The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1866-10-04
Platform of the PittsburG Sold
Iers' and Sailors Convention.

Iers' and Sailors Convention.
The following are tho resolutions
adopted by the Great National Convcn
ton of Soldiers and Sailors held at
Pittsburg last week.
"ResolUed, BY the Soldiers and Sail
ors of the Army and Navy Of the Uni
ted States in Convention assembled,
That the action of the present Congress
in passing the pending constitutional
amendment is wise, prudent and just.
1t clearly defines American citizenship,
and guarantees all his rights to every
citizen. 1t places on just and equal
basis the right Of representation, max
ing the vote of man in one State
equally potent with the vote of anoth-
er man in any State. Itrightfully ex-
cludes from places of honor and trust
the chief conspiratOrs and guiltiest reb-
els, whose pejured crimes have drench-
cd the land ia fraternal bloed. II puts
into the very frame of our Government
the inviolability Of the national debt,
and the nullity of all obligations con-
tracted in support of the rebellion.
"Resolved, That it is unfortunate for
the country that these propositions
have not been received in thespirit OF
conciiation, clomoacy and fraternal
feeling in which they were offered, as
they arc the mildcst terms ever granted
to subducd rebels.
"ReS0lved, That the President, as an
Executive officer, has no rightto pol.
icy as against the legislative depart
mcnt of the Government. That his at
tempt to fasten his scheme of recon-
struction upon the country is as dan.
gerous as it. is unwise his acts in sus-
tanning it have retarded the rcstora'
ton Of peace and unity they have
converted conquered rebels into impu-
dent claimants TO rights which they
have forfeited and places which they
have desecrated. If consummatcd, it
would render tho sacrifices Of the ma
ton useless, the loss Of tho lives of our
buried comrades vain, and the war in
which we have so gloriously triumph
ed what his present friends, at Chica-
CO. in 1864. declared ii to bo a failure.
"ResoLUed, That tho right of tho con-
qucrer to legislate tor the conquered
has been recognized by the public law
of all civilized nations. BY the opera.
tion OF that law for the conservation OF
the good OF the whole country, Con-
grcss has the undoubtcd right to estab-
lish measures for tho conduct that are
necessary for the complete restoration
of the Union.
"Resolred, That when claims by the,
acts Of the army aud navy that he might
have made himself dictator, he insults
every soldier and sailor in the Repub.
lie, and that he ought distinctly to un-
derstand that the tried patriots of this
nation can never be used to overthrow
civil liberty or popular government.
"Resolved, That the neutrality laws
should be SO amended as to give the
fullest liberty to the citizen consistent
with the national faith that the great
Union Republican party is pledged to
sustain liberty and. equality of rights
every where, and, therefore, wo tender
to all peoples struggling for freedom
our sympathy and cordial co.opcra.
ton.
"ReSolred, That tho Union men Of
the South, without distinction of racc
or color, are entitled to the protection
of every loyal soldier and sailor who
served his country in suppressing the
rebellion, and that in their present
dark hour OF trial, when they are be-
ing persocutcd by thousands solely be-
cause they arc now, and have been,
true to the Government, wo will not
prove rccreant to our obligations, but
will stand by and protect with our
lives, if necessary, those brave men
who remain true to us when all around
arc false and faithless.
"Resoiced, That the public domain,
as tho common property of the nation,
ought to be sacredly held and devoted
to tho benefit Of tho nations defondcrs;
that Congress ought to lcgislatc, in re-
gard to bounties and pensions, with
the most exact and impartial justice to
all soldiers and sgilors.
"ReSOlved, That inro,O organizing tho
army justice to the volunteer officers 4
soldiers demands that faithful and eff
cient service in the field oughS to bo
held equivalent to an education at West
Point.
"ReSolred, That any officer, soldier
or sailor who left his flag to servo with
our enemies ought never to have place
In tho army or navy of the Union" /