The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-08-09
4 Southern Soldier ON the Philadel.
phin Convention.

delpLia Convention, General John B. Cor
don, who was chosen to preside, and who
was subsequently appointed delegate to
Philadelphia, addressed the meeting in
these terms:
After returning my thanks, gentlemen
of the Convention, for the honor conferred,
permit me to say, that in my judgment the
position of delegate to this and other
similar conventions now being held
throughout the South is one of the great
est and most solemn responsibility, and
one therefore by no means to be coveted.
And repeat here, that in accepting the
position of delegate from Glynn, | did it
with sense ofthis responsibility, and with
no small degree of hesitation. | hcsitated,
, not bccause was unwilling to make the
personal sacrifices which leaving my home
and business on so short a notice involved :;
not because was unwilling to give whatever
of influence | might possess to any move
ment not inconsistent with plighted faith
and the honor and dignity of my people,
! which promised relief from political perSe-
cution for as we love the South we must fol-
low the hope, forlorn though it be, fbring-
| ing confusion and defeat into the Radical
ranks. We must follow, in the awful dark
ness that surrounds lis, the faintest glim-
mcr of light, coming to us from whatever
source, which may perchancc lead to the
broader and brighter sunlight of political
| redemption. did not hesitate, therefore,
because opposed the movement, but be-
cause felt it was one Of such momentouS
/ interest to us that it should be guided and
! controlled by the purest, the wisest, and
most discreet of the land. Never, III my
. Judgment, gentlemen, since the Convention
! of l7S1, has one been called, upon the de-
/ libcrations of which depended so much
! for veal or woe, not only of our beloved
South, but of the American people and
he who goes to the convention in Phiadel-
phia with any less sense OF his RESPONSE
blity than was felt by the Fathers of the
American Constitution on that memorable
occasion, falls, I think, far short of the
measure of the patriot for the occasion. II
the deliberations of that Convention do
not result in good (and ! fear We are
not warranted in indulgins the most
sanguinc expectations OF thiS), then l
can see at present no hope of relief
from any other source: then Is con-
lirmcd the power of those who maliciously
misrcprcscnt us as a people, and who
would continually add to our social and
political humiliation. oh, who can tell the
length and the breadth, the height and the
depth, of femiiSh RaIjcol hate Confirm
these men in their ill-gottcn power, and
lost in our day and generation is the equal
ity Of the States lost, forever lost, is con-
titutional government lost is the South
Liberty is lost. And it i, this sense of
danger ahead, this fear of liberty among
themselves, which has aroused the think
ing men OF the North, and prompted the
call for the convention at Philadelphia.
We cannot suppose that these men are ac-
tuatcd by disintercstcd regard for lis of
the South but if in the grand battle for
tie preservation of constitutional govern
mcnt among themselves, We, by invitation,
become parties to the triumph, then to us,
a. well As to them, will belong the reward
of victory. This invitation to unite with
them for the preservation of constitutional
government, alike dear to them and to lis,
has been given. Let lis accept 1t, for If we
refuse, our conduct will he construed by
the Radicals as evidence of hostility to
the Government, and by conservatives
rs churlish and incxcuSablc indiffcr
encc. But who shall We send to the
! Convention. | do,not mean to ask what
particular individuals: but what claSS of
men shall we send This is question of
vital importance. Hitherto in these pri-
mary conventions you have selected men
only as they were cxponcntS of great prln-
ciplcS; but in this You are to select men
as delegates to Philadelphia with no plat
/ torm-no landmarks, save honestly and
! faithfully to represent the great heart of
your people. Far be it from me to at
tempt, if could, to dictate to so intelll-
gent a body of my fcllow-citizens; but |
rW say, because ! feel it my dDty to say,
that you should send your best and trueSt
mcr-mcn who, whatever may have been
their opinions as TO the wisdom of scccS-
sion, yet if they remained at the South at
all, remained true to the cause OF the
South. Not men who, when the ship in
which vour hopes We're trcightcd was
riding on the tood-tide of hope, sought to
nail to the highest mast the red cross ln-
der which you battled: and yet who,
when adverse winds blow, and the
ebb-tide of fortune came, tore down
their colors, deserted the ship, and then
sang pXanS of JOY over the unhappy
wreck. can respect and honor brave,
manly, and consistent ioc-a man who,
like Andrew Johnson, led by his convic-
tions of duty to the Government, fought
us first and fought us last and who now,
that the strife with lis is ended, heroically
cndcavors to save from the hands OF those
who have broken and dishonorcd it, the
fragments OF that Constitution OF which he
is the rightful custodian. | can even honor
the brave men who, in cause they be-
lieved just, met us for four long years
upon fields of blood. But for him amongst
US who could look with Indifference upon
our beloved South as She blcd ut every
pore, or can now sing his hallclnahs over
her blasted hopes and dcsolatcd homes,
nv loathing and contempt il unuttcrablc.
Such are not the representative men
to be entrusted with our faith and honor.
Such men have only orr contempt, and
cannot command the confidence respect
of the true men of the North. Gentlemen,
NAV not i'm this connection hc accused
of impruden,ly publishing private conrcr.
sation when state that the distinguished
/ soldier who commands tlr armies Of the
! United States recently declared in my
presence that he had told the people of
! the North that the men of the South upon
whose pledges they could most sincerely
RELY we're the soldiers Of our armies.
! These and the men who were true 10 us
! in whatever sphere thcy were called on to
act in the latc struggle arc those who
command tho respect and confidence of
! the thinking men Of the North. And here
! let me remark, that if | were called upon
/ to select from those at the North who op-