The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1866-08-01
The South and the Philadelphia
Convention.

pEuofS lHaL ZIG poSitioD VIC Ioon VIZ IAe
subject from the first was the correct one.
There being no authorised spower in the
State to appoint delegates, and no Con
vention Of the people called for that pur-
pose, the appointment has fallen to irres-
ponsible individuals, and among these each
considers himself the only person capable
of making such selections as will the best
conduce to the accomplishment of bcnefc-
ial results. First, the Democratic Central
Committee" put forth its list; which is re-
markable for nothing but the evident at
tempt to harmonise the different shades Of
orthordox democracy" and to bring to-
gether on common platform men whose
political sentiments are as far apart as the
poles themselves. Next, the johnson
Club" comes out with its list, on which
we observe the names Of many men Of
questionable Democracy" of more cues
tionable virtue and integrity, and Of an evil
dent hankering after the flesh pots which
are supposed to be the necessary accom-
paniments of the success of the party
which the Philadelphia Convention is ex.
pected to inaugurate. The next appear.
ance in the ring, we suppose. will be that
immaculate party which numbers such men
as Field, Shannon and old Haynes, whose
'unionism" is above suspicion and, whose
claims to seats in the Convention might be
as easily established as those Of many 9TH
ers who are more anxious to obtain them,
That none of these appointing parties
are fully satisfied Of their right to send del
egates to the Convention is proved by the
fact that all are attempting to get some
kind of an endorsement from the body Of
the people. The Democ, attic Central Com
mittee has held grand ratification meeting
in New Orleans, in which, according to the
papers, the usual amount Of transparencies
and sky rockets were displayed, the usual
quantity Of supcrauous gas let off from the
lungs of ambitious young orators, the re-
quisite number of Presidents, Vice Presi.
dents and Secretaries chosen from among
those who are fond Of seeing their names in
print. and the usual stereotyped buncombe
resolutions passed. among which we observe
one endorsing the Convention Of 1864
which the democracy" were whilome
wont to handle without gloves. Whether
the johnson lub' and the Field-Shannon
party will be frightened into insignifcance
and withdraw their professions, or whether
they will adjourn the contest to the Phila-
delphia Convention itself, we have no
means Of ascertaining.
The result of all this must be apparent
to the mind OF every rejecting person.
These unauthorized delegates will appear
before the Convention and demand admis.
sion. It will be necessary to decide be-
tween them, and in the contest on the
question, the antecedents of certain indi.
viduals will have to be canvassed, and the
qualifications Of membership thoroughly IN
vestigated. The secessioDism Of one will
bring down the animadversion Of the ultrs
loyal Democracy of the North; while
the pandering to the "unionism" Of the
ultra union man of the South will disgust
the Southern Democracy with the whole
concern. Of what practical benefit would
it be fthe Convention at Philadelphia
should undertake to decide between the
relative claims to admission Of John Minor
Bolts and Henry A. Wise from Virginia
of Parson Brownlow and Mr.. Henry from
Tennessee, or Of Governor Wells and Gene
raj Taylor from Louisiana? Of what pos
sihle use would be discussion which
should attempt to demonstrate the com
paratiye wisdom between Southern mans
going with his State out of the Union, ano
his playing the martyr by attempting single
handed the impossible task Of keeping hel
under the projection Of the "old fag?'
And yet such discussion must take plac,
if unauthorized individuals, of every shad,
Of political opinion, are permitted to knocl
for admission al the doors of the Conven
ton, and to demand an investigation as t.
their Eight to participate il its delibera
tons.
We are glad to see tina. ia some parts o
the South the proper view of this question
has been taken BY men whose intelligence
cannot be called in question. In Virginia
particularly, where party machinery and po
litical wire-working used to be carried tc
perfection, Southern representation is spo
ken af as unwise and impracticable, ant
has pretty generally been ignored by the
leading politicians. Old Virginia sees that
her day to dictate politics to. the country
passed away with her subjugation, and now
views the petty political contests of inter.
ested demagogues with the most serene in.
difference or the most dignifed contempt.
We very much fear that all this turmoil
at the South over representation in the
Philadelphia Convention is only a part Of
the demagoguism Of the weak aud the cor
rupt, which brought the country into dis
grace long before TIE commencement of the
late war. Men who are greedy for the
emolunlents Of Office are anxious to pat
themselves right before the world, in the
event OF something turning nm in the for.