The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1866-08-28
u We publish in full the Resolutions a

Address adopted by the late Philadelphia Con
yention- Having private business that required
our attention at Philadelphia and New York, we
attended all the sessions of the Convention except
the first day. The honorable gentleman for whom
we had been appointed Alternate, being present
OF course we did not act as delegate. and there
fore we were present only as a spectator The
matter for this issue of our paper was prepared
before our return, and we have only room to
hastily refer to the action of the Convention.
While there>may be some declarations in the
Address and Resolutions tn at Southern men who
sympathized with the late Confederate Govern
h1ent, cannot heartily endorse yet it should be
remembered that the main object of the Conven-
ton was to organize party and inaugurate a
plan for overthrowing the radical faction that not
only seeks to keep the Union divided, but aims to
degrade and ruin the Southern people. In form
ing an opinion of the action of the Convention
some allowance must be made for the peculiar
condition of the country and the extraordinary
circumstances of the times.
The Convention was the largest representative
body that has ever assembled in this country, and
among the delegates were to be found many of
the best and ablest men of America-men who
have no other object in view but the happiness,
peace and prosperity of the whole country. The
Northern delegates were kind and courteous. and
showed an unmistakabe disposition to do all that
possible for the South in her present perilous
condition, and restore her people to their full
rights in the Union. They expressly declared
that they did not desire to any language in
the resolutions or address that would insult or
offend conquered people, but they asked the
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for right and constitutional liberty had to be
fought in the Northern States by Northern men,
and if the Southern people expected success to
crown their efforts they must permit a platform
to be erected on which they could rally the great
mass of the Northern people.
The South was represented by many of her
best men, whose only object to assist in re-
lieving their people from the ruin which threatens
them. With some of the Southern delegates we
have heretofore differed in opinion and sentiment.
but we are satisfied that they have at heart the
good of people, and earnestly desire that they
shall be restored to peace and prosperity, and
saved from further loss and trouble.
The delegates from North Carolina discharged
their duties with eye only to benefit the peo-
pie. No one can believe say that such men
as Geo. Davis, Thos. S. Ashe, Geo Howard,
Joseph Fl. Wilson M. E. Manly S. F. Patterson.
r. c.. Puryear. and Others were Influenced by
mean, sinister selfish motives. They saw that
the South aud the whole country was in imminent
peril, and that something must be conceded in
framing the Resolutions and Address to enable our
Northern friends to gain & victory in the ensuing
elections in the Northern and Western States.
Southern people may find fault with the action
of the Convention land confess there are some
expressions in the resolutions and address that
we do not like) but they should remember that
if the movement incugurated at Philadelphia is
not successful and the Presidents policy is de-
feated. and the Radicals succeed in again having
two-thirds Of both Houses of Congress, terrible
will be the fate of the States that composed the
late Confederate Government. The question now |
is. shall sustain and assist Northern |
friends and President johnson. shall de- |
nounce them and repudiate their efforts to assist
us, and thus strengthen the hands of our enemies
From oil that we saw and heard at the North |
we are convinced that the South has in that sec
tion many honest noble, true hearted, self-sacr-
icing friends, well as many bitter, unmerciful
and unprincipled enemies. Let US, therefore, so
act as to aid our friends and defeat our enemies.
rS> 1t is not true that the Philadelphia Com