The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1866-08-29
AN ADDR EsS
J THE people, or rnE UNITED STATES

TO THE PEOPLE oy THE UNITED STATES.
Having met in Convention. at the city Of
Philadelphia, in the State ofPennsylyania,
this 10th day OF August. 1866, as the rep
resentatiyes Of the people in all sections,
end all the States and Territories Of the
Union, TO consult upon the condition and
the wants OF our common country, we ad-
dress 10 you this declaration of our princi-
Piles. and Of The political purposes We seek
10 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, aud giyeu the Uni
ted States new place among the nations
OF the earth. Our government has passed
though the yicissindes and The perils OF
civil war--a war which. though mainly sec
,ional in its character. has nevertheless de-
cided political differences that from the
very beginning OF the government had
threatened the unity Of our national exis-
tence, and has left its impress deep and
inehaeeable upon all the interests. the SEN
timeuts, and the destiny Of the republic
While il has inflicted upon the whole coun
toy severe losses in life aud in property. and
has imposed burdens which must weigh on
It's resources for generations TO come, IL
has Developed degree Of national courage
in the presence Of national dangers ca
pacity for military organization and achieve.
ment, and atle,stion on the part Of the peO-
pie 10 the form Of government, which they
have ordained. and 10 The principles ofIIb-
rrty which that government was disigned
70 promote. which must confirm the conf.
dence Of the nation in the perpetuity OF It's
republican institutions. and command the
respect Of the civilized world.
Like ali great contests which rouse the
passions and test the endurance OF nations.
this war has given new scope TO the am.
oiiinn Of political parties, and fresh impulse
10 plans of innovation and reform. Amidst
the chaos ofeonaicting sentiments insepara
BILE from such an era. while The public heart
is keenly alive 10 all the passions that can
sway the public judgment aud affect the
public action; while the wounds OF war are
stilI fresh and bleeding on either side, and
fears for the future take unjust proportions
from the scmories and rescntmenls Of the
past, il Is a,lflicult bu, an imperative duty
which on your behalf we, who are here as
sembled. haye undertaken 10 perform.
pnr the first time after sir long years Of
alienation and oi conflict. we have come
together from every State and every section
Ofrur land, n citizens Of = common cnun.
iry. under that flag. the symbnl again ~ 1
cummon .lo'y. 10 consult together how best
20 cement aud perpetua;e that Union which
is sgain the object of our common love, and
thus secure the blessings Of liberty TO our.
selves and our posierity.
In thr frs, place, We invoke Won 70 re-
member. always and every where, that the
war il ended. and the nation il again al
peace. The shock Of contendlng arms M
longer assails the shudhering heart IL the
republic. The in.urreciion against the su.
prrme authority Of the nation has been sup
pressed. and that authority has been agalu
acknowledged. by word and aci. in every
state and BY every citizen within its jn.
risdiction. We are no longer required 10
permitted IL regard o. treat each other 4.
rnemies. Not only have The acts AZ war
been discontinued. aud the weapons of war
laid aside. hut the state ot war no longer
exists. ard the sentiments. the passions 5
the relations Of war have no longer lawful
nr rightill place anywhere throughout out
broad duinain. We are again people of the
United states, fellow. citizens uf une coun.
~. bound by the duties and obligations oI
common patriotism, and having neither
tights nor interests apart forom a common
destiny. The duties that deyolve upon Us
now are ugsn the duties OF peace, and no
longer The duties oi war. We have assem-.
blsd here 10 take counsel concerning the
interests Of peace 10 decide how we may
most wisely and eIiectualIy heal The wounds
the war has made. and perfect and perpetu-
ate the benefits has secured, and the bless.