The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1866-08-23

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dress was made and unanimously adopted,
when the Convention adjourned sine die.
The Convention was a complete success
The delegations from all the States and
Territories were full, and greater interest
and enthusiasm was never manifested by
men assembled together.
We give below. the Declaration of Princi-
pies adopted by the Convention. We will
commence the publication of the Address in
our next weeks paper.
Declaration of Principles adopted, at the
National Union Convention, held at
Philadelphia, August IA, 1868.
Hen Edgar A. Cowan, on behalf Of
the Committee on Resolutions aud Ad-
dress, presented the following report,
prefacing it with statement that the
Committee had unanimously agreed upon
it, after deliberaton of several hours:
DECLARATION OF PRINCIPLES.
The National Union Convention, now
assembled in the city of Phladel phia,
composed of delegates from every State
and Territory in the Union, admonished
FIVE years it has pleased the Supreme Ru-
ler Of the Universe to give the American
people; profoundly grateful for the re-
turn of peace; desirous as are a large
majority of the countrymen in all sinccri,
ty to forget and forgive the past; rever-
ing the Consultation az it comes to US
from our ancestors; regarding the Upion
in its restoration as more sacred than ey,
er; looking with deep anxiety into the fu-
ture as of instant and continuing trial.
hereby issues and proclaims the following
declaration of principles and purposes, on
which they have, with perfect unanimity,
agreed =
First. We hail with gratitude to AL
mighty God the end of war and the re-
turn Of peace to an afflicted and beloved
land.
Second. The war just closed has main
tanned the authority of the Constitution
with all the powers which it confers, and
all the restrictions which it imposes upon
the General Government, unabridged and
unaltered, and it has preserved the Union,
with the equal rights, dignity and authori- :
ty of the States, perfect and unimpair-
ed
Third Representation in the Congress
of the United States, and in the Electoral
College, is right recognized by the Con
stitution, as abiding in every State, and
as duty imposed upon its people-fun
damental in its nature and essential TO
the existence of our republican institu-
tions; and neither Congress nor the Gen
eral Government has any authority or
power to deny the right to any State, or
to withhold its enjoyment under the Con
tition from the people thereof.
Fourth. We call upon the people OF
the United States to elect to Congress
as members thereof, none but men who
admit this fundamental right of represeu-
tation, and who will receive to seats there
in representatives. from every State in al
legiance to the United States, subject only
to the Constitutional right Of each House
to Judge Of the election returns and quail
fcations of its own members
Fifth. The Constitution of the United
States and laws made in pursuance there
of are the supreme law of the land, any
thing in the Constitution or laws Of any
State to the contrary notwithstanding
All powers not conferred by the Consti-
tuition upon the General Government
nor prohibited by it to States, are reserved
to the States. or to the people thereof
aud among the rights thus reserved to
the States is the right to prescribe the
qualifications for the elective franchise
therein, which right Congress cannot in
terfere with. No State or combination OF
States has the right to withdraw from the
Union, or to exclude, through their ac-
tiou in Congress or otherwise, any other
State or States from the Union. The
Union of these States is perpetual, and
cannot be dissolved.
Sixth Such amendments to the Con
stitution of the United States may be
made by the people thereof as they may
deem expedient, but only in the mode
pointed out by its provisions; and in pro.
posing such amendments, whether by
Congress or by convention, and in rati.
flying the same, all the States of the Uni
on have an equal and an indeleasible
right to a voice and vote thereon.
Seventh Slavery is abolished and for
ever prohibited, and there is neither de-
sire nor purpose on the part of the South
ern States that it should be re-established
upon the soil or within the jurisdiction OF
the United States; and the enfranchised
slaves in all the States of the Union should
receive, in common with all their inhabi-
tants, equal protection in every right Of
person aud property.
Eighth. While We regard as utterly
invalid and never to be assumed, or made
of binding force, any obligation incurred
or undertaken in making war against the
United States, We hold the debt of the
nation to be sacred and inviolable, and
proclaim ourpurpose in discharging this