The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1866-08-29

Our columns were too much crowded last
week to publish the following Declaration
of Principles put forth by the Philadelphia
convention in addition to the Address of
that body which we gave in full. We
print it this week hoping the reader will
give it a careful, candid and impartial per-
sual, believing all such will agree with us
in the opinion that the hand which penn
ed it and thepeople's representatives who
adopted it in such perfect harmony and
with such unanimity, of all things on earth,
held the restoration, fortunately and high
est known good of the whole country as
being most sacred to them, their posterity
and those they represented.
DECLARATION OF PRINCIPLES. 1853
The national union convention, now as
sembled in the city of Philadelphia, COM
posed Of delegates from every state and
territory in the union, admonished by the
solemn lessons which, for the past five
years, it has pleased the Supreme Ruler of
the universe to give to the American people
profoundly grateful for the return of peace;
DESTROYS, as a large majority of this country,
in all sincerity, are, to forget and forgive
the past; regarding the constitution as it
came to us from our ancestors, and believ-
ing the union, in its restoration, more sa-
cred than ever; looking with deep anxiety
into the future as of instant and continuing
trial-hereby issue and proclaim the follow
ing declaration of principles and purposes
on which they have with perfect unamity
agreed
|. We hail with gratitude to Almighty
God the end Of war and the return of peace
to an afflicted and beloved land.
2. The war just closed has maintained
the authority of the constitution, with all
spowers which it confers, and all the re-
strictions which it imposes upon the gener-
al government, unabridged and unaltered,
and it has preserved the union, with the
equal rights, dignity and authority of the
states perfect and unimpaired,
3. Representation in the congress of the
United States and in the electoral college
is right recognized by the constitution as
abiding in every state, and as duty inn
posed upon its people; fundamental in its
nature and essential to the exercise of our
republican institutions: and neither, con-
gress nor the general government has any
authority or power to deny this right to
any, or withhold its enjoyment, under the
constitution, from the people thereof
4. We call on the people of the United
States to elect to congress, as members
thereof, none but men who admit this fun
damental right of representation, and who
will receive to seats the loyal representa-
tives from every state in ale glance to the
United States, subject to the constitutional
right of each house to Judge of the, cleo
ton returns and qualifications of its own
members.
5. The constitution of the United States
and the law made in pursuance thereof,
are the supreme law ofthe land, -anythina
in the constitution or laws of any state to
the contrary notwithstanding. All the
powers not conferred by the constitution
upon the general government, nor prohib-
tied by it to the states, are reserved to the
states is the right to prescribe qualifications
for the elective franchise therein, which
right congress cannot interfere with. No
state or convention of states has the right
to withdraw from the union, or to exclude,
through their action in congress or other
wise, any state or states from the union
The union of these states is perpetual.
6. Such amendments to the constitution
of the United States may be made by the
people thereof as may be deemed cxpedi-
cnt, but only in the mode pointed out by
its provisions, 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
an indefeasible right to voice and vote
therein.
I. Slavery is abolished, and forever pro-
hibited, and there is neither desire nor pur-
pose on the part of the southern states that
it should:ever be re-established on their soil
on within tho jurisdictinn 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 in every right of person and
property.
s. While we regard as utterly invalid
and never to be assumed or made of bind
ing force, any obligation incurred orunder-
taken in making war against the United
States. We hold the debt of the nation to be
sacred and inviolable, and we proclaim our
purpose in discharging this, as in perform
ing all other national obligations, to main
tain unimpaired and unimpeached, the hon
or and the faith of the republic.
Q. 1t is the duty of the national govern
ment to recognize the services of the feder-
al soldiers and sailors in the contest just
closed by meeting promptly and fully all
their just and rightful claims for the SER
vices they have rendered 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 gener-
Gus and considerable care.
10. In Andrew johnson, President OF
the United States, who, in his great Office,
has proved steadfast in his devotion to the
constitution, the laws, and interests of his
country, unmoved by prosecutions and un.
deserved reproach, Having faith immcas-
urable in the people and in the principles Of
the gOvernment,-we recognize chief
magistrate worthy of the nation and equal
to the great crisis upon which his lot is
cast, and we tender to him, in the dis
charge of his high and responsible duties,
our profound respect, and the assurance OF
our cordial and sincere support.
THE senior Editor of this paper reached
home from Philadelphia on Monday night,
per Mil. & Pr. du Chen Railway, George
Redington, Esq, commanding. He re-
ports himself as sound in body and not
badly injured at heart considering the