The New era. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1865-1871, 1866-09-06
I'll T. Z II ESD E.NY
AND THE
PHILADELPHIA CONVENTION.
,IsIT OF THE COMMITTEE.
>ecech from Hon. Rererdy Joh,tsoi,.
RESPONSE By THE PRESIDENT
AND THE

tbe President, and present him with am
authentic copy of its proceedings, pro-
ceeded to Washington ON the Friday
allowing the Adjournment of the Con-
vention, and performed the duties as
sfrned them. Hon. Reverdv johnson.
chairman of the Committee, addressed
The President as follows:
Mn. PRESIDENTS: We are before Won
asa committee Of the National Union
convention, which met in PHILADELPHIA.
on Tuesday, the 18th inst, charged with
the duty of presenting you with an au-
thentcated copy OF its proceedings.
Before placing ii in your hands, will
YOU permit us to congratulate YOU that
in the object for which the Convention
was called, in the enthusiasm with
which in every State and Territory the
call was responded to, in the unbroken
harmony Of its deliberations, in the
unanimity with which the principles it
has declared We're adopted, and more
especially in the patriotic and consti-
tutional character OF the principles them
selves, we are confident that you and
the country will find gratifying and
cheering evidence that there exists
among the people a public sentiment
which renders an early and complete
restoration of the Union, as established
by the Constitution, certain and inevi-
table. Party faction, seeking the con-
tinuance of its misrule, may momen-
tarily delay it, but the principles of pO-
litical liberty for which our forefathers
successfully commended, and to secure
which they adopted the Constitution,
are so glaringty inconsistent with the
condition in which the country has been
placed by such misrule that it will not
he permitted a much longer duration.
We wish, Mr.. President, you could
have personally witnessed the spirit of
concord and brotherly affection that
animated every member of the Con-
vention. Great as your confidence ever
has been in the intelligence and patriot
ism of your fellow-citiZens, and their
deep devotion to the Union, and in their
present determination to reinstate and
maintain it, that confidence would have
become a positive conviction if you
could have seen all that was done and
said upon that occasion. Every heart
was evidently full of joy; every eye
beamed with patriotic animation. De-
spondency gave place to assurance thet
our late dreadful civil strife ended, the
blissiul reign of peace, under the pro-
lection, not of arms, but of the Consti-
tuition and laws would have sway and
be in every part of our land cheerfully
acknowledged, and in perfect good faith
obeyed, you would not have doubted
that the recurrence of dangerous do
nestle Instruction in the future, are
not to be apprehended. If you could
have seen, sir, the men of Massachusetts
and South Carolina coming into the
Convention on the first day of its meet
ing, hand in hand, amidst the rapturous
applause of the whole body, awakened
by heartfelt qualification ut the event,
filling the eyes of thousands with tears
of joy which they neither could, nor
desired to suppress, you would have ielt
as every person present felt, that t'e
time had arrived when all sectional, or
other perilous discussions had ceased,
and that nothing would he heard i'll the
future but the voice Of harmony, pro-
claiming devotion to a common country,
of pride of being bound together by a
common Union, existing and protected
by forms Of government, proved by eX-
perience to be eminently fitted Tor the
eXigencies of either war or peace.
. III inc principles anHouiiS'u W Wy
Convention, and in the feeling there
manifested, we have every assurance
mat harmony throughout our entire
land will soon prevail. We know that
as IN former days, as was eloquehtiy
declared by Webster, the nations most
gifted statesman, Massachusetts ana
south Carolina went shoulder to siloui,
der through the revolution" and stood
iand in hand Ground the admlnlstra-
ton OF Washington, and felt his ewh
great arm lean Oh them for support, SO
VIII they again with like unanlmity,
devotion, and power, stand round your
administration and cause you TO leei
mat you may also lean on them Tor sup
port. In the proceedings, Mr.. Presi-
gent, which we are to place IN your
hands, you will find that the Convention
performed the grateful duty imposed
upon them by their knowledge OF your
devotion to the Constitution, the
laws, and interest of your country, as
Illustrated by your entire Presldentlal
eareer of declaring that in you they
recognize Chief Magistrate, worthy
ol the nation, and equal to the great
crisis upon which your lot is east Ana
Ia. U,skn