The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1866-08-31
Che 8elfortl Gazettr.
RESTORATION AND PEACE.
Results Of the National Union
Convention.
ADDRESS TO ALI. THE PEOPLE o.
TEE sEEoN.


States, appointed on the previous day
reported the following address, whicl
had been approved and recommended
/ BY the unanimous vote Of the Commit
tee:
TO THE PEOPLE OF THE UNIrEr
STATES
Having met i'm Convention, at the
City OF Philadelphia. in the State u1
Pennsylvania, this 10Th day of August.
1866, &s the representative of the peo.
pie in all sections, and from all the
states and Territories of the Union, tC
consult upon the condition and the
wants Of our common country, we adj
dress to you this declaration Of our
Principles, and 0fthe Political purp0-
ScS we seek to promote.
Since the meeting Of the last Nation
al Convention, in the year Of 1860, e.
vents have occurred which have chang
ed the character Of our internal poll
ties, and given the United States q new
place amUng the nations of the earth.
Our Government has passed through
the VicissitudCS and the perils Of civil
WaT-a war VII ch, though mainly sec
tiOnal in its character, has never-thC-
less, decided political differences that
from the very beginning of the Gov
ernmCnt had threatened the unity of
our national existence. and has lcft Its
impress deep and inefI''ccable upon all
the interests, the sentiments, and the
destiny of the republic. While it has
inflicted upon the whole country Sc
we're losses in life and in property, and
has imposed burdens which must
weigh ON its resources for generations
to come. it has developed Il degree of
national courage in the presence Ofna-
tiOnal dangCrs-a capacity for military
organization and achievement, and a
deVOti0nOn the partOfthc people to the
form Of government which they have
ordained. and to the principles of lib
eTty which that government was de-
signed to promote, which must CON
firm the confidence Of the nation in the
rcrpcrUity of its republican institu-
tiOns, and command the respect Of
the civilized world.
Like all great contests which rouse
the passions and test the endurance Of
nations, this war has given new scope
to the ambition Of political parties, and
fresh impulse to plans of innovation
and reform. Amidst the chaos of con-
tiicting sentiments insGperabiC from
such an era, while the public heart is
keenIy alive to all the passions that
can sway the public Judgment and ai-
iCcI the public action; while the wounds
of war are still fresh and bleeding on
either side. and fears for the future
take unjust proportions from the mem
OTieS and resCntments Of the past, it Is
a difficult but an Imperative duty
which, on your behalf we, VINO are
here assembled, have undertaken to
perform.
For the first time after six long years
of alienation and of conflict, we have
come together from every State and
every section Of our land, as citizens Of
a common country, undcrthat iiag, the
symbol again OF common glory, "a
consult together how best 90 cement
and pcrpctaate that Union which T. Il
gain the object Of our common love.
and thus secure the blessings OF liberty
to ourselves and our postcrity.
!. IN the first place, we invoke you
to remember always and everywhere,
that the war is ended and the nation Is
again at peace. The shock Of contend
inc arms no longer assaiis the shudder-
in@heart ofthe Republic. The insur-
rcCti0n against the supreme authority
ufthe nation has been suppressed, and
that authority has been again ackn0Wl-
edged by word and act, ia every ; ATE
and by every citizen within its juriS-
dicti0n. We are no longer required or
permitted to regard or treat each other
ascncmics. Not only have the acts OF
war been discontinued, and the WCa-
pOns OF war laid aside, but the state OF
war no longer exists, and the scnu-
mcnts. the passions, the relations OF
war have no longer lawful or ri@htful
place anywhere throughout our broad
domain. We are again people OF
the United States, fclIOW-Citizens OF
one country, bound by the duties and
obligations of a common patriotism,
and having neither rights nor interests
apart from a common destiny. The
duties that devolve upon us now are
again the duties OF peace, and no long
or the duties UfWar. We have assem-.
.blpd here to take counsel concerning
the interests of pGaCe-tO decide how
we NAV most wisely and ctfectuaily
heal the wounds the war has made,
and perfect and pcrpetuate the benefits
Il has secured, and the blessings which,
undcr a wise and benign Providence
have sprung up in Its fiery track.
This is the work. not Of passion, but
Of calm and sober Judgment, not OF re,
sentiment for past Offences prolonged
heyond the limits which Justice and
reason prescribe. but OF 4 liberal states
maDship which tOlcrates what it can
not prevent, and builds its plans and
il. homes for the future rather upon 4
community of interest and ambition
than upon di-trII~t and the weapon 0
force.
II. In the next place, we call upOr
vou to recognize in their full signifi
cance. and to accept with all their le
Ultimate consequences, the political re
suits of the war lust closed. In tW,
most important particulars the victory
achieved by the National GoVcrnmen'
has been final and decisive. FUT. II
has established beyond all further con
trovprsv, and by the highest Of all hu
man sanctions, the absolute suprcma
/ -, of the National Government, as de
| fined and limited by the Constitution
ofthc United States. and the perma
nrnt integrity and indiS~olubility o
! the Federal Union as Il necessary con
sequence: and. SccOpd, il has put M
( end finally and forever to the eXistenc;
of slavery upon the soil or within th'
/ Jurisdiction of the United States. BotI
these points became directly involved
in fbc contest, and controversy upoE
both was ended absolutely and finally
by the result. Hoo, :;
/ III. In the third place, we deem