The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1866-08-11
THE DAY BOOK.
massachusetts, Conservative Conven-
ton. ~ -L--

'Y A convention of nearly eighteen hundred
conservative men was held on Friday in the
city of Boston, in Faneui Hail. For weight
of character and in point of numbers, the cor
!. respondent of the World tells us that it chal-
lenges any convention that has been assem-
bled in the ancient Commonwealth for years.
Held, as it was, in the very hot-bed Of radi-
calism, it may be regarded as an suspicious
u event, looking to the restoration OF the coun-
try 1t was composed of men of various
shades of political opinion, but all OF one
heart and one mind, brought together by a
common object, and held together by the CO.
u eson of common destiny. The floor and
galleries of'the old cradle were filled with
honest men, actuated by the necessity laid
upon them to unite against common enemy,
which Senator Wilson so facetiously calls
''the product of our christian civilization.
Col Leverett Saltonstall was chosen president,
together with flty-fve vice-presldents and
nine secretaries. The chairman was well
coined with rounds Of applause. be said:
About fifteen months ago, there was not
a man here or i'll our broad land who thought
or believed in his innermost heart that we
were not about again to rejoice in restored
Union, and that our beloved country was not
again to take its place among the nations Of
tD6 edfDu as d TclilF liSSOiiA'"" O'cN
nation. But that was not to be, and how
great was our disappointment! Congress, to
whom we looked to bring us out of this diff
Guilty, has adjourned, after an eight months
session, and the question is worse complica-
ted than it was when they assembled in De-
cember last
Gentlemen, before looking at what Congress
has done for us, a let me, for a moment, go
back to the day when President Johnson
Applause Andrew johnson was called, by
the appalling death of President Lincoln, to
assume the Presidential duties, When An
drew johnson was called into the White
House at Washington, he proved by his very
acts. by his very words that he was actuated
by the most generous, the most patriotic, the
most consderate, and the wissst desire to save
this country I3@i'-3 ~ i'H s ls-'
You have come into Faneuil Hall to stand
by him. But Andrew johnson, gentlemen,
said to the people, ''This war is at an end,
there is not an arm raised against the BAN
q ners of the Union, victory is everywhere
upon them and you, gentlemen of the South,
our fellow -citizens-no that you have laid
down your arms-consder the fact that
slavery is forever at an end; repudiate your
debt contracted in carrying on this hideous
civil war; acknowledge the sacred power Of
the Union, and then arise, take up your beds,
and stand with u.s. healed and Refrigerated =.
A wise, and manly, and considerable course,
it was not the course Of a poltroon. 1t was
not the course of man who, after beating his
foe, wished to stamp upon him, to pull out
his eyes and extract his finger nails. No,
gentlemen, it was the course of statesman,
of man, and more than that Of Christian.
Congress, birds Of i'll omen, gathered together.
Laughter and applause These vultures
waited for the lion aud tiger to pull
down the game and then flew TO seize the
prey. They sought to deprive the brave of
the credit Of restoring the Union. To tine
Central Committee of Fifteen they trusted
everything The Southern States, the South
ern people and themselves, bound hand and
foot, they handed over with not ray OF
freedom left. AS legislators of this great land,
Congress did all it could to prevent this coun-
try from being united. In this tremendous
crisis in our history they voted themselves
over to the Committee of Fifteen, and there
left the question and buried the hope of re-
deemed country, until they passed that blessed
vote Of their adjournment. No nation ever
was taxed as this people are, but this Con-
Rress, in its last moments, voted themselves
an increase of $4,000 year compensation
President johnson tells the Southern States
that the battle for the Union Is wen' the Is
sue is removed, and that these States are
welcome again INTO the Union. Inc consul
tutional amendment may not and Should not
be passed 1914 .i 1{m
10 In closing he expressed the belief that
should the question Of reconstruction remalh
open another year we would see another war,
not between the North and the South, but
between man and man here at the North.
al General Swift in reply to frequent calls
ross and said .i,f
He had no doubt the people wonld decide
the issues presented to them, and give re-