The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1866-08-17
Change of Opinion not Necessarily In :
consistent

the character Of the delegates composing the
Philadelphia Convention. 1t seeks to cast
lidicule upon its movements, and to create
distrust Of the Northern and Southern MEM
bers, in the minds of its readers. Nothing at
present would be more gratifying to it than
the realization of its hopes of discord among
the representatives. of the conservation of the
country; except perhaps, another riot in some
Southern city, which would furnish it with
additional material for leaders filled with
abuse Of Southern ''rebels" and ORATORS, -
whom it delights to falsely represent as muir
dering unionists, and trampling under foot
four million ofloyal Southerners in the shape
Of the liberated negroes. 1t protests against
a restoration which makes the ''rebels" of
the South supreme over the rights and fran
chses of the loyal blacks, and demands re-
construction which shall secure to all equal
rights and equal laws. This is the burden of
It's plant, the key note of its scng. What
rights and franchises of the loyal blacks does
the South wish to invade? fit means that
'iS t''N'ii ~ PN'Se w w tio sSho ttil
and untuored blacks the right of suffrage,
AND thus elevatng them to political equality
with the white man, it is perfectly right.
The South is opposed to this absolutely, and
will never sanction a measure trau9ht with SO
much evil. The negroes are totally disquali-
fed for the possession and exercise of such an
nestimable privilege, which is denied to the
intelligent foreigner until after due constitu-
tional probation Yet the Tribune and those.
which follow It's lead and adopt its radical
and destructive counsels would at once ele-
vate the degraded and inferior race to posi-
ton above that Of the intelligent foreigner
the native minor and strong minded female
population, in order that the deuded negro
may be used as an element of political
strength in perpetuating the rule-or-ruln poll
ey and tactics of its savage parry. This con-
slderation is at the very foundation of its pro-
fessed regard for negro equaiity-which, like
all such equality is miserable sham, by
which tlle product of our christian eviliza-
ton" has partially succeeded in deluding the
confding masses . vi
Aware of the conservative opposition to
such an equality, it seeks to cast ridicule upon
the representatives who wero ia session in
Philadelphia, by abiding to opinions former
ically infers Or rather suggests totally unfit
them for the work OF restoration and recon
struction, which form the grand and leading
object of their assembling. Has the Tribune
forgotten the celebrated reply Of great Eng
fish statesman when charged by his oppo-
nents with change of views and a cores
pondent action III opposition to those which
he had formerly urged and maintained, and
which had heretofore characterized his policy,
and rule of action? Sir ROBERT PEEL prompt
ly told his carplng opponents, VIII" sought to
fix upon him the charge Of inconsistency, that
he would not consent to steer the ship Of state
by observations taken years before. And,
the conservative members of the Philadel phia
Convention have said that they, too, will be
governed by the new circumstances and con-
dition of affairs in which they find themselves
The attempt, therefore, to ridicule them be-
cause of their previous prochvties, has no
real force, ana betrays the weakness Of a
cause which resorts to such futile means to
create distrust Of their consistency, OF entire
competency for the work they have Under
taken They too, like SIR RoRERr, will not
consent to steer the ship of state by obserya-
tons taken years ago. but will regulate her
course according to the new observations
which define her changed position upon the
political charts, threatened with breakers
ahead upon which the false lights of radical
ism seek to allure her, that she may be dash
ed in pieces, and thus become the wreck of
broken and dismembered fragments -
which, in his celebrated ptroratlon, DANIEL
WEBSTER hoped his eyes might never be
fated to behold.
The philosopher of the Tribune needs to be
told that it is the situation which is to regu-
| ate and determine the actions Of men, and
not mere opinions previously entertained in
reference to certain political measures.
Temporal DlutantuU ct nos mHtamur ia Ills,
nes not necessarily involve Inconsistency of
action, but is a philosophical conclusion which
wise and reflective men recognize as a matter
of individual and national experience. The
times are changed and we are changed in
them, is truth which conservatism, at least
is wise in recognizing New observations
must be taken when the ship of state has
changed her position; and the political navi-
gator, who, unlike Sir Robert PEEL is con
tent to be guided by old ones, acts as a fool
or mailman