Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1866-08-14
rHp pH1r.ADpIpH1A 5ooNvENrIoN.


THE PHILADELPHIA CONVENTION.
To this body, which is to meet to>day, the
hopes of the country for.peace and permanent
union turn with the highest confidence. The
Convention will embrace representatives of.
all the political organizations that have had
either responsibility or numbers during the
last ten years of our history; aud the most
favorable augury of success in the formation
of grand, conservative and national party
may be drawn from the willingness, and even
eagerness, everywhere manifested to yield to,
the exigent necessity of the hour for COM
bination of the elements of genuine patriot
ism, wherever found, for determined effort
to restore the government to the happy con-
ditions of its original establishment.
Such mergence of past political differ
ences is indispensable. For, it will be con-
ceded, we think that, without it, the present
dynasty, with its train of infinite evils, must
be continued, and everything, worth pre-
serving in the institutions Of tho country viii
perish
About the mere details of administration
men may hereafter differ; and, in ordinary
times, they are the proper subject Of distinct
party organizations; but the great questions
now at issue rise immeasurably higher than
these in the scale of political Importance.
Union or disupion; elderly regulated by
law" or anarchy licentiousness, or the re>
straint of wild passions that recognize ac~
countability to no power except the pernicious
will which directs their devilish work of de-
struction peace, with hopes of national ca
reer, blessed with happiness, plenty, wealth,
power or discord, with the curse of in;erne-
cine war and disruption into petty confedera-
tons in which the weak will become the
prey of the strong; and in the end tyrannic
consolidation of the exhausted and hopeless
fragments Of a once proud and powerful peo-
pie, to be at tho mercy of some military des-
pot whose line of succession will be deter
mined by those who wear the sharpest swords
these are some Of the solemn alternatives
which are presented US in the future. To
meet these the fortunate suggestion which
has led to the call of the Philadelphia Con-
vention was made. Nothing will or can be
accomplished by it unless the partisan be sunk
in the patriot. Sacrifices of individual opin-
ion must be made for the public good and,
for that purpose spirit Of compromise mdst
peryade the deliberations of the Conyention.
All cannot have just what they or their
section, or their party would desire, and to
press with undue pertinacity the peculiar
views of any section or party would lead to
sad disappointment of the expectations of the
masses who only desire an indication of some
practicable mode by which the pacifcarion of
the country can be achieved. This we know
cannot be done in any other way than by an
overthrow of the radical disorganizcrs who
have brought the nation to the very verge of
destruction and whose policy it is to rule or
ruin. In this great contest we must have re-
cruits from the ranks of good men of all par
ties and all sections to rally around the banner
of the Constitution and to secure them let
the ''North give up and the South hold not
back"