The West Virginia journal. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1864-1877, 1866-08-29
Platform Of tho Copperhead-Rebef
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: The folloving:::is the "Dec'aratiol
Of Principle" adopted unanimoaslyt:
. by tho so.called National Union C e
vension at Philadelphia, on TIC tho = sl4t !
instant: ...: g
uTbc National i MON Convention, nov
assembled in tho city Of Ph!lFdelph'a
composed Of delegates from every Stat
and Torritoey in the Union, admonishc'
by the s,IGrlu lessons which, for TIM
lust five years, i. has pleased the Su
orcmc Ruler oc the universe to gre t
| the American people, profoundly CRATE
| full for the return Of peace, desirous as
large majority Of their coUntrymen' II
all sincerity, to forget and forgive the
| past, rcycrins the Constitution as i
comes to US from our ancestors, regard
lin. tic Union in its restoration as moro
sacred than ever, and looking. with deep
anxiety to tho future as Of instant and
cor:inuin: trial. hereby issues and pro-
claims the following declaration of prIn'
ciDlcs aud purposes, on which they
have. with perfect uuauimity, agreed:
Il. We hail. with gratitude to Al
mi.h,y God, the en- OF war, and the re-
turn Of peace to an afflicted and beloved
i@ut.
~. The var Just closed has main
ta;reI the authority Of the Constitution,
with all the powers which it confcrs, and
all tie restrictions which it imposes up
on the General Government, nnabrldG
cd and uualtercl; and it has preserved
the Union, with the laws, rights, dignity
ard .uihority Of the States perfect aud
uuiuparcd.
IS. Representation in the Congress
OF the United States, aud in the Electo-
ral College, is 4 Right recognized by the
Constitution rs abidiu; in every State,
ana as drty imposed upon its people,
Fundamental in its nature and essential
TO the existence of our republican inSti-
tutivns, aud neither Congress nor the
Gcrcral Government has any authority
orroxcr to lcny this right TO any State or
withhold its enjoyment under the Con-
,ti,utiuu lrom the people thereof
*. We call upon the people OF the
United States to elect to Congress, as
melabcrs, none bu. men who admit the
Fundamental right to representation, and
who will receive to seats the loyal rep
rcscutatiyes from every State in ale
.iaucc to the United States, subject to
the constitutional right Of each House
to judge OF the election returns and
qualification Of its o7n members.
-. The Constitution of the United
States, and the las thereof, are the ST.
preue Law efthe land, anything in the
Constitution or laws Of any State to the
contrary Notwithstanding. All the pow.
ers no, conferred by thc Constitution
upon IL. General Government, nor pro
biti,ed b. i: TO the States, arc reserved
to the S,atss, Or the people thereof
aud ara"as tho rights thus reserved to
the States is the right TO prescribe quaI-
iScativ~s 3: tho elective franchise
! ,Lureio, which right Congress can not
interfere With. nc State Or convention
If States h.: ri.A. to withdraw from
the Union, Or 10 excluIe, through tho'r
action il Cc""rcss or otherwise, any
State or %t2tc$ from the Union. The
Euiou Of thcs' States Is perpetual.
10. Amendments to tho Constitution
Of the Ucitrd States may be made by
the people thc.eof a. they may deem OK.
pedicut, bu: Only in the mode pointed
vu: By iss provisions and in proposing
Srch meutmcuts, whether by Congress
or by Convcntior, and in ratifyinS the
same, I'll the States Of the Union have
an equal AID iuIisputable right to =
voice and vote thereon.
u. Slavery is abolished xnd for
ever prohibited AID thero is neither
desire nor purpose, on the part ct the
Southern States, that it should ever he
-rr,,atlisheI upoa tia soil or within
the jurisdiction vi the United States,
and H." Crtranrhised slaves in all the
States vf ;hc Union should receive, III
cn.rmon with I'll their Inhabitants. equal
vro'ectior il every right of person AMI
property.
-. Whi!c 70 '2Sar- az utterly in
.alid and reycr to DC assumed or made
Of kiudin,, Iu.ce, any obligations incur
red or uul.ris1en III making war against
the Critel SAFES, We hold the debt OF
the nation 20 be sacred and inviolable,
and we proclaim our purpose in dis
charSiE: this. is in performing all other
na,i,ral obi "ations. to maintain. unlm-
paired and r;.impcachc,l, the honor and
tho faith ct the republic.
"%. II is the duty oe tho National
Govcrnmcat t" rcroSnile the services OF
the Federal soldiers and sailors in the
ron'e,; jus. closed by meeting promptly
AMI fully all their jus: and riShtlu'
elaine, for tho services they have rem
decd tho u",ion. and by extending to
Those of them "ho hayo survived, and
to the widow. and orphans Of those who
haze fallen, the most generous and con
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