The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1866-09-15
The South at the Philadelphia
Convention.

charges that the Southern delegates |
yielded too much, and that they favor
ed the rejection of Mr.. Vallandingham.
Mr.. f. states that the Southern men
considered themselves rnther as guests
than active participants in the Con-
Ventlon, and then says:
"-Retieence and dignity were the
role for men so situated. Not to make
noisy complaints and frothy speeches,
or to wrangle about platforms but
simply to say, as the Narragansett
chief when summoned before the
British Colonial Council: You have
sent for me, and | have comet 1t is
most true that we were received with
cordial greetings by the patriotic gen
tlemen who were our political hosts.
They listened to us with deep interest
and respect. Old Democrats met as
often with moist eyes and trembling
grasps of the hand. But at last we
were voieeless and powerless in the
struggle that was to determine the
destinies of the countryside battle
ground and the combatants were all in
the North, and all the dispositions for
the contest were necessarily to be con-
trolled to that fact. 1t is not necessary
to say that, as simple declaration of
feelings, wishes and principles, the
platform and address would have been
different, had they been left exclusive
ly to our writing. So, had the West
penned them, the East would have
found something to change, and rice
Ucrsa-but constructed as they were
for the aehOte, on that basis of compro-
mise which must ever be a vital ele-
ment oe Union between States so re-
| mote geographically and SO diverse in
pursuits and interests, it is difficult to
see how either resolutions or address
could have been better. Happily the
Convention escaped, through the mag
nanimity of several delegates, the
greatest danger to its integrity and
harmony. The withdrawal of Messrs.
Vallandingham and Wood assured the
success of the Convention in this re-
: spect.
81 take the occasion to deny, with
emphasis. the statement in this morn
ing's Herald, that Mr.. Vallandingham
was notified by the Southern delega-
tons that if he did not quietly with
draw they would vote him out. 1t is
impossible to conceive a more odious
, and damaging imputation upon South
ern delegations than this. What
turn upon man who had suffered i'm.
. prisonment, persecution and exile fol-
sympathising with our suferings and
trials If there was one wretch &c
: heartless from the South. am happy
! TO say | did not and never wish tc
know him. My own views and sense
OF duty were very clear. and | believe
they were those of every Southern
gentleman in the Convention. It was
that we could not, in personal honor o.
conscience, and with due regard t.
the honor and conscience of our con
4 stituents, vote to unseat gentleman
q whose right to o seat was patented I,
himby the gallant Democracy of Ohio
was as good as our own, and whose onl,
disability was that he was our frien,
in trouble. Under the call for tn
Convention he had a clear right, for it
theory was amnesty for the past an
fidelity to common patriotic object i
the future. 1t was upon this theor
/. that we of the South were there, and
IS is foreign to the objects and fatal to til
If effects expected to be produced, to be
d gin the work of peace and harmony b
le presenting and furnishing for pas
h political differences. / would not, an
r. could not have remained an instant i
lie that Convention if any Northern dele
10 gate like Messrs. Vallandingham {
of Wood. properly accredited, had bee
= unseated by vote. 1t was not the bar
s. quet to which we were invited, and v
ar should have gone home with the reAe,
e. ton that the North is not yet ready fl
" peace and restoration. But happil
= and nobly on their part, these gentl
: men saw the rock, and removed it o,
- of the path of harmonious action. I'll
>, Convention became a great success
or and Northern gentlemen tell me it
4 doing great good and working well f