The New era. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1865-1871, 1866-09-06
DECLARATION OF PRINCIPLES
ADOPTED BY THE
N A III Q N A i
UNION con Y EN- TION
HELD At
PIILA DBLPHI-A--
HELD At

The National Union Convention, now
assembled in the city of Philadelphia,
composed Of delegates from every State
and Territory in the Union. admonished
by the solemn lessons which for the last
five years it has pleased the Supreme
Ruler of the Universe TO give to the
American people profoundly grateful
Tor the return of peace DESTROYS, as a
large majority Of their countrymen, in
all sincerity, to forget and forgive the
past; revering the Constitution rs il
comes to us from our ancestors regard
ing the Union, in its restoration. as more
sacred than ever; looking With deep
anxiety into the future as Of instant and
continuing trial, hereby issue and pro-
claim the following declaration Of prin-
clples and purposes upon which they
have with perfect unanimity agreed =
krst-We hail with gratitude to Al
mighty God the end of war and the re
turn of peace to an afflicted and beloved
land.
,Second-The war just closed has main
tanned the authority of the constitution.
with all the powers which it confers and
all the restrictions which it imposes
upon the general government, una
bridged and unaltered, and it has pre-
served the Union with the equal rights,
dignity and authority of tie States per
feet and unimpaired.
Third Representation in the Con-
gress of the United States and I'M
Electoral College is right recogn8
by the constitution as abiding in e
State and as a duty imposed upol#
people, fundamental in its nature
essential to the exercise Of eur rep#
can institutions; and neither Cong
nor the general government has
authority or power to deny this rig
any, or withhold IS enjoyment, u3
DEMONSTRATION, from the people the
Iourth-We call upon the peopl
the United States to elect to Congre
members thereof none but men WHO
nit this fundamental right of repre-
tation, and who will receive TO
their loyal representatives. from G
State in allegiance to the United ST
subject to the constitutional iigl
each house to judge Of the election
turns and qualifications Of itsoNn ii
berS.
fUih--The constitution Of The Ul5
States, and the laws made in pursr3
thereof, are the supreme laws O
land, anything in the constitution
laws Of any State to the contrary
Withstanding. All the powers notE
ferred by the constitution upon the
eral government nor prohibited by
tie States are reserved TO the StMps
the people thereof and amonga
rights thus reserved 10 the States is
rights to prescribe qualifications foli
elective franchise therein, which n
Congress cannot interfere With.
State or convention of States has
right to withdraw from the Union, b.
exclude, through their action in Con
gress or otherwise, any State or States
from the Union. The union of these
States is perpetual.
SieH-Such amendments to the con-
stituton Of the United States may be
made by the people thereof as they may
deem eXpedient, but only in the mode
pointed out by its resolution, and pro-
posing such amendments, whether lay
Congress or by a convention, and in
ratitNing the same, all the States OF the
Union have an equal and an indeteasi-
bic right to 4 Voice and q vote thereon.
SereWh-Savery is abolished and for
ever prohibited, and there is neither de-
sire nor purpose Oh the part of the
Southern States that it should ever be
re-established upon the soil Or within
the jurisdiction OF the United States
and the enfranchised slaves in all the
States of the Union should receive. in
common With all their inhabitants,
equal protection i'll every right of per-
son ana property.
EighAh-While we regard as utterly
invalid and never 10 be assumed or
made Of binding force any obligation
incurred or undertaken in making war
against the United States, we hold the
debt of the nation to be sacred and in
violable, and we proclaim our purpose
in discharging this, as in performing all
other national obligations, to maintain
unimpared and unimpcaehed the honor
and the faith Of the republic.
Ninth-It is the duty OF the national
government To recognize the services OF
the federal soldiers and sailors in the
contest just closed, by meeting promptly
and fully all their just and rightful
claims for the services they have rem
dered the nation, and by extending to
those OF them who have survived, and
to the widows and orphans OF those who
have fallen, the most generous and con-
siderate care.
Ienth-ln Andrew Johnson, President
of the United States, who in his great
office has proved steaaast in his devo-
n the 81 ~ ION ha In MI