New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1866-07-12
THE CONVENTION OF SOUTHERN
nNIANIaTa.

The call for the Convention Of Southern Unonists,
to he held at Philadelphia in September, Is the most
important political movement in the South since the
close of the war; OF Southern loyaliss we have
heard much; now, we hope we are to know more'
This should be truhpetcall to the Union men OF the
South Never had they nobler opportunity to pro-
claim their principles. Their protests against SsceS
sion were useless and during the Rebellion they were
too weak to effect much good. But now their IN
luence is of unreasonable importance; they are 10
the army Of Freedom, a reinforcement which may
be like the troops of Butcher at Waterloo we an-
cpate for them speedy victory in the Southi they
can have no hope of carrying a single State that re-
bellcd but the reform they have begun must, IN the
end be q revolution. -~-'-'F
But though TIE South will reject this Convention,
It is certain TO have an immediate and great effect
upon the North. Those who fought and voted against
the Rebellion cannot fail osee that the sgners of this
call ore The picked men Of the South. They arc not
of those conquered Rebels, who come back like the
prodira son. but unlike him, repent not ofheir SINS
Throughout the they were the only friends OF the
Government except the negroes All that they could
do to avert the Rebellion they did; they warned the
South of its error, and when treason triumphed dd
not plead State allegiance an excuse for joining its
ranks Prosecuted as they were, they never yielded
Can the appeals of such men be disregarded by the
North Can it be doubted that they, above all
Others have the right to speak for the loyal people of
the SOUTH
The call emphatically sustans the general policy
of Congress- and denies the wild and fatal theory that
THE rights of the citizen must be left to the States
alone and under such regulations as the respective
States choose voluntarily to prescribe" with Reb-
els in the foreground" it adds, controlling Southern
legislation, and embitered by disappointment in their
schemes to destroy the Union, there will be no safety
for the loyal element in the South Their reliance
is now upon Congress- and, therefore, they urge the
importance of bringing the loyal men of the South
into conjunction with the true friends OF republican
government in TIE North The call is not fully signed,
but the names already obtained ought 70 have weight
with the North. There IN W. b. Stokes member Of Con-
gress elect from Tennessee probable candidate for
Governor, and friend Of impartial suffrage; Gov.
Hamilton of Texas one Of the few Southern Gov
errors who have not attempted to galyanize armed
rebellion into political defancei Geo. W. Paschal
and Lorenzo Sherwood, prosecuted Unionists; Judge
Underwood Radical Abolitionst OF the worst or
best type; Durham Wardwell Of Virginia, who for
bis devotion to the Union was imprisoned in
Salisbury and Castle Thunder J. W. Hunnieutt,
editor of The Mem South, the loyal journal of
Richmond, and others whose loyalty has been
proven, not By late repentance, but by unbrohen
fidelity The convention will be- in short, an indorse
meut of the policy of Congressby the only in the
South whose political opinions deserve the slightest
respect.