Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1866-09-01
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OF uuT
UNION NATIONAL CONVENTION

We r"plblish p r;ion ot the AIlres'
with the conclusion, lhat i, may lie mons
readily preserved for fiurr reference /:
To the people of the United States: llav-
ing met in convention in the city Of Phil
adclphia, in the State of Pennsylvania, this
l4,h day of August 1866, MS rrpresent-
a,ives of the people in all sections aud from
al! the States and Territories in the Union,
to consult upon the condition and wants of
the country, we address to you this dccara
ton of onr principles and the political pur
poses we seek to promote Since the meet
ing of the late National Convention in the
wear 1860, events have occurred which
have changed the character of our country
and given the United States new place
among those of earth. Our Government
has passed through the vriSstudes and
pcrils of civil war; q war which, though
mainly sectional in its character, has, never
theleSs. decided the political difference that
from the very beginning of the Government
had threatened the unity of our' national
existence, and ha, left its impress deep and
incllacea5lc upon all the interests, senti-
ments and destiny of the R,pub!i.. While
it has inflicted upon the whole country
severe losses in life and property, and i'm
posed burdens which must weigh on its re
sources for generations to come, it has de-
veloped degree OF national courage in the
presence of national danger, capacity for
military organization, achievement, desc.
ton on the part Of the people for the gov
ernment they huye ordained, and to the
principles of liberty Which tine Government
is designed to promote, which must confirm
the confidence of the nation in the pcrpetu-
ity Of its Republican institutions and com
mand the respect of the word. Like all
great contests which arouse the passions
and test the endurance of nations, this war
has given a new scope to the ambition OF
political parties and f'csl, impulse to plans
of innovation and reform Amidst the
chaos of conflicting sentiments inseparable
from snch an era, while the public heart is
keenly alive to the passions that can sway
public judgment and effect public action ;
while the wounds Of war are still fresh on
either side, and fears for the future take
undue proportion from memories of resent
men,s Of the past, it is dillicnlt but imlcr.
ative duty, which, on your behalf, we who
are assembled, have undertaken to perform
For the first time after six long years of
alienation and conflict, We have come to.
gether from every State and section of the
land As citizens Of a common country, under
the Il < which is again the symbol Of con-
mon glory, 10 consult toge'hcr how best to
cement und pcrpetuaie the Union which is
again the object Of our common love; thus
IN In #
selves and our posterily. In the first place,
We invoke you 10 remember always aud
everywhere, that the war is ended aud the
nation ut peace. The shock Of cunt,ndin-
armies no longer assal> the shuid,riug
heart %! the republic Insurrer.ion against
the supreme authority Of the nai on ha>
been suppressri aud thai authority aga "a
acknowl-si-~i hy u,-d and art 70 e,rry
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