The Fairfield herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1849-1876, 1866-08-29
A DEMAND FOR UTHEpN REpREsEN-
TATION IN CONGRESS-


The following is the address issued
by the National Convention, lately
held in Philadelphia, to the people Of
the United States:
10 Me People ofMc United Suites
Having met in convention at the
city of Philadelphia, in the State of
pennsylvania, this 10th day of August,
1855, as the representatives of the
people in all the States and Terrific
res OF the Union, to consult upon the
condition and the wants of our COM
mon country, we address to you this
declaration Of our principles, and of
ihe political purposes we seek to pro-
ln"t'. Smea the meeting of the last
National Convention, in the wear 1860.
events Lave occurred which have
changed the cuaractcr of our internal
paittirs and given the United States a
hcw place among the nations of the
curtin. Our Government has passed
through Che yicissitudcs and The pcrils
OF civil war-a war which, though
mainly sectional in it's character, has
nevertheless decided political differ
cnccs that from the very beginning of
the Government had threatened the
unity ofour national existence, and
has left It's impress deep and ineifacc-
able upon all the interests, the scnti-
ments, and the destiny of the republic.
While it has Inflicted upon the whole
country severe losses in life and in
property, and has imposed burdens
which must weigh upon it's resources
for generations to come, it has dcvcl-
opcd a degree of national courage in
the presence of national daHgcrs-a
capacity for military organization and
achievement, and a devotion on tho
part Of tho people to the form of the
government which they have ordained,
and to tho principles of liberty which
that Government was designed to pro-
mote, which must confirm the conf
dencc of the nation in the perpetuity
of it's republican institutions, and COM
mand the respect of tho 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 the political par
ties, and fresh impulse to plans of in
novation and reform. Amid the chaos
of conflicting sentiments inseparablc
from such an era, while tho public
heart is keenly alive to all the pas
sions that can sway the public judg-
ment and affect the public action !;
while tho wounds of war arc still fresh
and bleeding on either side, and fears
for tho future take unjust proportions
from the memories and rcsentments
of the past,-it is difficult but an i'm
pcrativc duty which on your behalf
we, who are here assembled, have un-
dcrtakcn 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 citi-
zens of common country, under that
flag, tho symbol again Of common
glory, to consult together how best to
cement and perpetuate that Union
which is again the object of our com
mon love, and thus secure tho bless
ings of liberty to ourselves and our
posterity.
TIE INTERESTS OF PEACE.
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 shook of con-
tending arms no longer assails tho
shuddcring heart of tho Republic.
The insurrcction against the supreme
authority of the nation has been sup
pressed, and that authority has been
again acknowledged, by word and act,
in every State and by cvcry citizen
within its jurisdiction. We are no
longer required or permitted to regard
or treat each other as enemies. Not
only have the acts of war been discon-
tinucd, and the weapons Of war laid
aside, but the state of war no longer
exists, and the sentiments, tho pas
sions, the relations of war have no
longer lawful or rightful place any
where throughout our broad domain.
We arc again people of tho United
States, fcllow-citizens Of one country,
bound by tho duties and obligations
of q common patriotism, and having
neither rights nor interests apart from
a common destiny. The duties that
dcvolvo upon lis now arc again the du-
ties of peace, and no longer the duties
of war. We have assembled here to
take counsel concerning the interest
of peace ito decide how wo may most
wisely and effcctually heal tho wounds