The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1866-08-24
THE GREAT CoHvENTION.
Declaration of Principles.

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ton of principles with great unanimity and
amid unbounded enthusiasm:
| Mr.. Cowan rose and said, on behalfof the
committee who were appointed to prepare
! the resolution and address: II have to state
that after very careful and elaborate con-
sideFation of the subject, lasting all day and
part Of the night, We have agreed on the
same. beg leave to report the following
declaration of principles, adopted unaRi-
mously BY this eonmittee. which the Sec
retary Of the convention viii read and also
an address to the people of the country,
which viii be read by Hon. Mr.. Raymond,
Of New York. Applause.
The Secretary then proceeded to read the
declaration of principles, each clause of
which was loudly applauded. The last one.
which endorsed the President, was greeted
with prolonged cheering, in which the su-
dience and delegates united.
| DECLARATION OF PRIECIPLEs OF THE NATION
| AL UNION CONVENTION, NOW ASSEMBLED IN
| THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, COMPOSED OF
DELEGATES FROM EVERY STATE AND TER
RIToRT IN THE UNION.
Admonished by the solemn lessons which
! for the last five years it has pleased the
Supreme Ruler of the inverse to give to the
American people, profoundly greatful for
| the return Of peace, desirous in all sinceri-
ty to forget and forgive the past, reverence
ing the Constitution as it comes to US from
our ancestors, regarding the Union in its
| restoration as more sacred than ever, look
| ing with deep anxiety to the future, We
hereby proclaim the following Declaration
of Principles and Purposes on which we
have, with perfect unanimity, agreed:
/. We hail with gratitude to Almighty
God the end of war and the return Of peace
to an afflicted aud beloved land.
2. The war Just closed has maintained
the authority of the Constitution with all
the powers which it coufers and ell the re-
strictiOne which it imposes on the General
Government, unabridged and unaltered; and
| it has preserved the Union with the lawful
rights, dignity and authority of the States,
perfect and unimpaired.
3. Representation in the Congress of the
| United States and in the Electoral College
is a right recognized by the Constitution as
abiding in every State, and is duty i'm
posed on the people, fundamental in its ma
ture and essential to the exercise of our
| Republican institutions; and neither Con-
| gress nor the General Government has any
authority or power to deny this right to any.
nor to withhold its enjoyment, under the
| Constitution, from the people.
A. We call upon the people of the United
States to elect to Congress, members who
admit the Fundamental principles of repre-
sentation, and who will receive loyal repre-
sentatives from every State in allegiance
to the United States, subject to the eonsti-
tutional power of each House to judge Of
election returns aud qualifications Of its own
members.
5. The Constitution of the United States
and the laws thereof are the supreme law
of the land, anything in the constitution or
laws of any State, to the contrary notwith-
standing All the power not conferred by
the Constitution upon the General Govern
men, nor prohibited by the States, are re-
solved to the State or the people thereof
and among these the RIG ht to prescribe
qualification for the elective franchise there
in, which right Congress cannot interfere
with. No State OF convention Of States has
the right to withdraw from the Union, MOI
to exclude through their action in Congress
or otherwise, any State or States from the
Union. The Union of the States is per
petual, and amendments to the Constitution
Of the United States may be made by the
people thereof as they may deem expedient
but only in the mode pointed out by the
resolution proposing such amendments,
whether by Congress. or BY 3 convention
and in ratifying the same all States of thu
Union have an equal and indisputable righ
to vote therein.
z. Slavery is abolished and forever pro
hibited, aud there is neither desire nol
PURPOSE of the Southern States, that j
should ever be established upon the sol
nor within jurisdiction: and the enfranchis
ed slaves in all the States Of the UnioT
should receive, in common with all theif
inhabitants, equal protection in every righ
Of person and property.
g. While We regard as utterly Invalid
aud never to be assumed or made of bind
ing force. any obligation incurred or under
taken in making war against the Unite'
States, we hold the debt of the nation to b
sacred and invlolable, and We proclaim on
purpose. in discharging this, asin perform
ing ali other national obligations, to main
tain, unimpaired and unimpeaohed. tn
honor and faith Of the Republic.
9. tits the duty Of the National Conven
tion 70 recognize the services Of the FedeEs
soldiers aud sailors IN the contest Just clos