The New era. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1865-1871, 1866-09-20

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The National Union Convention, HOW
assembled in the city of Philadelphia,
composed eli delegates from every state
and Territory in the Union. adnlonished
by the solemn lessons Which for the Iasi
five years It has pleased the supreme
Ruler Of the Universe 70 give g ne
American people; profoundly grateful
Tor the return OF peace Geslroas, a. \
large majority OF Their eouhii&!heh, IA
ali sincerity. TO forget aad forgive ne
past; reVe1ng the constitution II u
comes 20 Us from our ancestor; fesafa
ing the Union, III It's restoration, as more
sacred than ever; looking WIN aeel2
anxiety INTO the illtafe as OF instant ana
continuing tfiai, hereby ISSUE aha pro
elalm the following deelafauon OF RFlh-
cipies ana purposes upon Wilieh tf1eN
have with perfect anahimitN agreed
fGf4t-"e nan WITH @fatltude % Al
mighty geo the clia 81 var ana tie fe,
turn Of peace to an afflicted and beloved
iand.
Sec0Rd-ihe war Just closed mas mann
talned ,he authority OF 1ae coilst!talleh
WIN aii eae powers "i41ea It coiliefs ana
all the restrictions Nhlch II imposes
upon t4e general Sesef''ilieiits UNI
brldged ahq unaltefea, ana IL has re
served tiie oilloh WIN me equal rights
a'%illiN ana aalnorliS Oh tfe states per
ieet ana alllnPalred.
0-Re1lIesehtalloh III Il. con
giess OF the united States ana III the
Electoral 1oilege Is fl2ht recognized
by the constitution as abiding IN every
State and as duty imposed upon its
people, fundamental III lis nature anti
essential to the exercise Of our repabii-
can institutions; and neither Congress
nor the general government has any
authority or power to deny this right to
any, or withhold Is enjoyment. under
constitution. from thepeople thereof.
fOW2h-Ne call upon the people OF
the United States 10 elect 10 Congress as
members thereof none bat men who adj
INIT this fundamental right Of represen-
tation, and who will receive TO seats
their loyal representatives from every
State in allegiance to the United States,
subject u the constitutional right OF
each house to judge of the election re-
turns and qualifications Of itsOWn men,
berS.
fiIM--The constitution Of the United
States, and the laws made in pursuance
thereof, are the supreme laws Of the
land, anything in the constitution CIR
laws Of any State to the contrary net
withstanding. All the powers net con
ferred BY the constitution upon tie gen
eral government nor prohibited by i to
the States are reserved to the STATES or
the people thereof; and among the
rights thus reserved to the States is the
rights to prescribe qualifications for the
elective franchise therein, which right
Congress cannot interfere with. No
State or convention of states has tie
right to withdraw from the Union. or 10
exclude, through their action in Con-
gress or otherwise any State or States
from the Union. The union Of these
States is perpetual.
Si.uh-Such amendments to the con
stitution of the United States nav be
made by the people thereof as they NAV
deem eXpedient, but only in the mode
pointed out by its resolution, and pro-
posing such amendments, whether by
Congress or by convention. and in
ratifNing the same, all the States of the
Union have an equal and an judeteasi-
bic right 10 q voice and a vote thereon.
,Sec0ah-slavery is abolished and for.
ever prohibited and there Il nnifbe,. do
sire nor purpose on The part of fhe
Southern States that It should ever he