Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1866-07-17

On Monday of last week, the citizens of
Frederick county, held meeting at Win.
chester, to consider the propriety of sending
delegates to the National Convention at Phil
adelphia. Hon. r. Y. Conrad presided. and
on taking the chair, made the following re-
SPEECH OF Mr. CONRAD.
Our great want at this time is repose and
quiet, In orderto resume our pursuits of peace
tul industry and repair the losses that have be-
fallen us: We are tired of war and agitation,
disguised with party struggles and party is
sues, and, therefore, averse to do ANYTHING
tending to their renewal. If the call and
purpose of this meeting was not rather to
prevent than to revive the disturbance of our
peace, few OF those here present would be now
! giving to 1t their countenance The man who.
for any miserable, selfish or party purpose,
comes here to agitate and harrass people
exhausted, depressed, and almost worn out
as we are, would indeed deserve the execration
| of his victims.
More than twelve months ago the last
armed soldier of the Confederate States had
Iald down his arms and surrendered, upon
condition that all should remain unmolested
SO long as obedient to the laws of the country.
About the same time all the civil officers of
the government which had been erected in
opposition to the government of the United
States, also abdicated their seats, and submitted
themselves to be dealt with according to law.
1t was then clearly understood on all hands
that whenever the Southern people should ac
cept distinctly aud in good faith the legitimate
result OF the war-the decision it had made
upon the only issues involved-in other words
should abandon their claim Of right to secede,
from the United States government, aud con-
sent IN the nf fboir
ton OF African slavery-then, at once, the
original Constitution of the United States,
with all its rights and privileges, as we'll as
Its obligations, should again spread its mantle
over them. The people of Virginia, who had
most reluctantly united in the attempted
revolution, and most heFSically breasted the
great fury Of the tempest of war, with the
utmost unanimity and good faith, accepted
the terms. No doubt apprehension was
then felt as to the faithful compliance with
these terms by the victorious party Every
utterance of every branch Of the government
up to that time went only to confirm this
reasonable expectation.
But, after the lapse Of six months-when
the exhausted disarmed, and passive condition
OF the Southern people left no room for a
rational fear OF any further resistance-When
they had done nothing and omitted nothing to
raise doubt as to their cordial assent to the res
toration of the Federal Union and the Consti-
tution-upon the assembling of Congress the
majority of that body determined 70 refuse
admission to the Southern delegates, and to
treat the Southern States and people as with
out the pale of the Federal Union. conquered
subjects of their despotic WILL no longer
existing as States, and with no rights of person
or property, except such as that majority
might choose to confer.
Against this monstrous in ustice-this off
spring Of hateful strife and savage triumph
a protest has come to us from the North repre-
senting, we may hope, the great mass of that
people. They have called National ConYen-
ton in Philadelphia on the second Tuesday
IN August next, of those who sustain the
policy Of the President, and are attached in
true allegiance to the Constitution and Union.
The sole object of this Convention is to
consultupOn the best means to restore harmony
and constitutional law to the country. We
are expressly invited to send our delegates
from Congressional Districts, and they are
in better situation than ourselves to Judge
upon the cxpediency. Whilst differences of
opinion may exist to the advantages to
accrue from a representation of the South in
that Convention, in regard to the approaching
Northern State elections; yet, we cannot
disagree in a cordial approval of the motives
and objects, and pledge that whatever of
PollIlcaI power ana personal influence may
remain with us will be exertcd to promote its
ends.
No harm can result from an appointment
OF delegates, leaving with them discretionary
powers to their future action.
The time may be too short to adopt the
method OF Congressional Convention, in
which case some other means must be used
and the Albernarle meeting proposes an APP
pointment by certain committees composed of
men Of high character in Richmond who
have the confidence of Virginians of all the
former political parties.