Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1866-07-26
PhiIadeIphfa Convention Once More.


/ While we have felt compelled from a sense OF
duty to protest against of the principles laid
down in the call for the Convention to be held Ill
Philadelphia we have us our readers know, advo-
Gated the propriety of sending delegates there
We have done so because we desire to take advan-
tage of every circumstance that may seem even to
| have a tendency to restore good feeling between
the two sections of country and to avert the
4 evils to be unprecedented from the triumph of the
! Radical PARTY Our cooperation was invited by
| Northern National Union men, who were support
| ing President Johnson in contending for our
rights and we did not feel at liberty to stand aloof,
although we might not be able to see clearly all
the good resultsso confidently predicted and might
feel there were serious difficulties i'll the way OF
our cordial cooperation. It sufficient for us
to know that they asked us to meet them IN conl-
mon council In the language of a contemporary,
our only enquiry was what isthe tendency OF the
proposed movement-in what direction is it go
inc ?" Being satisfied that the general tendency
and direction of the movement was toward recon-
citation we have earnestly urgedithe appointment
of delegates that if nothing else could thereby be
accomplished we would at least ascertain what
points of union il any there he, are common to
the two peoples.
gate and what instructions, if any shall we give?
If we instruct them ut all we must necessarily do
so in such general terms as will give almost entire
discretion, or we must send delegates cramped by
4 want of authority to act in many contingencies
that must doubtless arise and for which 1t is I'M
possible at this time to give instructions We think
then it will be better to select men whose opin-
| IONS integrity and capacity are we'll known, and
will serve our surest guarantee Tor their con-
duct and simply say to them, we delegate you to
represent us and into your hands we entrust our
| honor.
We think the SUCCESS of the movement, SO Tar as
the South is concerned at least, depends upon the
| character and action ot our delegates. we can
not keep feeling that very serious. indeed vital
| question is TO be solved at Phlladelphla Some
OF the principles laid down i'll the call for the Con-
Yention are so utterly at variance with what many
of our people TO be the true theory OF the
! Governments ;,s orr fathers established 1T, that
! nothing but strong sense of duty could have
| forced them to take any part in 1t, Democrats
and Republicans alike approve and adhere TO these
principles and SO far appears the whole
superstructure has been and intended still to be
| built upon the foundation Of the call We have
been invited to meet i'll general council, to sec u,
| by the interchange of views and opinions, some
thing can not be worked ont fol the general vel
fare and yet have prescribed to s before hand
| the principles we must adopt and the policy we
| must advocate This it seems to IS unfair as
well as ungenerotls and we can excuse 1t only on
| the ground of ovelruling necessity.
This difference ut opinion to the principles
contained il: the call, is nothing more nor less
than that which has existed since the formation
of the Government, As To its true theory OF, IN
other words as to the relative rights, duties ana
status of the State and Federal Governments.
These rights, i'll opinion, as we have already
declared, arc now legally the same that they have
always been, and stand unaffected by the result OF
| the war or any consequence legltlmately flowing
| therefrom 1t is not now the time to enter into
the merits of this controversy, it is sufficient for us
to know that it does exist that large portion OF
| our people. respectable in numbers, talent and
virtue, entertain opinions adverse to the prlncl-
pies laid down in the call The result must be
that if this call be not modified and if no common
national ground be formed upon which all may
stand and work for the common veal, this portion
| of our people must be DISTINGUISHED. Compulsory
/ recantation or Acknowledgement the terms of
i fercd Compared to this, the Howard amend
| ment will, in this spect be mild and benifcent
in It's operation. It would be strange indeed if,
in Government free and popular in form at least,
no differences of opinion can be tolerated.
| The portion of people who advocated the
theory of the sovereignty of consolidated Federal
| Government and the subordinatlon and Deepen
| dence of State Governments, have less difficulty
| in the premises. But is party framed to suit
the peculiar views of only portion Of our people
| to be called National or Union Party
| While, then, VIC earnestly DESTROYS of send
ing delegates. in the hope of harmonizing i'll some
honorable way the wide differences of opinion
now existing, VIC have yet no hesitation in saying
| that if no common ground be found upon which
we can all stand, or i'll other words, if COM
PEELED to endorse the call, before we can enter
the ranks of the National Union party, can
never enlist We have and still advocate the OBJ
jects of the Convention, while We protest against
| the principles of the call. ~
| The Convention which meets to-day in Goldsboro
| then cannot be too particular in choosing dele
gates to this Philadelphia Convention for IN many
respects it will be the most important body which
has assembled since the Constitution was adopted,
As no instructions can be given with any degree
of intelligence and without greatly imparing their
usefulness, wise discreet and reliable men must be
chosen, and as desire neither to deceive others
or be dupes ourselves our delegates should be
| bold, frank and representative men. We want
neither indiscreet and ambitious speakers soured
and prejudiced partizans, but such men as will
honestly and conscientiously do all they
can, without surrender of principle and
honor, to meet the National men of the North in
an united attempt to prevent destruction of the