The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-07-07
Wendell Phillips on Congress and the
President-The Old Liberty Party to be
Revived.

heV1V6us
From The Herald
The usual convention of the Anti-slavery
Society took place at birmingham, Massachu-
setts on the 4th instant, no doubt for the special
purpose of giving Wendell Phillips an opportu-
nifty to have his say on the political questions of
the day. As might have been expected, this
high priest of the old abolition party exposed
The duplicity of the party leaders IN Congress,
and denounced both the President and the radi-
Gals. Phillips, having fought his way into promi-
nence in the ranks OF the old liberty party and
in the Anti-SlaverY Society, and lived to see the
adoption OF his ideas OF abolition OF slavery,
now insists that it shall be made perfect by the
adoption OF universal negro suffrage. On that
point he will accept no compromises or halfway
measure, but insists upon having universal sut-
trage or nothing. He finds that neither the Presi
dent nor Congress is ready to grant 1T in the
shape that he wants it; and, as a matter of
course, his speech al birmingham is flied with
denunciations. The President, however, is let
Off very easy, compared with the accusations
against the radicals in Congress- His indictment
against the latter, if anything, exceeds Mr..
Phillips usual vigorous style. This prophet and
leader of the old abolition faction informed his
followers gathered around hlm, that "the Presl-
dent has no policy, simply plot" while Con.
gress ''has betrayed us, and is demoralizing the
popular heart"
The gleat point made against the President is
that he is the leader of the south, their general
ln-chlet, encamped in the White House, assisting
that section in rallying the broken lines in an
effort to restore, as closely as possible the Union
| as it was But with all this he believes that Mr..
| johnson is anxious TO be elected President in
| 1868, and would be willing to give negro suffrage
| to secure that point. But while the President,
according to high priest Phillips views of the
| matter, is ready to go that far, he holds that
| CONGRESS has surrendered the point at issue, and
that the only purpose of the radicals is to bridge
over the tall elections, in the hope OF saving the
| party. They have proposed in the amendments
| the
of suffrage by change of basis of represen tation.
| AS matter OF course MIR. Phillips opposes these
amendments, declares that they will never be rati-
fed and what Is more, that the Republican leaders
in Congress know that they will not be aud do
not want them adopted. 81 do not" says
Phillips, disgrace the whole proceedings when
| say that it is a party trick. 1t is got up TO
serve purpose, to kill time until after the cleo
ton and get rid OF a pressing emergency" But
if it should by chance succeed, then the negro
Will be given deienseless into the hands OF his
former master.' Such is the view given of the
action of Congress, which he characterizes as
statesmanshp OF compromise and hypocrisy, in
which he and his friends can take no part or lot
in its consummation. Since neither the Pres
dent nor Congress- comes up to the standard OF
the old anti.slavery faction, and neither of the
old parties of the day intend to ADOPT the idea
that that class are laboring for it has become
necessary to look to other means and Other
sources for the accomplishment of their pur
| poses.
The plan for all this has been hit upon,
| WenQell HnlulpS mus, Uy lOOhlng over nlstOIyi
, that two great elements control governments
land and the ballot-boX. The class which owns
: land will be able to mould the government
This, in his view, is the reason why the South
desires to keep the lands out of the hands o
/ the negroes. III they can only succeed in &C
e complishng that, the people who have hereto
8 fore held the supremacy In that section will bC
able to resist all efforts at their overthrow by
e revolution in their midst Lands and the ballot
box for the negro are, therefore, indispensable
D to the success of Wendell Phillips great idea
. Unable to prevail upon the Republican party t.
/ engrait this upon its creed, he proposes Il
5 organize party with that as its platform, anC
go before the people battling for that great prin
oiple. In other words, to revive the old Libert
or Abolition party OF twenty years ago, and carry
y ON the same system of tactics, adopting tn
: cry of Land and ballot for the negroes,
e in the place OF abolition OF slavery. Mr.
e Phillips admits that it may take them ten o
fifteen years to secure their final success, but h
r is certain that they will triumph in the end
e This will bring new party In the field, and vii
t take from the present Republican ORGANIZATION
d an that class of men who like Wendell Phillips
e are honest in their convictions, and prefer prir
1t cples to party and official position. II viii pre-