Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1866-07-12
The Philadelphia Convention.


I was somewhat surprised to see from your pa
per- of the 30th June, that you favor the appoint
ment of delegates from our State to the National
Union Convention, to be held in Philadelphia ~oI
agree with you in thinking the defeat of the Rad
ical party paramount to all other questions, and
that to the accomplishment of this object all our
efforts ought to be directed, and admit too that
this is the object for which the Convention is to
be held, but doubt whether many Southern men
conscientiously give their assent to the propo-
stions laid down as essential articles of belief of
the new faith If we cannot give the assent, do
we belong to that class to whom the invitation to
appoint delegates, is extended Will our delegates
be allowed to take their seats If the call had
been extended to those ''who sustain the Admin
istration in maintaining unbroken the Union of
the States under the Constitution which our
Fathers established all would have been we'll:
but the sgners of the call were not satisfied with
that-they have prescribed such qualifications for
the delegates that very few Southern men are
eligible.
There are nine cardinal points in the National
Union creed, andto only four can give my unuual-
flied assent Ito the 9Th, 6th 7th and 8th) In the
others, truth is so mixed with falsehood that the
one cannot be separated from the other AS Won
know, believed the war was legally, rightfully
and Justly begun in other words, that believed
IN both the right of secession and in the policy OF
exercising it; in States rights and State sove-
Ireignty to their fullest extent T still think that
is the true policy of the old Constitution, and
thinking so, cannot subscribe to these Phiadel-
phla propositions. They require even more than
the President required of me before pardoning
me, although taken in an armed organization at
tempting to establish new government. He re-
quired only my parole for future conduct, not in
slst1ng upon recantation of my past opinions, or
apology for past conduct My assent to the
Philadelphia propositions would involve both,
and am not yet prepared for either.
do not intend to be misunderstood, for con-
slider myself loyal citizen, and desire nothing so
much as the restoration of peace and it's attend
ant blessings to the land. My oath binds mo to
be good, law-abiding citizen and do not intend
to disregard it but do not believe in works of
supererrogatlon. The amnesty oath contains every
plank necessary for the platform of a national
party. Requirements not laid down there are un-
necessary and involve too great loss of self
respect for Southern men voluntarily to Weld to
But suppose we could send delegates and thew
could be admitted, is it certain that the union of
any Northern men with Southern men would NOT
have an injurious effect at the North? Would the
North trust any Southern men who had been nor
tlclpaters In treason? Gould the South trust anv
man who had not participated in the war, in some
shape? 1t is not to be supposed that the Sontb
intends to assist the Radicals. We shall be united
againse them This new party, then, is to operate
at the North. They can do nothing here. for we
have no votes, according to the ruling power now
IN II Congress VIII it not be better for them to
hight out the battle on their own soil n the;r
ance? sin-
In any event we could extend only moral SIM
port; that we have cordially given the Pres Pres
ldent, yet it does not seem to have benefited him
much In his contest doubtless if the South had
vote it would be given for the National IT ir'it
candidate This could be we'll understood and /
every beneficial result accomplished without for.
eng our people to say they believe certain things
wnen IN point OF fact they do not believe them
Il we are united here, all that is necessary is to
point out the man to be voted for. admit that
much good might be accomplished by the free in.
OF opinionsamong Conservatives from the
lnerent sections of thecountry but very much
ear that any Convention that admitted resnecta- l.
'le Southern men as delegates would be ahle 70
accomplish but little before the Northern people.