessons which, for the last i've years
it has pleased the Supreme Ruler Of the universe to
give to the American people profoundly grateful for
the of peace, DESTROYS as large majority oil
their counrymen in all sincerity, to forget and Tor
give the past, revising the constitution as It comes to
from our ancestors regarding the Union IN lis res
toraton as more sacred than ever and looking with
deep anxiety to the future as of instant and contnu
ing trial. hereby issues and procaims the following
declaration Of principles and purposes on which they
have, with perfect unanmity, agreed:
/. We hail, with gratitude to Almighty GOD, the
end of war; and the Of peace to an afflicted anu
beloved land.
9 The war just closed has maintained the authority
of the constitution with all the powers which 1t con-
fers and all the restrictions which it imposes upon the
general government unbridged and unaltered and II
has preserved the Union, with the laws rights, dgnl-
ty and authority Of the States perfect and unmpared
3. Representation in congress OF the United states
and in the electoral college, is right recognized by
the constitution as abiding in every State, and as
duty imposed upon its people, fundamental in its ma
ture and essential to the exercise of republican In
stutons, and neither congress nor the general gov
erument has any authority in power to deny this right
to any, or withhold its enjoyment under the consitu
ton from the people thereof.
4. We call upon the people of the United States to
elect to congress, members, none but men who adj
nit this fundamental right Of representation and who
will receive to seats the loyal representatives from
every State in allegiance to the United States. Sub
nit to the constitutional right of each house to judge
Of the election returns and qualifications OF lis own
members.
5. Constitution Of the United States and the laws
thereof the supreme law of the land anything in
the constitution laws of any State to the contrary
Notwithstanding All the powers not conferred by the
constitution upon the general government, prohibit
ted by it to the States reserved to the States
to people thereof 2pd among the rights thus reserv
cd to the States is &c right to prescribe qualifications
for the elective franchise therein which right congress
cannot interfere with No State nor convention of
States has the right to withdraw from the Union, or to
exclude through their action in congress otherwise,
any State States from the Union. The Union of
/ these States is perpetual.
| G. Amendments to the constitution of the United
States may be made by the people thereof they may
deem expedient but only in the mode pointed out by
its resolution; and IN proposing such amendments
whether by congress by convention and in ratfy
ng the same all the States of the Union have an equal
and ndisputable right to a voice and vote thereon.
i Z. Slavery is abolished and forever prohibited and
there neither desire purpose on the part of the
Southern States that il should be reestabished
upon the soil within the jurisdiction of the United
States and the enfranchsed slaves in all the States Of
the union should receive, in common with all the in
habants, equal protection in every right of person
and property,
8 While we regard as utterly invalid and never to
be assumed or made Of binding force any obligation
incurred or undertaken in making war against the Uni
ted States we hold the debt of the nation be sacred
and inyolabe, and we proclaim our purpose in dis
charging this in performing all other national obi
cations to maintain unimpaired and unmpeached, the
honor and the faith Of the republic
o. 1t is the duty ofhe national government reeog-
Mise the services Of the federal soldiers and sailors in
the contest just closed by meeting promptly and fully
all their just and rigtful caims for the services they
have rendered the nation and by extending those Of
them who have survived and to the widows and or
phans Of those who have fallen the most generous and
considerate care
TO- Andrew johnson, the president Of the United
States, who in his great Office, has proved steadas in
his devotion to the constitution, the laws and interests
of his country, unmoyed by prosecutions and unde
served reproach having faith immeasurabein the people
and in the principles Of the government, recognise
4 chief magistrate worthy of the nation and equal tc
the great crisis upon which his lot is cast and ten
der him. in the discharge Of his high and response
bic duties profound respect and assurance of our
cordial and sincere support.
After the vote had been taken the adoption OIL
the foregoing declaration of principles it found
that the reading Of the seventh had been omitted
by accident, and this fact announced by senator
Dootte. It was then read and adopted with great
applause and unanimty.
The declaration Of principles was then adopted as
Whole, with enthusiastic cheers.
After the adoption, three cheers were called for and
given in the most enthusiastic manner for senator
Cowan, OF Pennsylvania.
Senator Cowan acknowledged the compliment, but
said that he considered himself the host of the con
vention one Of his distinguished guests would address
by virtue Of authority unanimously derived from the
committee Oh resolutions and address, namely: Hon
Henry J. Raymond Of New York.
Mr.. Raymond therefore proceeded to read the ad.
dress which had been written by himself had also
been the declaration Of principles. He frequent
y interrupted by applause that the chairman appealed
to the convention to restrain such manifestations until
the reading Of the address should be concluded New
ertheess at the close Of one sentence declaring that
HaAt IN ltr{rngt tI,at
the South now subjected could long remain loyal
cheer after cheer resounded through the wgwam.
Senator johnson asked that the sentence be repeat
ed. The sentence was read again as follows: "Nc
people has yet existed whose loyalty and faith
such treatment, long continued, would not ALLEVIATE
andmpsrand the 00000 coo Americans who live at the
south would be unworthy citizens of free common
wealth, degenerate Of a common ancestry, unfit
even to become tie guardians Of the rights and prn-
cples bequeathed to by the fathers and founders of
the republic, if they could accept with accomplishing
submission the humations thus sought to be imposed
upon them.
This sentiment was again chcered with the greatest
enthusiasm and at the close Of the reading of the ad
dress ex-governor Perry Of South Carolina, and
moved its adoption.
4 The motion declared carried unanimously amid
prolonged cheering.
DR. Samuel j. Tilden, Of New York, then rose and
proposed on behalf of the New York delegation
three cheers for Hon. Henry J. Raymond, who had
prepared the address just read
Mr.. Patton, on behalf of the Pennsylvania delega
ton seconded the CALL and three cheers then en-
Enthusiastically given.
The address contains about eight thousand words
and will make not far from four solid columns in the
New York morning papers 1t demands the universal
acknowledgement Of the legitimate consequences Of
the var which are the perpetual maintenance of the
Union and the destruction Of slavery.
It asserts next that the government acquired no
new rights power by the war, and that acted only
on the defensive. Congress had passed resolution
that when the closed all the powers and dignity
the States should remain unimpared and intact.
The power assumed by the government III the
States, since the closed, in violation of the
constitution. The constitution declares that State
SHALL without its consent be deprived Of its equa
representation in congress.
The action Of congress, denying representation tc
the southern States, appears great an effort to over
throw the government that by armed rebellion
If one congress can exclude one preteXt, another
congress may exclude other States on another There
is no warrant for this in the constitution. Not only
cannot representatives be excluded from congress- but
State without It's own consent can be deprived OF
equal representation in the senate even by an amend
| uent to the constitution
The only pretext for the action Of congress is that
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