American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1866-07-19
The PHILADELPHIA Convention.

|
the South generally, as to the pro
! priety of the States "lately in rebel
lion" taking part in the Convention
to be held in Philadelphia, on the
18th August, proximo.
Those who oppose the sending o.
delegates to this Convention, base
their objection upon the ground that
the terms OF the call, or a portion OF
it--a plank" as it were, in the
platform lis such that no true
Southern man can subscribe to it or
stand upon it, That clause is as fol
lows:
THE union of the States is in every
case indissoluble, and is perpetual,
and the Constitution OF the United
States, and laws passed by Congress
in pursuance thereof, are supreme,
constant and universal in the obliSa-
| ton"
| Now, while We admit that this
clause is highly Objectionable, and
that the seeding States cannot en-
dorse it without complete stultifca-
ton, We do not see that that clause
should keep the South out OF the
Convention. That part of the invi-
tation is only the expression Of the
views OF the C0mmittee who called
the Convention, and does not bind
the Convention itself, much less the
Southern States The action of the
Convention, alone, will be bind
ing, ana if that body should adopt
anything so obnoxious, the Southern
delegates can withdraw from the
Convention at pleasure.
Some may imagine from the terms
of the call, that it is rs difficult for a
delegate to get into the Convention
as it is for a representative to get
into Congress. But we cannot see it
in that light. The oath which opens
the doors Of Congress to orr mem
hers, requires that a man shall swear
that he never, by any act, in any
possible way, did anything for the
Coutaderaey--that every one who
lived among us lived here in love for
the Union and hatred of the Conipd-
eracy. What mda can take that
oath without coniu5sing-and swear
ing to it--that he was Iypocmte ?
The called Convention does not 20
back to the war. 1t only, if We I'M
derstand it Alright, requires that del
egatcs shall express loyalty to Che
future Of the Union. The difference
the reader viii see without cxpIana-
ton.
We think that there Is nothing Of
iensive i'll the condition precedent
nothing which can huniliate our PEG
pie hy entering heartily into the
movement. Nearly all OF us have
taken the oath of allegiance. Thou
sands Of pardons Of our most valiant |
and best men, have been granted on |
the taking Of that oath taking it |
any mental reservation, and |
with determination that it shall, in |
al its essential qualities, be binding |
On them.
In the construction Of all parties
here mast be compromises. Even a
lozen men cannot go into a company |
giving up some form, or
which is non-essential to
he main purpose of organization.
Without those compromises no party
an move one foot towards success.
t is folly to expect to accomplish
in party without this con
lition. There is nothing perfect in
his world. We must take the evil
With the good; and our wisdom is
allied on only to discover whether
here is more good than evil in what
les before us for acceptance or re-
ection.
Looking at the matter from this
,cint of view, we assert that the
for the Philadelphia Con-
'ention ought to be entertained by
'ur people. They viii go TO it pledged
o nothing except to get from it as
much good as is possible. If they
ind that its propositions are degrad-
ng, why, they can come home, and
here an end, until such time as rea-
on shall resume its place among the