The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1866-09-07
THE GREAT CONVENTION.
Declaration of Principles.

THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, COMPOSED OF
DELEGATES FROM EVERY STATE AND TER
RIToRY IN THE UNION.
Admonished by the solemn lessons which
for the last five years it has pleased the
Supreme Ruler of the inverse to give to the
American people, profoundly greatful for
the return Of peace, DESTROYS in all sinceri-
ty to forget and forgive the past, reverence
ing the Constitution as it comes to Us from
cur ancestors, regarding the Union in its
restoration as more sacred than ever, look
ing with deep anxiety to the future, we
hereby proclaim the following Declaration
of Principles and Purposes on which we
have, with perfect unanimity, agreed:
l. We hail with gratitude to Almighty
God the end of war and the return of peace
to an afflicted and beloved land.
Q. The war just closed has maintained
the authority of the Constitution with all
the powers which it confers and ell the re-
strictione which it imposes on the General
Government, unabridged and unaltered; and
it has preserved the Union with the lawful
rights, dignity and authority of the States,
perfect and unimpaired.
8. Representation in the Congress of the
United States and in the Electoral College
is a right recognized by the Constitution as
abiding in every State, and is duty inn
posed on the people, fundamental in its ma
ture and essential to the exercise of our
Republican Institutions; and neither Con-
gress nor the General Government has any
authority or power to deny this right to any.
nor to withhold its enjoyment, under the
Constitution, from the people.
4. We call upon the people of the United
States to elect to Congress, members who
admit the fundamental principles of repre- =
sentation, and who will receive loyal repre-
sentatives from every State in allegiance
to the United States, subject to the consti-
tutional power of each House to judge o.
election returns and qualifications efits OWL
members.
5. The Constitution of the United States
and the laws thereof are the supreme Law
of the land, anything in the constitution Of
laws of any State, to the contrary nOtwith
standing. All the power not conferred BY
the Constitution upon the General Govern
men, nor prohibited By the States, are re-
solved to the State or The people thereof
and among these the right to prescribe
qualification for the elective franchise there
in, which right Congress cannot interfere
with. No State or convention of States has
the right TO withdraw from the Union, mol
to exclude through their action in Congress
or otherwise, any State or States from the
Union. The Union of the States is per
petual, and amendments to the Constitution
of the United States may be made by the
people thereof as they may deem expedient
but only in the mode pointed out by tn,
resolution proposing such amendments
whether by Congress or by a convention
and in ratifying the same all States of tn,
Union have an equal and indisputable RICH
to vote therein.
Z. Slavery is abolished and forever pro
hibited, and there is neither desire no
purpose of the Southern States, that i
should ever be re-established upon the sol
norwithin Jurisdiction: and the enfranchis
ed slaves In all the States Of the Uniol
should receive, in common with all thei
inhabitants, equal protection in every RICH
of person and property.
8. While we regard as utterly invalid
and never to be assumed or made of bind
ing force, any obligation incurred or under
taken In making war against the United
States, we hold the debt of the nation to b,
sacred and inviOlable, aud we proclaim on
purpose, in discharging this, as in perform
ing all other national obligations, to main
tain, unimpaired and unimpeached, tn
honor and faith of the Republic.
8. 1t is the duty of the National Conven
ton to recognize the services of the Fedora
soldiers aud sailors in the contest Just clos
ed, by meeting promptly and fully all thei
just and rightful claims for the service
they have rendered the nation, and by tn
extention to those of them who have sur
vived, and to the widows and orphans c
those who have fallen, the most generou
and consideTate care.
TO- In Andre Johnson, President of tn
United States, who in his grert Office hs
proved steadiast in his devotion to the law
and interests of his country, unmoved b
prosecutions and undeserved reproacl
having faith Unreasonable in the poop
and the principles Of the Government, v
recognize Chief Magistrate worthy Of Il
nation aud equal to the great crisis upC
whioe his lot is cast, aud We tender to BIZ
in the discharge of his high and respons
BILE duties. our profound respect and assn