The New era. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1865-1871, 1866-08-30
A ID d r e s =.
10 the Peop'e Of the United States.

Having met IN convention, at the
city of Philadelphia, in the State OF
Pennsylvania, this 18th day of August
1866. as the representatives of the people
in all sections, and all the States and
Territories OF the Union, to consult upon
the condition and the wants of orr
common country, we address to YOU this
declaration OF our principles, and of the
politcal purposes we seek to promote
Since the meeting of the last National
Convention, in the year 1860. events
have occurred which have changed the
character of our internal politics and
given the United States "a new Mace
among the nations of the earth. Our
government has passed through the vi
cissitudes and the perils of civil War-a
war which, though mainly sectional in
its character, has nevertheless decided
political differences that from the very
beginning vi the government had threat
ened the unity OF our ma tional existence
and has left its impress deep and in,
elaeeable upon all the Interests. the
sentiments and the destiny of the re-
public. While it has inflicted upon the
whole country severe losses in life and
in property, and has imposed burdens
Which must weigh on its resources for
generations to come. it has developed a
degree of national courage in the pres
ence of national dangers, a capacity for
military organization and achievement.
and a devotion on the part of the people
to the form OF government which they
have ordained, and to the principles of
liberty which that government was de-
signed to promote, which must confirm
the confidence of the nation in the per-
petuity of its republican institutions, and
command the respect of the civilized
world.
Like all great contests which rouse
the passions and test the endurance Of
nations, this war has given new scope to
the ambition of political parties and
fresh impulse to plans of innovation and
reform. Amidst the chaos of conflicting
sentiments inseparable from such an
era. While the public heart is keenly
alive TO all the passions that can sway
the public Judgment and affect the public
aeti0n while the wounds OF war are
still fresh and bleeding on either side,
and fears for the future take unjust pro.
portions from the memories aud resent
ments of the past, it is Il difficult, but an
imperative duty which OH Your behalf
we who are here assembled, have under
taken 10 perform.
Ferthe first time after six long years
come together from every State and
every section of our land as citizens of
Il common country, under that flag, tlle
symbol again OF Il common glory, to
consult together how best 10 cement and
perpetuate that Union which is again
the object OF our common love, and thus
secure the blessings of liberty to our
selves ard TO our posterity.
IN the first place, we invoke you to
remember, always and everywhere, that
the war is ended and the nation is again
al peace. The shock of contending arms
no longer assails the shuduering heart
of the republic. The insurreclion against
the supreme authority of the nation has
been suppressed, and that authority has
been again acknowledged, by word and
act, in every State and by every citizen
within its jurisdiction. Weare no longer
required or permitted to regard or treat
each other as enemies. Not only have
the acts of war been discontinued, and
the weapons of war laid aside, but the
state of war no longer exists, and the
sentiments, the passions, the relations OF
war have no longer lawful or rightiul
place anywhere throughout our broad
domain. We are again people of the
United States, fellow-citizens of one
country, bound by the duties and obi
cations of common PATRIOTISM, and
having neither rights nor interests apart
from II common destiny. The duties
that devolve upon us now are again the
duties of peace, and no longer the duties
OF war. We have assembled here to
take counsel concerning the interests OF
peace; to decide how we may most
wisely and etiectually heal the wounds
the war has made, and perfect and per-
petuate the benefits it has secured, and
the blessings which, under wise and
benign Providence, have sprung up in
its fiery track. This is the work, not OF
passion, but OF calm and sober judgment;
not of resentment for past offences, pro-
longed beyond the limits which justice
and reason prescribe, but Of a liberal
craftsmanship, which tolerates what it
cannot prevent, and builds its plans and
its hopes for the future rather apon a
community of interest and ambition
than upon distrust and the weapons OF
force.
In the next place, we call upon you to
recognize in their full significance, ana
to accept with all their legitimate conse-