The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1866-08-28
The Philadelphia Convention.
An Address TO the People Of the
United States.
III the Peonze of n. H,;,e3 gto,s..

IL W6 oOpto W Utc OuCeU iOGQtSS.
Having met in Convention, at the City
of Philadelphia, in the State of Pennsyl-
vania, this 18th day of August, 1866, as
the representatives Of the people in all
sections, and all the States and Terrific
ries of the Union, to consult upon the
condition and the wants of our common
country, we address.to you this declara-
ton. of our principles, and Of the politi-
cal purposes we seek to promote.
Since the meeting of the last National
Convention, in the year 1860, events have
occurred which have changed the charac-
ter of our internal olitics and given the
United States a ne1 place among the ma
tions of the earth. Our government has
passed through the icissitudes and the
perils of civil war--a war which, though
mainly sectional in its character, has new
ertheless decided political differences that
from the very sbeginning of the govern
ment had threatened the unity of cur ma
tional existence, and has left its impress
deep and ineffaceable upon all the inter-
ests, the sentiments and the destiny of
the republic. While it has inflicted upon
the whole country severe losses in life and
in property, ana: has imposed burdens
which must weigh on its resources for
generations to come, it has developed
degree of national courage in the pres
ence of national dangers capacity for
military organization and achievement,
and devotion on the part Of the people
to the form of government which they
have ordained, and to the principles of
iberty which that government was de-
signed to promote, which must confirm
the confidence Of the nation in the perpe-
tuity of its republican institutions, and
command the respect Of the civilized
world.
Like all great contests which rouse the
passions and testthe endurance of nations,
this war has given new scope to the am
bition of political parties, and fresh i'm
pulse to plans of innovation and reform.
Amidst the chaos of conflicting senti-
ments inseparable from such an era, while
the public heart is keenly alive to all the
passions that can sway the public judg-
ment and affect the public action; while
the wounds of war are still fresh and
bleeding on either side, and fears for the
future take unjust proportions from the
memories and resentments of the past, it
is difficult but an imperative duty which
on your behalf we, who are here assem-
bled, have undertaken to perform.
For the first time after six long years
of alienation and Of conflict, we have
come together from every State and eve-
ry section of our land, as citizens Of a
common country under that flag, the sym
Dol again of common glory, to consult
together how best to cement and perpet-
uate that Union which again is the object
of our common love, and thus secure the
blessings of liberty to ourselves and our
posterity.
In the first place We einvoke you to re-
member, always and everywhere, that the
war is ended and that the nation is again
at peace. The Shock of contending arms
no longer assails the shuddering heart oi
the republic. The insurrection 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. We are no lon
ger required or permitted to regard ol
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 oi
war, have no longer lawful or rightfu
place anywhere throughout our broad do
main. We are again people of the Unitet
States, fellow citizens of one country
bound by the duties and obligations o
a common patriotism, and having neithe
rights nor interests apart from common
destiny. The duties that devolye upor
US now are again the duties of peace, aDt
no longer the duties of war. We hav,
assembled here to take counsel concern
ling the interests Of peace; to decide hoy
we may most wisely and efectually hea
the wounds the war has made, land perfec
and perpetuate the benefits it bas secure,
and the blessings which, under wise an,
benign Providence, have sprung up in it
fiery track. This is the work mot Of pas
, sion, but Of calm and sober judgment
not of resentment for past ofenses pro
longed beyond the limits which justic
and reason prescribe, but Of. a liberia
craftsmanship which tolerates what
Q cannet prevent, and builds its plans an
q its hopes for the future rather upon
: community of interests and ambition tina
s upon distrust and the weapons of force.
y In the next place we call upon you t
/ recognize in their full significance, and
e accept with all their legitimate conse
) quences the political results of the wa
: just closed. In two most important, PAL
t ticulars the victory achieved by the ma
t tional government has been final and dc
: cisive. First, it has established beyon
: all further controversy, and by the high
Q est Of all human sanctions, the absolut
e supremacy of the national governments "a
t defined and limited by the Constitution {
t the United States, and the permanent il
o tegrity and indissolubility Of the FEEDERS
/ Union as necessary consequence; ant
second, it has put an end. finally and fol-
ever to the existence of slavery upon tn
: soil or within the jurisdiction Of the Un
d ted States. Both these peints becan
directly involved in the contest, and cor
9 troversy upon both were endod absolutel
q and finally by the result.
i Tn the third nlaoa va deam If of RI