Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1866-09-01
[VOI.. NO. SO.
Declaration of Principles.

Convention before it's adjournment:
The National Union Convention, now as.
sembicd in the city of Philadelphia, composed
OF delegates from every State and Territory in
bne Cnlon, admonisfcd by the solemn lessons
which, 'for the last five years, it has pleased
the supreme Ruler of the Universe to ,,iye TO
the American people; profoundly grateful for
I fho 'ntnrn Of peaeo; desirious, as are largo
majority OF their countrymcn, in all sincerity.
70 70 forget and to forgive the past; revcting tie
constitution as it came to us from our nnces.
TORS regarding the Union in its restoration rs
more sacred than ever, looking with dccn any.
iety into the future as of instant md cop,;nm Inn
ing trial hereby issues and proclaims the fol.
lowing declaration of: principles and PURPOSES
on which they have with perfect unanimity
agreed:
l. we hail With gratitude to Almighty God
the end OF the war, and the return of peaco
to an afflicted and beloved land.
| z. The war just closed has maintained the
authority of the Constitution with all the now.
crs which it confers and all the restrictions
which 1t imposed upon the General Govern
| ment, unabridged and unaltcrcd, and it has
preserved the Union with the equal rights.
dignity, and authority of the states perfect
and unimpaired.
3. Representation in tic CONGRESS- Of the
United States and in the Electoral Collcec is
n,.rlght recognized by the Constitution as abb
aihg IN every State, and as duty imposed IN.
on It's people, fundamental in its nature and
essential to the existence Of our republican in
stltutions, and neither Congress nor the Cen
Grai government has any authority or power to
deny this right to any State or to withhold
enjoyment, under the Constitution, from the
people thereof ; a N
T. we call upon the people Of the United
otateS to elect to Congress as members thereof
none but men who admit the fundamental
right OF representation, and who will receive
20 seats ca therein loyal representatives from cv-
qualifications Of its own members.
s. The Constitution of tho United States
and the laws made in pursuance thereof are
tho supreme law Of the land, anything in the
Constitution or laws Of any State to the con-
trary notwithstanding. All the power not
conferred by the Constitution upon tho Gcn-
cral Government, nor prohibited by it to the
States, are reserved to the States or to tho
people thereof; and among the rights thus rc-
served to tho States is the right to prescribe
qualifications for tho elective franchise thcrc-
in, with which right Congress cannot inter
fcrc. No State or combination of States has
the right to withdraw from the Union, or to
exclude through their action in Congress CT
Union. The union Of these States is pcrpct-
ual and its Government is Of suprcmo au-
| thority, within the restrictions aud limitations
Of the Constitution.
| 6. Such amendment to The Constitution Of
the United States may be made by the pco
| pie thereof as they may deem cxpcdicnt, but
only in the mode pointed out by its provis-
ions; and in proposing such amendments,
whether by Congress or by a convention, and
in ratifying the same, all the States of the
Union have an equal and indofnasible right
to voice and vote thereon.
Z. Slavery is abolished and forever pro-
hibitcd, and there is neither desire nor pur-
rosc on the part of tho Southern States that it
should ever tc rc-cstubishcd upon the soil or
within the jurisdiction of the United States
and tho enfranohised slave in all the States Of
the Union should receive, in common with all
their inhabitants, equal protection in every
! right of person and nf property.
s. While VIC regard as utterly invalid, and
never to be assumed or made Of binding force,
any obligation incurred or undertakes in ma.
king war against the United States, VIC hold
the debt Of the nation to he sacred and nvic-
liable, and we proclaim our purpose TO main
| tain unimpeacbcd the honor and the faith of
the republic.
8. 1t is the duty of tho National Govern.
mcnt to recognize the services of tho Federal
soldiers and sailors in the contest just closed,
by meeting promptly all their just and rghtful
claims for tho services they have rendered the
nation, and by extending to those Of them
who hayo fallen the most generous and con-
sderato care.
! 10. In Andrew johnson, President Of tho
United States, who, in his great Office has
proved steadfast in his devotion to tho Con
stitution, the laws and interests Of his coun-
try, unnoved by persecution and unswcrvcd
by reproach, having faith unassailablc IN tho
people,, and in tho prcccpts of the Govern
.mcnt, we recognize Chief Magistrate worthy