Clarksville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1865-1867, 1866-07-20
DIVERSITY OF OPINION.

d communication, making an earnest
appeal to the South to be represent
ed in the Philadelphia Convention.
The writer expresses his regret that
VIC should have taken position ad.
verse to such representation, and we
expected to, find, in his communica-
ton, something to shake our faith
in the correctness of our opinions
We agree with him, right cordially,
as to the importance of restoration
of the Union and the overthrow of
the Radical party we even admit
the possibility that the magnificent
works, mapped out by him, may re-
suit from a cordial reunion and re-
vived prosperity, but how such re-
suits can be dependent upon the
representation of the South in said
Convention, is a problem we eau not
solve. Southern men may attend
the Convention, make speeches and
vote on resolutions but what then !?
What effect will their presence have
wrought upon the condition Of par
ties? They will have swelled the
numbers Of that Convention, and
there, under the most favorable view
of the subject, their influence will
have ceased.
As matters now stand, it is known
that the South is almost unit in
support of the President, and against
the Radicals, and no representation
can make this palmer. But if the
South is to be represented, who are
to be the delegates If men are to
be chosen who were the open and
avowed enemies Of the Confederacy
during its brief existence, they can
not represent the mass Of the people,
for the want of that common SYM
patty which inspires confidence and
responds to the nameless emotions
that go far to make up that bond Of
perfect unity which should exist be-
tween the representative and the rep
resented. If men are chosen who
were true, in sympathy, to the South,
and who, alone, can represent it, the
Northern members of the Conven.
ton must take the responsibility OF
rejecting them, or incur the risk OF
of having their Convention denounc.
ed as a copper-head and rebel con
clave, convened for the purpose Of
Matching treason. Then, for the in.
terests of the great movement, the
South had better delegate its repre-
sentation to Northern Conservatives
as proxies, than to send men to Phil
adelphia who can not represent it
or men whose presence would serv,
only to give rise to misconstruction
or embarrassment.
But dropping all considerations
connected with mere policy, we com,
back to our first position, that i
would be an act of self-degradatior
to send men to that Convention VIII,
can do nothing but raise their fetter
ed hands in mute supplication to
conqueror whose justice is chains
and whose magnanimity is insult
Nor will it elevate us in the scale o
dignity to be represented by tina
other and0avored class in the South
who may, with oomplaceut consider
alton, say to the Northern delegate
-"wo have whipped the rebel
enough-let us now be merciful. -
We see as clearly, perhaps, as GU
correspondent, the future of PEG
pie free and united. That we ar,
neither united nor all free, is tn,
fault Of majority of the North
The question of freedom to the Soutl
and of freedom to the North-fol
both must be free, or slavos-depend'
upon the action of the latter, and i
it can not prop the temple of liberty
now undermined by its own frenziet
attacks upon Southern rights, the
case is hspcless, because the South
is powerless.
We cheerfully endorse the state
mcnt of our correspondent; tina
many true democrats in the North
suffered cruel persecution for theil
opposition to the war, and all sucl
have our sympathy and respect
But whilst they were heard of only
in prison, or in exile, the bulk of tn,
party, in the interests of New Eng
land, were waging war upon thei
best friends and against the yer,
principles of free government whicl
they are now struggling to wres
from the grasp of tyranny.
We repeat our former declaration