Year: 1866

Having meth convention at the city OF
PHILADELPHIA in the State If Pennsylvania,
this 18th day of August, 1866, as the repre-
.sentatives of the people of all sections, and
all the States and Territories Of the Union,
to consult upon the condition and the
wants of our common country, we address
to you this declaration of our principles and
of political purposes we seek to promote.


Since the meeting of the last National
Convention, in the year 1860, events have
occurred which have changed the charac-
ter of our internal politics and given the
United States new place among the ma
tions of the earth. Our Government has
passed through the vicisSitudes and Lhe
nerils of civil war; war which, though
Inainlv sectional in it's character, has ne
>vertheless decide! political differences that
from the very beginning OF the Govern
,ment had threatened the unity of our ma
rional existence, and has left its impress
deep and ineffaceabe, upon all the inter-
.asts. sentiments and the destiny Of the
Republic. While it has inflicted apon the
whole country severe losses in life and IN
property, and has imposed burdens which


must weigh On its resources for genera
tions to come. it has developed a degree OF
national courage in the presence OF ma
nional dangers, capacity for military Or
sanitation and achievement, and deVo-
ton on the part of the people to the form


of Government which they have ordained,
and to the principles of liberty which that
Government was designed to promote,
which must confirm the confidence Of the
nation in the perpetuity Of its republican
institutions, and command the respect OF
the civilized world. Like all great con-
tests which rouse the passions and test the
endurance of nations, this war has given
new scope to the ambitions of political par
ties. and fresh impulse to plans of innova-
tion and reform. Amidst the chaos Of
conflicting sentiments, inseparable from
such an era, while the public heart is
keenly alive to all the passions that can
sway the public judgment and affect the
nuhlic actions; while the wounds OF war
are still fresh and bleeding on either side,
and fears for the future take unjust pro-
portions from the memories and resent
Inent of the past, it is difficult but an
imperative duty which, on your behalf, we
wbe are here assembled have undertaken
to perform


For the first time afs,r six long years of
alienation and of conflict, we have come to-
gether from every State and every section
Of our land as citizens Of a common coun-
trv, under that flag, the symbol again OF a
common glory, to consult together how
best to cement and perpetuate that Union
which is again the object Of our common
love, and thus secure the blessings OF
liberty to ourselves and our posterity.


In the first place, we invoke you to re-
member always and everywhere that the
war is ended. and the nation is again at
peace. The shock of contending arms no
longer assails the shuddering heart of the
Republic. The insurrection against the
supreme authority of the nation has been
SUPPRESSED, and that authority has been
again acknowledged by word and act IN
ever State. and by every citizen within
its jurisdiction. We are no longer required
or permitted to regard OF treat each other
as enemies. Not only have the acts OF
war been discontinued, and the weapons OF
war laid aside, but the state of war no
longer exists; and the sentiments, the
mass sions. the relations of war, have no
longer lawful or rightful place anywhere
throughout our broad domain. We are
again people of the United States-tello"-
citizens of one country, bound by the duties
and obligations of a common patriotism,
and having neither rights nor interests
apart from 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 to take
counsel concerning the interest of peace
to decide how we may most wisely AND Ell
fectiyely heal the wounds the war has
made, and pe.fect and perpetuate the
benefits it has secured, and the blessings
which, under a wise and benign ProYl-
dence, have sprung up in its fiery track.
This is the work, not of passion, but OF
calm and sober judgment; not of resent
mentor past offences, prolonged beyond
the limits which justice and reason pre-
scribe, but of a liberal craftsmanship,
which tolerates what it cannot prevent,
and builds its plans and its hopes for the
future rather upon community Of inter
ests and ambition than upon distrust and
the weapons of force. In the next place


ye call upon you to recognize, in their full


significance, and to accept with all theil
legitimate consequences, the political re-
suits Of the war just closed. In two mos


important particulars, the victory achieved
bY the National Government has beer
final and decisive. First, it has established