Columbia democrat and star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1867, 1866-07-04

ut PhlladeIphla, Dy conservatives, Is an ao-
mission by the johnson men that something
ought to be done yet they Do not pretend
that anything win be done. The Convention
is not nominating one, it is not to deliber-
ate on platform Of principles, it is not to
demonstrate numbers, for these reasons
fst No national officers are to be elected
at this time.
End. Their platform Of principles, upon
which delegates are to be admitted, are al
ready laid down.
Srd. The delegates are to be elected by no
well-defned constituencies.
Therefore we consider it useless, harmless
and un-business-like. We cannot see that
ANYBODY is to be enlightened, or any authen-
tic information gained. It will be of no IN
terest to Democrats to participate, or in any
nav endorse the call, for it is universally
known. that every Democrat favors the i'm
mediate restoration of the Union. 1t is
eonally certain that the Southern people,
without distinction to party, favor the same.
The Democratic party of the North and the
citizens Of the South endorse the platform
of principles, which are laid down for this
convention, and always have held to the same
patriotic views, and if this Convention goes
outside of the Democratic platform it will
20 to ruin. 1t may live for while as 1t Is
living now upon small portion of the prin-
ciples ofthe Democratic party, but they can
not draw the Radicals from ther sectional
course and cause, neither can they Johnson
ize the Democratic party anything short of
the Democratic platform. No movement out
side of this will be tolerated by Democrats.
Hear what the New York World, as well as
all other good Democratic journals, has to
say about the matter
About men, nothing is doubtful but the
sentiments, the numbers, and the future course
of the conservative Republicans The pro-
posed convention cannot certify their num-
bers, nor is it probable that it will have suf-
fcent courage to declare that they will, if
necessary, act with the great party which is
unequivocally committed to the policy of the
President The convention viii be simply
large public meeting; but differentfrom an or
dinary public meeting In the fact thatits num-
bers will prove nothing. A local mass meet
ing proves that the sentiments which pervade
it have many adherents in that locality. But
convention Of delegates self-elected, or elec-
ted 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, it is difficult to see what they will
find to do when they get together.
T. 81 II Il
swell the voice of public sentiment Ex-
cepting the conservative Republicans, the
sentiments of the whole country have been
vative Republicans there are in the Terrific
ries cannot be ascertaned by this method,
even if it were of any political consequence.
The invitation addressed to the Southern
States signifies quite as little. Until there is
apohtical revolutionin the North, the South
ern States are practically In the same condi-
ton as the Territories. They count for moth
ing so long as the members they elect to
Congress are excluded. The only way in
which the Southern States can accom-
plish anything in national politics, at present,
is by concerted and unanimous action among
themselves. IF there were any difference of
opinion (which there is not) In that section
in respect to the Constitutional Amendment,
q Southern convention for mutual consulta-
ton would be fit and seasonable. The inten-
ton of the Radicals is to create party in
the South who viii prefer to purchase admis-
sion by ratifying the amendment. As there
is no such party there yet, no concentration
is needed to defeat it. The South, by united
action, can preserve the Constitution as it is
which they will do on the same principle that
creditor keeps fast hold of the notes of sol
vent debtor, refusing to compromise what he
can legally claim and expects ultimately to
collect. In this view, the South can be of
the greatest service, and it will no doubt be
true to It's own interests But other partici-
patton in national politics it can have none
and there is no reason why it should go into
a national convention with men who stand
with one foot ON the Republican platform,
and seek advice as to whether it is expedient
to leave it.
There Is no reason why Democrats should
go to this convention, for their principles are
known perfectly, and their numbers as near
ly as is possible by any other means than the
next election returns. There is no need of
the South going to the convention to prove
either their Endorsement of the President
policy, or the futility of that Endorsement so
long as they are kept in the condition of Ter
ritories The coming battle is to be decided
in the North, and in the North nobody's po-
sition is doubtful except that of the conser-
vatiVe Republicans. If the convention they
have called shall commit them unequiyocal-
ly to the policy of the President, shall sepa-
rate them irreyocably from the main body of
their party, and shall make them willing to
cast their votes where they viii be most eff
fective in defeating the Radicals, it viii have
some good. But we do not see
how its action is to commit anybody besides
those who participate in it.