The Conservative. (M'connelsville, Ohio) 1866-1871, 1866-10-05
DECLARATION Of PRINCIPLES
ADOPTED BY
THE PHILADELPHIA CONVENTION.

The National Union Convention, now assembled
10 the city of Philadelphia, composed Of delegates
from every State and Territory in the Union, ad.
monished by the solemn lessons which for the last
Ave years II has pleased the Supreme Ruler of the
Universe to give the American people, profoundly
grateful for the return Of peace, DESTROYS as are a
large majority OF their ellow.countrymen, 10 all
sincerity, TO forget and TO forgive the past, rever.
ing the constitution as II comes 70 us from our an
~eestors, regarding the Union, In It's restoration, as
more sacred than ever, looking with anxiety into
the future as Of instant importance, hereby issues
and proelaims the following declaration of princi.
Siples and purposes, on which they have with per
feet ~unanimity agreed
l. We bail. with gratitude to Almighty God, the
end Of war, and the return Of peace to our afflicted
and beloved land.
, 2. The war just closed has maintained the au.
thority Of the constitution, with all the pc wers
which It c%onfers, and all the restrictions which Il
imposes upon the general government unabridged
and unaltered, and 1t has preserved the Union with
the equal rights, dignity and authority OF the States
perfect and unimpaired.
J. Representation in the Congress OF the United
States, and in the Electoral College, is a right REQ
oguized In the constitution as abiding in every
State, and as a duty imposed upon is people fun.
damental In It's nature, and essential to the exis.
tence Of our republican Institutions, neither Con.
gress nor the Geaeral Government has any power
or aut horty 70 deny this right to any State, or 10
withhold its enjoyment, under the constitution
from the people thereof.
4. We call upon the people OF the United States
10 elect TO Congress as members thereof none but
men who admit this fundamental right OF repre-.
sentation, and who win recommend to seats therein
loyal representatives from every State in allegiance
TO the United States, subject only to the %constitu.
tional right Of each House to Judge Of the election
returns and qualifications Of lis own members.
S.. The constitution Of the United States and
laws made In pursuance thereof, are the supreme
law Of the land, any thing la the constitution or
laws OF any State TO the contrary Notwithstanding
All powers not conferred by the constitution upon
the General Government, nor prohibited BY il 10
States, are reserved 10 the several States or 10 the
people tbereofi and amcng the rights thus resery.
ed 70 the States Is the right TO prescribe the
% qualifications for the elective franchise therein,
which right Congress can not interfere with. No
State or combination Of States has the right Il
withdraw rom the Union, or to exclude through
their action In Congress, or otherwise, any othel 4
State or States-from the Union. The Union OF
~ these States is perpetual and can not be dissolved.
% q. Such amendments 10 the constitution Of the
United States may DO made by the people thereon
as they may deem expedient, in the mode pointed
out by its provision and In proposing sucl
0mendmenls, wnt ther by Congress Or by q eonyen
ton and In Tatifying the same, all the States il
the Union have an equal and an indeieasihle righ
~ a voice aud vote thereon. F. Hl.i ll'
7. Slavery Ii abolished and forever prohibited
There is neither design nor purpose, on tile par
~ Of the Southern States, that Il should ever be- re
established upon the soil or within the Jurisdiction
OF the United States, and the enfnanchised slaves
10 all the States Of the Union, should receive, Il
common with all their inhabitants, equal prJtec
ti0n, In every right OF person and property.
y, While we regard as utterly invalid, and news
10 be assumed or made Of binding force, any obi
CATION incurred or undertaken In making wa
against the Omitted States, we hold the debt of ia
f' nation 10 be sacred AndinviOlable, and we proclaim
our purpose, ip discharging this duty as In per
forming ali other national obligations, 10 mainiail
unimpalred and unimpeached the honor aud iait
Of the kepuplic.-~
e .. IL Is the duty Of the National Government b
recognize the services OF the Federal soldiers an
sailors In the contest juft closed by NEE ing promu
ely and fully all their just and rghtful claims 10
services they have rendered the nation, aud by ex
tending 70 those who have survived, and the wild
q ows aud Orphans OF those who fell, the most gene
rOuB and considerable care. p. .Iu~fT
gsatet, who In bis great ONCE has proved steadias
In his devotion ~ the COnstitn ton and the inJe
ests Of %countrY, unm0yed BY persecution and unde
served reproach. having faith unsssailed in III
people and the principle OF free government, ",
recognise q Chief hagistrate who Is worthy OF tn
nation, and equal 10 the great crisis upon which
his los " cast, and We tender 10 him In the dis
charge " his high aud responsible duties our pro
hnna respect, and the assurance VI our oOFdia
and Sinesre support. r.
Z.H HLH