The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1866-08-20


popular liberty and the perfection of
our Republican intitutions may de-
The address was adopted by the
unanimous vote Of the Convention, fol-
lowed by the most enthusiastic and
long continued cheering. -
Hon. Edgar Cowan, of Pennsylya-
ma, ma, IRON the same Committee, and
also with the unanimous approval Of
its members, reported the following:
DECLARATION OF PRINCIPLES.
The National Union Convention. novv.
assembled in the city of Philadelphia.
composed of delegates from every State
and Territory in the Union, admonished-
by the solemn lessons which, for the
last five years, Il has pleased the Su-
preme Ruler of the Universe to give to
the American people, profoundly grate-
Iuk Tor the return of peace, desirous, as
are a large majority of their country
men, In all sincerity to forget and for
give the past, revering the Constitution
as 1t comes to us from our ancestors,
regarding the Union, in its restoration,
as more sacred than ever, looking with
deep anxiety into the future as OF in
slant and continuing trial, hereby is-
sues and pr0Claims the following Dec
laration of Principles and Purposes on
which they have with perfect lnanimi-
ty agreed: ft.-, ~ -7.7f
!. We hail with gratitude to AL
mighty God the end of war, and the
return OF peace to our afflicted and be-
| loved land.
2. The war just closed has maintained
the authority of the Constitution with
all the powers which Il confers, and all
the restrictions which 1t imposes upon
the general government, unabridged
and
Union with the equal rights, dignity,
and authority of the States, perfect and
unlmpRired. ro 11f
8. Representation in the Congress of
the United States and in the electoral
college. is right recognized by the
CONSTITUTION as abiding in every State,
ana as a duty imposed upon its people
fundamental in its nature and essential
to the exercise of our republican insti-
GuGlOnRi and neither Congress nor
the general Government has any
authority or power to deny this right to
any State, or to withhold its enjoy
ment under the Constitution from the
people thereof.
4. We call upon the people of the
United States to elect to Congress as
members thereof nonVP but men who
admit this fundamental right of repre-
sentatton, and who will receive to seats
therein loyal representatives from every
State in allegiance to the United States,
subject to the constitutional right OF
each House to judge of the election, re-
turns and qualifications of It's own
members. tt
8. The Constitution of the United
States and the laws made in pursuance
thereof are "the supreme law of the
land, anything in the Constitution or
laws of any State to the. contrary not.
withstanding.n "All the powers not
conferred by the Constitution upon, the
General Government, nor prohibited
by it to the States, are reserved to the
States or the people thereof" and among
the rights thus reserved to the States
Is the right to prescribe qualifications
for the elective franchise therein, with
which right Congress cannot interfere.
No State or convention of States has
the right to withdraw from the Union,
or to exclude through their action in
Congress or otherwise, any State or
States from the Union. The union of
these States Is perpetual, and the au-
thor4y of its government is supreme
within the limits and restrictions of
the Constitution. ...,-..,
6. Such amendments to the Constitu-
ton of the United States may be made
by the people thereof as they may deem
expedient, but only in the mode point
ed out by Its provision, and in proposing
such amendments, whether by Con-
gress or by a Convention, and in ratify-
GA0 Ill tL0 GokAtGd VI bL6 OulOL
have an equal and an indefeasibIe
right to a voice and a vote thereon.
q. Slavery is abolished and forever
prohibited, and there is neither desire
nor purpose on the part of the South
ern States thatit should ever be re.es-
tablished upon the soil or within the
Jurisdiction of the United States, and
the enfranchfsed slaves in all the States
of the Union should receive in common
with all their Inhabitants equal protec-
ton In every right of person and pro-
perty. rs
8. While we regard as utterly invalid
and never to be assumed or made of
binding force, an obligation incurred
or undertaken in making war against
the United States, we hold the debt of
the nation to be sacred and inviolRble,
and we proclaim our purpose in dis
charging this, as in performing all other
national obligations, to maintain un-
impaired and unimpeached the honor
and the faith of the republic.
o. 1t is the duty of the national gov
etnment to recognize the services ofthe
Federal soldiers and sailors inlthe con-
test just CLOSED, by meeting promptly
and fully all their Just and rightful
claims for the services they have rem
dered the nation, and by extending to
those of them who have survived and
to the widows and orphans OF those
who have fallen, the most generous and
| constdeFate care. tl.,I ID fa'7r-.sg +=.s
10. In Andrew Johnson, President of
the United States, who, in his great
Office, has proved steadfast in his deVo-
tion to the Constitution, the laws and
the interests of his country, unmoved
by persecution and undeserved re-
proach; having faith .uhassailable in
the people and tn the principles of free
government, we recognize Chief
Magistrate worthy of the nation, and
equal to the great crisis upon which
his lot iS cast, and we tender to him, in
the discharge of his high and responsi-
BILE duties, our profound respect and
insurance OF our cordial and sincere
support.
These resolutions were received, us
each was read, with great applause;
land they Were adopted by the unani-
nous vote Of the Convention, followed