Year: 1866

by the National Convention, lately
held in Philadelphia, to the people of
the United States:


To the People of the United States:


Having met in convention at the
city of Philadelphia, in the State of
Pennsylvania, this 10th day of August,
1866, as the representatives of the
people in all the States and Terrific
ries of the Union, to consult upon the
condition and the wants of our COM
mon country, we address to you this
declaration of our principles, and of
tho political pul poses we seek to pro-
mote. Since the meeting of the last
National Convention, in the year 1860,
events have occurred which have
changed the character of our internal
politics and given the United States a
new place among the nations of the
earth. Our Government has passed
through the vicissitudes and the perils
of civil. war--a war which, though
mainly sectional in it's character, has
nevertheless decided political differ
cnces that from the very beginning of
the Government had threatened the
unity of our national existence, and
has left its impress deep and incfface-
able upon all the interests, the senti-
ments, and the destiny of the republic.
While it has inflicted upon the whole
country severe losses in life and in
property, and has imposed burdens
which must weigh upon it's resources
for generations to come, it has devel-
oped degree of national courage in
the presence of national da1gers-a
capacity for military organization and
achievement, and devotion on the
part of the people to tho form of the
government which they have ordained,
and to the principles of liberty which
that Government was designed to pro-
mote, which must confirm the conf
dcnce of the nation in the perpetuity
of it's republican institutions, and COM
mand the respect of the civilized
world.


Like all great contests which rouse
the passions and test the endurance of
nations, this war has given new scope
to the ambition of the political par
ties, and fresh impulse to plans of in
novation and reform. Amid the chaos
of conflicting sentiments inseparable
from such an era, while the public
heart is koonly alive to all the pas
sions that can sway the public judg-
1 ment and affect the public action ;
y while the wounds of war are still fresh
a and bleeding on either side, and fears
for the future take unjust proportions
I from the memories and resentments
of the past,-it is difficult but an inn
pcrative duty which on your behalf
we, who are here assembled, have un-
dertaken to perform.


( For the first time after six long
Hycars of alienation and of conflict, we
lhave come together from every State
land every section of our land, as citi-
Items of o common country, under that
laag, the symbol again of a common
.uglory, to consult together how best to
5temcnt and perpetuate that Union


Ehich is again the object of our COM


mon love, and thus secure tho bless
Aings of liberty to ourselves and our


posterity.


THE INTERESTS OF PEACE.


In the first place, We invoke you to


kemember, always and everywhere


Ahat the war is ended and the natior


again at peace. The shock of con


ending arms no longer assails the


huddering heart of the Republic
lhe insurrection against the supreme
: authority of the nation has been sup
pressed, and that authority has beel


ngain acknowledged, by word and act


in every State and by every citize'
Ethin its jurisdiction. We are NJ


longer required or permitted to regar'


N treat each other as enemies. no