The New era. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1865-1871, 1866-08-23
served the Union with the equal rights,
dignity and authority of the States per-
feet and unimDaired.


feet and unimpaired.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. in the Con-
gress of the United States and in the
Electoral College is a right recognized
BY the constitution as abiding in every
State and as a duty imposed upon it's
people, fundamental in its nature and
essential to the exercise of our republic
can institutions; and neither Congress
nor the general government has any
authority or power to deny this right to
any, or withhold its enjoyment, under
demonstration, from the people thereof.
FoMth-We call upon the people of
the United States to elect to Congress as
members thereof none but men who adj
init this fundamental right of represent
tation, and who will receive to seats
their loyal representatives from every
State in allegiance to the United States,
subject to the constitutional right Of
each house to judge Of the election re-
turns and qualifications of its own men,
bers.
.FUth--The constitution of the United
States, and the laws made in pursuance
thereof, are the supreme laws Of the
land, anything in the constitution or
laws of any State to the contrary not
Withstanding. All the powers not con-
ferred by the constitution upon the gen.
eral government nor prohibited by it to
the States are reserved to the States or
the people thereof and among the
rights thus reserved to the States is the
rights to prescribe qualifications for the
elective franchise therein, which right
Congress cannot interfere with. No
State or convention of States has the
right to withdraw from the Union, or to
exclude, through their action in Con-
gress or otherwise, any State or States
from the Union. The union of these
States is perpetual.
Simh-Such amendments to the con-
stitution of the United States may be
made by the people thereof as they may
deem eXpedient, but only in the mode
pointed out by its resolution, and pro-
posing such amendments, whether by
Congress or by a convention, and in
ratifying the same, all the States of the
Union have an equal and an indefeasi-
bic right to voice and vote thereon.
1Serenth-Slavery is abolished and for
ever prohibited, and there is neither de-
sire nor purpose on the part Of the
Southern States that it should ever be
re-established upon the soil or within
the jurisdiction of the United States,
and the enfranchised slaves in all the
States of the Union should receive, in
common with all their inhabitants,
equal protection in every right OF per-
son and property.
Eighth-Whilew 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 United States, we hold the
debt of the nation to be sacred and in
violable, and we proclaim our purpose
Il; fiji.
other national obligations, to maintain
and the faith Of the republic.
Ninth-It is the duty of the national
government to recognize the services of
the federal soldiers and sailors in the
contest just closed, by meeting promptly
and fully all their just and rightful
claims for the services they have rem
dered the nation, and by extending to
those of them who have survived, and
to the widows and orphans of those who
have fallen, the most generous and con-
siderate care.
Ienth-In Andrew johnson, President
of the United States, who in his great
Office has proved steadfast in his devo-
ton to the constitution, the laws and
interests of his country, unmoved by
prosecutions and undeserved reproach.
having faith lnlmeaSuraDlel In the people
and the principles of the government,
we recognize a Chief Magistrate worthy
of the nation and equal to the great
crisis upon which his lot is cast, and we
tender to him in the discharge of his
high and responsible duties our profound
respect, and assurance Of our cordial and
sincere support.
Their reception by the Convention
was enthusiastic in high degree. The
declaration of the inviolability and per-
petuity of the Union provoked such a
burst of applause that the Chairman
was obliged to ask the Convention to
come to order. Hon. Reverdy johnson,
his face beaming with excitement, re-
joined: We can't help cheering, SIR"
The declaration that all citizens of the
United States had an inalienable right
to the electrive franchise therein was
received with cheers, which were re-
newed on the assertion that "no State
or combination of States has the right
to withdraw from the UniOn," and
reached climax when the finishing
clause was read, "or to exclude through
their action in Congress or otherwise,
onxy ofhop Gf0fo nv Cfufoe frNno tho