The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1866-08-31
THE FEDERAL UNION.
Address ofthe Philadelphia Convention
to the American People.

tie Union, 10 consult upon The condition
and the wants Of our common country, we
al lress to you this declaration of our
principles, and Of the political purposes
we seek to promote.
Since the meeting Of The last national
convention, in the year 1860, events have
occurred which have changed the charac,
fer Of our internal politics, and given the
United States a new place among the
nations Of The earth. Our government
has passed through the yIcisltudes and
periie Of civil war--a war which though
mainly sectional 10 its character, has
nevertheless decided political Influences
tlat from the very beginning OF the gov
eminent has threatened the unity of our
national existence, aud has left It's impress
leep aud iueti,aceable upon all the inter
ess aud sentiments and the destiny of the
republic While it has Inflicted upon the
whole country severe losses in life and
property, and has imposed burdens which
must weigh on its resources for genera
lions 70 come, il has developed degree
of national courage lii the presence OF
uatlora dangers, a capacity tor military
organization and achievement, and devo-
ton on the part of the people to the form
Of government which they have ordained,
aud 10 he principles Of liberty which
that government was designed to promote,
Which must confirm the confidence Of the
nation IN the perpetuiv # It's republican
Institutions. and command the rel eCt OF
the civilized world. Like all great con
tests which rouse the passions and test the
endurance Of nations, this war has given
new scope to the ambition OF political par
ties. and fresh impulse to plans Of innova-
ton and reform.
Amid the chaos Of conflicting senti>
iuents inseperah!e from such an era ;
while the public heart is keenly alive to
al the passions that can sway the pubic
Judgment and affect The public action ;
willie the wounds of war are still tresl:
and bleeding on either side, and fears Tor
tie future take unjust proportions from
tha memories auI IesentmeIts Of the past,
il IS difficult tut an imperative duty
which, on our behalf, We, who are here
assembled, have undertaken to perform.
i or the first time, after SIX long years
OF alienation ard Of conflict we have come
together from every state aad every
section OF our lana as citizens Of 2 common
country under that flag, the SYMBOL again
Of common glory, to consult together
how best to cement aud perpetuate chat
Union which is again The Object Of our
common love, and thus secure the b!es
sings Of liberty to ourselves and our
posterity.
10 the first place We invoke you to re-
member, always and eVeryw here, that the
war is ended, and the nalion is again at
peace. lhe shock Of contended arms no
longer as,als tie shuddering hear Of the
repuJ!ic. The instruction against the
supreme authority Of the nation has been
suppressed and that authority has been
again acknowledged by VOID and act, in
every state, and BY every citizen within
lis Jurisdiction We are no longer re
quireI or permitted to regard or treat
each other "a enemies. Not only have
The acts of war been discontinued, and
The weapons of "ar laid aside, bot the
state Of war 10 longer exists, and the sen
Oiments, the passions, the relations of war
have no longer lawful or rightmI place
anywhere throughout our broad domain.
We are again people of the United
States, felIow-citizens Of one country,
bound BIZ the duties and obligations Of a
common patriotism, and have neither
rights nor interests apart from common
destiny. The duties that devolve upon
US now are again the duties of peace and
20 longer the duties Of war. We have
assembled here to take counsel concerning
tie interests Of peace, to decide how we
mag most wisely and effectualIv heal the
wounds the war has made, and to perfect
aud perpetuate the benefits it has secured,
and ,ha blessings which, under a wise and
benign Providence, have sprung up in its
track. This is The work, rot Of passion,
but Of calm anI sober Judgment, not OF
resentment for past otienses, prolonged
beyond the limits which justice and lea
sou prescribe, but of liberal statesman
ship which tolerates what it cannot pre-
vent, and builds It's plans and its hopes fol
the future, rather upon community o.
interest and ambition than upon distrust
and the weapons Of force.
In the next place, We call upon you &c
recognize in their full significance, and sc
accept with all their legitimate conse
quences, the political results of the waI
j.st closed In tso most important par.
uculags, the victory achieved by the
DatioDai gayeinment has been final and
decisive. First it has established, beyond
all further controversy, and by the highest
OF all human actions the absolute supre.
macy of the national government as
defined and limited by the constitution o.
the United States. and the permanent
integrity and indissolubiIity Of the federal
Culon as necessary consequence; and
second, it has pat an end, finally and
forever. to the existence of slavery upon
the soil or within the jurisdiction of the
United States. Both these points became
directly involved in the contest and con-
troversy. Upon both depended, absolute
Is and finally, the result.
In the third place, we deem it of the
utmost importance that the real character
OF the war, and the victory by which il
was closed. should be accurately under
stood The war was carried Oh By the
government Of the United States in main
teuance OF lis own authority aud in defence
OF its own existence; both of which were
msnaced by the instruction which il