The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1866-07-19
The Proposed Philadelphia Convention.
From the n. \. Evening Post, July 10.

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From the N. 7. Evening Post, July 10.
We have RETAINED hitherto from commenting
unon the proposal for convention, but we de-
sire nov to say few words about it. We re-
marx in the first place that the call does not
come from any party organization. 1t is signed
by democrats and republicans The executive
committees of the two parties, whose duty il is
to call, each for its party, convention, have no
part in this call !; both remain silent
The action of the Philadelphia convention
does not, therefore, commit either of the two
parties now existing. Hmay attempt to form
new party--and if politicians choose to do this,
and can do il, they have right to do it, and no
one can reasonably object In oar view, how
ever, the meeting is expedient Itis time that,
in some way, the political wishes of the south
ern people, or Of some party among them, should
be heard, and this convention aims to secure
such hearing The action of Congress, in re-
fusing to admit loyal southern members of their
seats, has made such convention, if not neces-
sary, at least prudent and reasonable. We i'm
agine that part of the dislike to the convention
expressed by such journals as the Tribune, pro-
ceeds from a consciousness of this fact and from
the feeling likewise, that the republican leaders
-or, rather, to speak more correctly, these rash
men, like Stevens and Sumner, whom the reppbr
lican majority in congress have permittedS 10
| seize the leadership of the party-have made a
serious blunder in refusing any kind of political
| recognition to any party in the southern states
since the peace.
We believe it would have been the true policy
Of the republican leaders, early as possible
after the disbandug of the rebel armies, to have
| called national republican convention to meet
at some central and prominent point in the
! southern states to include delegates from every
| state, to consult as to the wjsest policy 10 DC
| adopted by the party on the meeting of congress
| Whatever views might have prevailed in such a
convention would have had the advantage OF
| thorough discussion by southern men, and
| around them could have been rallied party
| which would have representatives and a footing
| in the south as well as the north.
This would have been, is seems to us, an act
of genuine craftsmanship, and of shrswed and
| effective political management 1t would have
| resulted in decided policy, which could have
| been carried out at once, when congress met
! Instead of that, the men who were permitted tc
grasp the leadership of the republican malorit,
| have sacrificed many benefits they might have
| gained, by their tedious delays, by obstinate
| refusal to recognize southern loyalists, and b.
| the useless examination of a multitude of wit
| nesses upon the condition of the southern states
upon state of things, that is to say, which
was VIGOROUSLY changing from day to day, ant
| which was well enough known, for all practca
purposes, from southern newspapers and the re
ports of the correspondents of northern Journals
Nor is this all to this delay, by which man.
golden opportunities for wise and effective &C
ton were loststhes foolish leaders have adde'
policy, in financial and other legislation, which
the more it was developed the more hateful /
has grown to the whole country. Instead OF re
| trenchng expenses, they have increased them
instead of lessening the burden of taxation anS
| adjusting it moro evenly to the shoulders OF tn
| nation, they have left a mass of crude and hast
wag hlsaes tand are re mas ma,
! . most atrocious tariff BIN, W pNs
our commerce and Cypress our people, only
\ benefit small class ofmanufacturers- FINALLY
they have fastened quarrel upon the presloeh
whom they nominated aud elected; they nav
neglected to demand the enforcement OF tn
laws already on the statute book, and suomltte
to see some of these laws either set aside or opeT
ly violated, without resentment or even protest
and they have endeavored to pass other laws an
amendments of so crude a nature that they coul
| not even gain the support of their own ooedieH
followers.
4 party which tamely submits itself to sue
laundering leadership, must expect to be ruined
The republican politicians appear to have iorgo
ten that the country is no longer at war Una
J they have no longer the excuse of urgent necess
| u for crude legislation; that the country
, mands craftsmanship of them, and that II wal
impatiently for the resumption of the regular al
constituted order of things, and for enconomy
s expenditures, for adjustment of taxation, al
:. sound methods in finance. There has been
| great gale, in which we have drifted out OF OF
Z course, and sustained some injury TO the ship
But the storm has ceased for q year; why DO
4 not return to our course, and repair damages
Do we, then, approve of the Philadelphia co
vention? We are glad that it has been caiie
j and that it will meet The condition OF
!. country is such, owing to the laundering excl
sion of the south from congress, that conve
ton of this kind is o necessity, no matter VII
}, it's constituent parts, or its action, may be.