The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1866-08-29

Philadelphia, IN the State OF Pennsylva-
mia, this 18th day Of August, 1866, as
the representatives Of the people in all
sections, and from all the States and Ter.
ritories Of the Union, to consult upon the
condition and the wants of our common
country, we address to you this declara-
ton Of our principles, and Of the political
purposes we seek to promote.
... The Late Var.
Since the meeting of the last National
Convention, in the year 1860, events have
occurred which have changed the charac.
ter Of our internal politics, and given the
United States a new place among the ma
tions ofthe earth. Our Government has
passed through the vicissitudes and the
perils Of civil war-a war which, though
mainly sectional in its character, has,
nevertheless, dt cided political differences
that from tho very beginning of lne Gov
erDmept had threatened the unity of our
national existence, and has left its i'm
press deep and ineffaceable upon all the
interests, the sentiments, and the destiny
of the republic. While it has inflicted
upon the whole country severe losses in
life aud in property, and has imposed bur.
dens which must weigh on it's resources
for generations to come, it has developed
degree Of national couragein the pres.
erce Of national dangers "a capacity for
military organization and achievement,
and devotion on the part of the people
to the form Of government which they
have ordained, and to the principles of
liberty which that government was de.
siged to promote, which must confirm the
confidence of the nation in the pcrpetuily
Of its republican institutions, and com
mand 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 ambi.
tion of political parties, and fresh impulse
to plans of innovation and reform. A
midst the chaos of conflicting sentiments
inseperable from such an era, while the
public heart is keenly alive to all the pas.
sions that can sway the public judgment
and affect 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 memo.
ries and resentment of the past, it is diff.
fcult but an imperative duty, which, on
your behalf, we, who are here assembled
have undertaken to perform.
AssemJldge in Amiy.
For the first time after six long years ol
alienation and Of conflict, we have come
together from every State and every sec
tiOn of our land, as citizens of common
country, under that flag, the symbo! again
Of common glory, to consult together
how best to cement and perpetuate thai
Union which is again the object of oul
common lcve, and thus secure the bless
ings Of liberty TO ourselves and oul pos
terity. r sr.f
| l.. In the first place, We invoke you tt
remember, always and everywhere, thai
the war is ended and the nation is agar
at peace. The shock of contending arm
no longer assails the shuddering heart o
1.-THE Republic. The insurection agairs
the supreme authority of the nation ha
been suppressed, and that authority ha
been again acknowledged, by word anc
act, in every State and by every either
within its jurisdiction, We are no long
er required or permitted to regard or trea
each other as enemies. Not only hav'
the acts of w.r been discontinued, an,
the weapons of war laid aside, but tn
state of war no longer exists, and the sen
timents, the passions, the relations of wa
have no longer lawful or rightful plac
anywhere throughout our broad domain
We are again one country, bound by tn
duties and obligations Of common patri
otism, and having neither rights nor intel
ests apart from common destiny.
| ' tot Duties of Feace.
The duties that devolye upon US no,
are again the duties of peace, and no long
! er the duties of war. We have assemble
here to take counsel concerning the intel
ests of peace-to decide how We ma
most wisely and effectually heal th
wounds the war has made, and perfct
and perpetuate the benefits it has secure
and the blessings which, under wise an
benign Providence, have sprung up in j,
] fiery track. This is the work, not Of pa
sion, but Of calm and sober judgment
/. not Of resentment Tor past offenses pre-
9 .longed beyond the limits which jrstic
and reason prescribej but ola 'liber
craftsmanship, which toleratcs what
can not prevent, and builds its plans an
n its hopes for the future rather upon
i community Of interest and ambition tina
r upon distrust and the weapons Of force.
3 - Political Rcsults Of the Var. D.
2. In the next place, we call upon yC
to recognize in their fall significance, ar
to accept with all their legitimate cons
quencpS, the political results of the "
just closed. In two most important pa
ticulars the victory achieved BY the N
tional Government has been 6pal and d
! cisive. First, it has established beyor
all further controversy, and by the hig
est Of llhuman sanctions, the absolu
= supremacy Of the National Goyernmer
: as defined and limited by the Constitute
Of the United States, and the pcrmanc