The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1866-08-01
COLUMBIA.
Wednesday Morning, August !, 1855.
The Convention OF Delegates.


The Convention OF Delegates.
The people of South Carolina, for
the first time in many years, assemble
in Convention to-day for the purpose
of initiating measures by which the
State is to be represented in politi-
cal assemblage to be convened in a
Northern State. The occasion is
much more important than would
appear at first sight, for although the
Convention which meets to-day is
not one called by the authority of
law, but voluntary meeting of dele
gates Of the people. yet its voice and
its action will be regarded-and will
be so in fact-as the voice and action
of the people of South Carolina.
This journal has approved of the
objects and p poses of the original
ors of the Convention which is to
meet in Philadelphia, and, rs we
consider it natural sequence, it has
also approved of the proposition that
South Carolina should be represented
in that body. It is, in our opinion,
only discharging half our duty when
we express our warm approval of the
objects of this meeting, and then sui
lenly say we will take no part in it,
or aid in any way in carrying out its
objects. Sympathy is very good
thing in its way, but when it stops in
the mere utterance of friendly words,
it is worthless commodity, and one
which the most heartless can cheaply
trade In. When, therefore, we ap-
prove of Il measure and its objects,
where our people are interested, that
approval, to be worth anything, must
be accompanied by action.
And in this light we have regarded
the call for this National Convention
of conservative men, rs distinguished
from the radical faction from all sec
tions of the country. The objects
for which it has been called are-frst,
the restoration of the Southern
States to their rightful participation
In the affairs of the Government
under which they live; the overthrow
of the destructives who, for eight
months past, have, under the appa-
rent sanction of tho law, set the Con-
stitution and laws at defiance; and,
thirdly, it is to give the President,
who is seeking to restore peace and
unity to the country, our most ear
nest support, as against the faction
which would, had its members the
complete control of the Government,
fasten upon the people Government
of despotism. These are, at least,
the professed objects of the origin
ators and callers of that Convention,
in which the delegates who assemble
to-day are to take the necessary steps
to have their constituents repre-
sented.
We believe our people concur in
these objects, and in the necessity for
their speedy accomplishment, and re-
gard the proposed convention as an
effectual instrumentality to secure the
desired end. For this, they have
sent their delegates to Columbia, to-
day, and look forward with interest
to their proceedings and the definite
line Of action they may choose to
adopt.
AID here comes in the importance
Of the meeting to be held to-da-
While he'people of South Carolina
cheerfully accept the inoilatiou of
those they regard, in the present
juncture of public affairs, as politi-
cally affiliated with them, and as
honest in their contemplated efforts
to restore the country to it's national
entirety, and to rescue the Constitu-
tion from the hands of its destroyers,
they accept it with the clear and dis
tinct understanding that they must
meet those who invited them as per-