East Saginaw courier. (East Saginaw, Mich.) 1859-18??, 1866-08-23
The Philadelphia Convention.

We conclude in to-day's issue the
record of the proceedings of the great
National, Peace and Union Conven-
ton at Philadelphia. 1t embraces the
platform and the address of the Con-
vention to the people of the United
States. The New York WorM in its
comments upon the doings of the Con-
vention, says: "The work SO smooth
ly done by the great Union Conyen-
ton satisfies the most sanguine ex-
pectations Of its friends. That it will
powerfully contribute to the complete
restoration of the Union may be in
ferred from the following considera-
tons:
LIST. 1t sewers the connection be-
tween President johnson and the Re-
publican party. The success of the
Philadelphia Convention, which has
in all respects, answered the expecta-
tons and satisfied the wishes of Presi-
dent johnson, separates him efectu-
ally from the Republican party, and
arrays the whole influence Of the exc
vuvivv pruucn OF the Uuvernmeul
against its policy.
I'd. The Convention has been the
occasion of a public, solemn formal
recantation by the Southern people,
of the doctrine Of secession. The
right of secession is given up, slavery
is abandoned, the confederate debt is
repudiated, the binding obligation of
the Federal debt is acknowledged,
and this is done, not sullenly, but
freely and III the assertion of claim.
This public Remuneration by the
Southern people Of all the objects for
which they undertook the war, re-
moves the last vestage Of an excuse
for excluding them longer from their
full Federal rights.
Sd. The Convention fixes indelibly
upon the radicals the stigma of being
the only disunion party of the South,
which arrayod itself against the Union
in 1861, deserves fire, and sword, and
desolation, it is for the public judg-
ment to determine what is due to the
party which, after having pretended
to fight for the Union, resist its resto-
ration. The issue now is precisely
what the issue was in 1861, namely,
whether the Union shall be restored
but happily the contest, at this stage,
is not to be decided by bullets, but
by ballots.
9TH. The Convention has contribu-
ted essentially to the renewal of kind
feelings and cordial relations between
Northern and Southern citizens. The
Convention has effected an open rec
onciliation between the two sections.
Probably majority of the people of
the North, and certainly the great
body of the people of the South have
mot th-o,cl.- 4l.>:-. S-i~r~t--, ~.-1
have made public renewed of friend
ship, with attestations of confidence
and esteem. The two great sections
are no longer at variance; but q party
of maligant disunionists assume to
rule and dismember the country
against the sense of majority of the
citizens.
The Convention has disentangled
and simplifed the politics of the i'm
mediate future. It has constructed
a bridge for the President, which en-
ables him to act efficiently and boldly
with the friends of his policy, and
has united them in compact, organ
lied, indomitable mass. Doubtful
voters can no longer be deceived.
can again be made to believe
that he is supporting the President
while voting for the candidates of the
radicals. Hereafter, every man who
is not with the President is against
him. 1t is now a contest in which
there can DO no neutrality, and in
which every man who opposes the
President will be branded as dis