The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1865-07-27
Union State Convention.

L =
Union State Convention. /,
We publish this week the call of the Un
ion State Committee for State Conven tloI
to be held at Madison on the 9th OF Sep
stcmber next The call is issued in gooC
eason. So that all parts Of the State may
have time to cali caucuses and conventions
and thus secure full representation. ,sH
There never vas a time when it wa
more necessary for the people in their pr
mary capacity to take the nomination o
delegates into their own hands than 1t is al
the present. Almost every newspaper edl
tor, and every little local clique OF politicians
have published their preferences Tor candi
dates for the various state Offices, and there
are about as many leading candidates fo'
most of the Offices, as there are editors II
the state. The convention made up O
such conflicting interests might finally come
! to an amicable and unanimous endorsement
of somebody's ticket, or else take up an en-
tireIy new set of candidates not the prefer
ence of anybody. The people at large-tht
rank and file of the party is the only class
who are not committed beforehand. Lei
them take the matter in hand; attend the
primary caucuses AID appoint delegates tc
the county and district conventions. III
this way we might assemble State con
ventiou, that would have only the good O.
the State and the interests of the people tC
consult in the selection of candidates for the
several State offices.
We notice that some of our democratic
friends affect to make fun of the call becaus,
Wisconsin Regiments in the service at the
time, are invited to send delegates to the
convention. They .stigmatize this as al
electionering trick to catch soldiers votes
&c. The Milwaukee Meas says:
''The proposal to admit delegates to the
convention from the few regiments remain
ing in the army is rather a tardy exhibition
of the cheap but profitable patriotism char
acteristic of the source whence this call EN-
anates."
Speaking of this "tardy exhibition o
cheap but profitable patriotism, it will be
remembered that from the first breaking on
Of the war, the Union Republican part,
recognized the claim of our citizen soldier,
to the exercise of the Freemans right O
suffrage, whether at home or in the tenteC
fields, and made provision accordingly b.
statutory enactment. 1t will also be re
membered that the only opposition to Thu
just and patriotic measure, in this or any
other State came from the miscalled Demo
cratic party. In every State where the I'm
ion Republican party had the power, pro
vision was made for allowing the soldie
to vote, Wisconsin if we mistake not taking
the lead in the good work.
This therefore, is not 'tardy exhibition
of cheap but profitable patriotism" tina
the Neags would like to make it. 1t is bu
carrying out the policy that has character
lied the Union Republican party, ever since
democratic rebellion and treason made il
necessary to have soldiers in the field.
The Racine Ad0ocote objects to the word
ing of the call, on account of the dropping
of the 'Republican" name of the party
We recognized the same mistake but die
not deem it worth quarreling over. During
the war, when there was really no politica
questions involved, it was well enough t.
invite all Union men to serve the countr
under that title, and let the word Republican
drop But that time is past and men viii
now range themselves according to thei
views on purely political questions. Til
Madison Journal in reply to the AdUocat
says:
<ssThere is a very good reason why tn
State Committee do not call a RepubLjca
Convention. They are not Republican
COMMITTEE. Some of the members neve
belonged to the Republican party. Tn
fcommittee was appointed two years ago b.
a Convention called Republican Uniol
Convention; that body dscarding all politi
cal tenets except loyalty to the countr,
and an earnest support of the war for th
suppression of the rebellion, laid aside tn
name Of Republican, aud appointed Unior
State Central Committee com
posed of Republicans and War Democrats
1t is that Committee which now issues tin
call for a State Conyention."
To this the AduocGte replies as follows:
''This excuse, to our mind, is just no rea
son at all. A Republican State Commute
called Union Convention which met dur
ing the most trying times of the Rebellion
There were no partisan issues before TN
people. The only question was whether on
national existence could be maintained.
/ Now, however, the circumstances are en-
tirefy changed, the rebellion is ended, and tn
only question before the people when tile Tn
ion Convention met has been decided. PoIit
ical issues are already before the people auC
the Convention will be compelled to act upor
them 1t will have to express an opinion 70
OF against the extension of the elective fran
chise to the colUred citizens Of this State; up
on the question of re organizing the rebe
States with negro suffrage or without it; i
will be expected to express an opinion as Il
whether the Monroe doctrine should or SHOE
not be enforced by this nation; as one of the
Northwestern States more directly interested
i'll the workings of the Reciprocity Treaty
the Convention ought to give voice to the
sentiments OF the people of Wisconsin as t.
whether Reciprocity Treaty with Canada
is desirable a all, and if it is, what general
principles should underly it. A question Of
great Importance, which in our opinion
fought to be considered, and which will soor
force itself upon the attention of tax pay
ers, is this; Is il just 10 ajt0w capital IN
uested III UHtted S.ates Bonds (the very best
aud safest securities in the Country to b.
exempt from al toGattoa, while every 9th.
er description of property is overloaded tc
support the government.
These questions, and probably others,