The Conservative. (M'connelsville, Ohio) 1866-1871, 1866-09-07
of PRINCIPLES
ADOPTED ny
THE PHILADELPHIA CONVENTION.
ADOPTED ny

The National Union Convention, now assembled
In the city Of Philadelphia, composed Of delegates
from every State and Territory in the Union, ad.
monished by the sol emn lessons which for the last
I've years II has pleased the Supreme Ruler Of the
Universe to give the American people, profoundly
grateful for the return Of peace, DESTROYS as are a
large majority OF their fellow. ountrymen in all
sincerity, 10 forget and 10 forgive The past, reyer.
ing the constitution as II comes 10 us from our an
s~estors, regarding the Union, in its restoration, as
moro sacred than ever, looking with anxiety into
the future as Of instant Importance, hereby issues
and proelaims the following declaration Of prinoi.
clples and purposes, on which they have with per.
fec, unanimity agreed;
/. We hail, with gratitude to Almighty God, the
end Of war, and the return Of peace TO our afflicted
and beloved land.
I. The war just closed has maintained the au.
ihority Of the constitution, with all tho pc wers
which II c%onfers, and all the restrictions which IL
imposes upon the general government unabridged
and unaltered, and 1t has preserved the Union with
the equal rights, dignity and authority OF the States
perfect and unimipaired.
.. Representation In the Congress Of the United
States, and in the Electoral College, is a right rec.
ognized In the constitution as abiding in every
State, and as a duty imposed upon It's people fun.
damental in Its nature, and essential to the exls.
tenee Of our republican Institutions, neither Con-
gTess nor the Generl Government has any power
or Aut horty to deny this right to any State, or to
withhold its enjoyment, under the constitution,
from the people thereof.
4. We call upon the people OF the United States
10 elect to Congress as members thereof none but
men who admit this fundamental right OF repre-.
sentation, and who will to seats therein
loyal representatives frem every State in allegiance
to the United States, subject only to the cons titu.
tional right of each House to Judge of the election
returns and qualifications Of Its own members.
o. The constitution Of the United States and
Jaws made in pursuance thereof, are the supreme
Law OF the land, any thing in the constitution or
J. laws OF any State 10 the contrary Notwithstanding
All powers not conferred by the constitution upon
. the lSenersi Government, nor prohibited by IL TO
States, are reserved 10 the several States or 10 the
people thereof and amcng the rights thus resery.
ed 10 the States is the right 10 prescribe the
qualifications for the elective franchise therein,
, which right Congress can not interfere with. No
Btate or combination OF. States has the right Ia
s. withdraw fron the Union, or to exclude through
their action Ia Congress, or otherwise, any othol
state or S~ttes-from the Union. The Union OF
these states 10 perpetual and can not be dissolved.
o. such amepdm6nts TO the constitution OF the
Unitedktates may be made by the people thereon
as they may deem expedieDt, In the mode pointed
out BY It's proyIsiOn and in proposing such
amendments, whe therb ~ Congress or by a conVen,
ton, and in ratifJjng fhe same, all the States ia
the Union have unequal and an indefeasible right
10 a voice and vote thereon.
Z. Slavery Is abolished aud forever prohibited
, Thefel 70 neither design nor pnIpOse, on the par
! Of me BOuthern States, that Il should ever be re
= established upon the soil or within the Jurisdiction
. OF the United States, and the enfranehised slaves
In all the States OF the Union, should receive, II
common with all their inhabitants, equal protee
tiou, IN every right Of person and property.
s, While we regard as utterly Invalid, and neys
TO be assumed or made of binding fOIce, any obi
CATION incurred or undertaken in making wa
against the United States, we hold the debt OF tn
nation 10 be sacred and inyi0lable, and we proclaim
our purpose, IN dlschaTging this duty as in pei
forming all other national obligations, 10 maintain
unimpaired and unimFeached the honor aud fait
OF the Repuplic.
9" o.. II is the duty Of the National Government +
recognize the services OF the Federal soldiers an
sailors In the contest juFt closed by Bleei ing prom
ely and fully all their just and riRhdal claims 10
ksrYiees they have rendered the nation, and by el
Vending 10 those who have survived, and the wild
bws and o;phans OF those who fell, the most gent
fous and c0Rsiderate care.
E'l0. In Andrew johnson, Prealdent OF the Unite
statet, who In his great Office has proved steadfaI
In his devotion to the Constitution and the int
ests of country, unmoVed by perception and und
served Tepfoach, having faith unas sailed IN u
people and the principle OF flee government, "
recognize a Chief Magistrate who y worthy oil u
nation, and equal TO The great crisis upon Yhle
his fot u casf, and we tender TO him ID the di
charge Of his high and responsible duties our Ne
fOond respect, aud the assurance Of 0H c0tdh
ana hncsTe suPports