The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-06-29
Participation OF the south in National
Politics.
EroD, the VorI6

Participation of the south in National
Politics.
From the WorId.
The leading idea of the late call for a National
Convention is the right of the Southern States to
participate in Federal politics. But while the
call is confession that something ought to be
done, it is equally proof that those who issued
it have no very distinct notion as to ,ohdt ought
to be done. 1t is not to be nominating con-
vention ior no national officers are to be elected
until 1868. 1t is not convention to deliberate
upon platform oil principles, Tor the platform
OF the convention is laid down beforehand by
the issuers OF the call, and no members are to be
admitted who do not first signify their assent to it,
The convention is not called TO demonstrate the
numbers that adhere to President Johnson,
Tor the delegates TO it being elected by no
well ldedned constituel cies there Will be no
means OF knowing whether those constituencies
are large or small. If che Democratic party had
called such a convention (Which there was no
occasion or doing), the statistics OF the last cleo
tions would afford near approximation to the
mum bers 1t represented. Tne only points oil in
terest on which any new light is needed from a
political convention, are the number OF Repub
licans who lndorse the policy oil the President,
aud the vgor with which they are wiling TO
support it,. We do not see that the proposed
convention is likely to afford any authentic
Information on either. 1t is known, as well
now rs it can ever be, that every Democrat
in the Northern States tavors the immediate
restoration OF the Union. 1t is also known,
with equal certainty, that the whole
voting population of the Southern States, with
out distinction of party, favor the immediate
admission OF the .hern representatives.
Northern Democrats and Southern citizens
neither need, ask, nor will tolerate any other plat
| form on this subject than the messages and
| speeches OF President Johnson. If the platform
OF the proposed convention contains more than
is In these, 1t is superhuous; ii only what is IN
| these, il is vain repetition; If ythihg con-
trary TO what is IN these, 1t cannot be tolerated.
| About principles, the country needs to learn
| nothing new, either from a convention or from
any other source. About men, nothing is douOt-
| tul but the sentiments, the numbers and the
future course OF the conservative Republicans.
The proposed convention cannot certify their
| numbers, nor Is 1t probable that it will have
sufficient courage to declare that they Will, If
| necessary, act with the great party which is
uneauivocallS committed to the policy OF the
| President. The convention will be simply a
large public meeting; but different from an
ordinary public megting in the fact that its
numbers Will prove nothing. A local mass
meeting proves that the sentiments which
pervade it have many adherents in that locality.
But convention of delegates seli-elected, OF
elected nobody knows by whom, must derive its
| whole importance from the personal weight Of
its members. But as they are to meet neither
to transact business nor TO define principles, il
is difficult to see what they will find to do when
they get together.
The aimless and unbusness.like character oil
the proposed Convention is apparent III the call
Why aIe the nine Territories and the District o
Columbia invited? They send no members to
Congress; they participate in no Federal elec
tloDs; whether their people are for or against the
admission of the Southern representatives can
not weigh feather on the result. 1t Is futile
TO say that they are wanted to swell the voice
OF public sentiment Excepting the conserva
tive Republicans, the sentiments of the whole
country have been already pronounced anC
how many conservative Republicans there are II
the Territories cannot be ascertained by this
thnA of fanv
quence.
The invitation addressed to the Southern
States signlnes quite as little. Until there is
po iucal revolution in the North, the Southern
States are practically in the same condition al
the Territories. They count for nothing so Ions
as the members they elect TO Congress are eX
cluded. The only way in which the Southerr
States can accomplish anything in natona
politics, at present. is by concerted action amons
themselves. If there were any difference o
opinion (Which there is not) in that section il
respect to the Constitutional amendment,
Southern convention Tor mutual consultation
would be tit and seasonable. The intention OF tht
radicals is to create party in the South whC
will prefer to purchase admission by ratifyip9
the amendment As there is no such part,
there yet, concentration Is needed to defeat it
The South, by united action, can preserve tht
Constitution as it is; which they will do on tht
same principle that creditor keeps fast hol,
OF the note OF a solvent debtor refusing to com
promise what he can legally claim, and expect
ultimately TO collect. In this view the Soutl
can be OF the greatest service, and 1t will M
doubt be true TO its own interests. But othe
participation in national politics it can hav
none; and there is no reason why it should @
into national convention with men who stanc
with one foot on the Republican platform
and seek advice as to whether 1T is expedent t
leave it.
There is no reason why Democrats should O
TO this convention, for their principles ar
known perfectly, and their numbers as nearly a
is possible by any other means than the mex
elecllon returns. There is no need of the Soutl
: going to the convention to prove either thei
Endorsement OF the Presidents policy, or tn
futlity OF that Endorsement so long as they ar
kept in the condition Of Territories, The comm
battle is to be decided in the North, and in tn
North nobody's position is doubtful except iha
of the conservative Republicans. If the cor
vention they have called shall commit then
unequivocally to the policy OF the President
shall separate them irrevocably from the mai
body OF their party, and shall make them willin
to cast their votes where they will be mos
effective in defeating the radicals, 1t will hav
accomplished some good. But we do not Sc
how its action is to commit anybody beside
those who participate ia it.
The Unfinished Business Before Congress
From the Herald.