Year: 1866

PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES.
To THE PEopLE OF THE UN1rap STATES:


Having met in Convention at the City OF
Philadelphia, in the State of Pennsy ylvania,
this l4,b day Of August, 1866, as represen.
tatives OF tie people in all sections, and from
all the States and Territories of The Union,
to consult upon the condition and wants oil
our common country, we address to you this
declaration Of our principles, and Of the po-
litica purposes We seek to promote


Since the meeting Of tie last National
Contention, in the year 1860, events have
occurred which have changed the character
Of our internal politics and given 10 The Uni.
ted States new place among the nations Of
the earth. Our Government has passed
throug b the vicissiudes and perils of civil
war-a war which, though mainly sectional
in its character, has nevertheless decided the
political difference that from the very begin.
ming Of the Government had threatened the
unity ofour national existence, and has left
its impress, deep and inetfaceabIe, upon all
the interests, sentiments and destiny of the
Republic. While it has inflicted upon the
whole country severe losses in life and pro.
perty, and imposed burdens which must
weigh on its resources for generations to
come, it has developed degree of national
courage in the presence of national danger.
capacity for military organization, achieve
ment. devotion on the part of the people for
the Government which they have ordained,
and to the principles Of liberty which the
Government is designed TO promote, which
must contirm the confidence of the nation in
the rerpelui,y Of its republican institutions
and command The respect Of the world
Like all great contests which arouse the pas
sions and the endurance Of nations, this war
has given new scope 10 the ambition of po-
litica parties, and fresh Impulse to plans
of innovation and reform


Amidst the chaos of conflicting sentiments
iuseparable from such an era: while the pub
lie heart is keenly alive to the passions that
can sway public judgment and effect public
action; while the wounds of war are still
fresh on either side, and fears for the future
take unjust proportion from the memories Of
the resenlments Of the past-it is a difficult
but imperative duty which, on your behalf,
we who are assembled have undertaken to
perform. For the first time, after six long
! ears of alienation and conflict, we have come
together from every State and section Of the
land as citizens of common country, under
the flag which is again the symbol Of a com
mon glory, to consult together how best to
cement and perpetuate that Union which is
again the object of our common love, thus to
secure the blessings OF liberty TO ourselves
and TO our posterity.


In the first place, we invoke you to re
member always and everywhere, that the war
is ended and The Nation again at peace
The shock Of contendng armies no longer
sssaiIs the shuddering heart of The Republic.
Insurrection against the supreme authority
Of the Nation has been suppressed, aud that
authority again acknowledged by word and
act in every State and by every citizen with
in its jurisdiction. We are no longer re.
quired or permitted to regard and treat each
other as enemies. Not only have acts Of
war been discontinue and the weapons Of
war laid aside, but state Of war no longer
exists, and the sentiments, passions, and re,
la,ions Of war have no longer lawful or right,
ful place any where throughout our broad do
main. We are again people of the United
S,a,es-feow' citizens Of one county
bound by the debts and obligations Of COM
mon patriotism, having neither rights or in.
leresls apart from a common destiny. The
duties that devolve upon us now are again
the duties of peace and no longer the duties
of war. We have assembled here 10 take
counsel concerning the interests Of peace, to
decide how we may most wisely and effectu'
hou 4 1ba koc Fof
and perpetuate the benefits it has secured,
and the blessings which under benign
Providence have sprung up in its fiery track.
This is the woik, not Of passion, but Of calm
sober judgment; not of resentment Of past Of
fenses, prolonged beyond the limits which
justice and reason prescribe, but of liberal
craftsmanship S, which ,olerates what it can.
not prevent; builds its plans and hopes for
the future rather upon community Of inter-
est than upon distrust and the weapons OF
force.


In the second place We call upon you to
recognize in their foil significance, and ac
cept with all their legitimate consequences,
the political results Of the war just closed, in
two most important particulars. The victo
ry achieved by the National Government has
been final aud decisive. It has established
beyond controversy, by the highest Of all hu
man sanctions, the absolute supremacy of The
National Government as defined and limited
by the Constitution, the permanent integr
ty and indesirucibleness Of the National
Union as necessary consequence, and also


it has put an end, finally and forever, 10 sla
very upon the soil or within the Jurisdiction
Of the United States. Both these points be
came directly involved in The contest. anf


the controversy upon both was ended abso


lu,eIy by the results.


In the third place, we deem it Of the vi


most importance that the real character o


the war and the victory by which it was closed


should be accurately understood. The wal


was carried on by the Government 10 th'


maintenance Of its own authority, in defens,


of its own existence, both Of which were me


naced by The nsurrec,ion which it sought t.
| supnress The suDpression of that insurrec