Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1866-06-19
The Union Convention.

: stall the decision of the people by toe
s hasty legislative action.
= The Union Convention.
The Slate Union Convention, for the
nomination of candidates for Secretary of
State, Judge of the Supreme Court, and
r Member of the Board of Puolic Works,
meets at Columbus tomorrow. We know
} of no reason why it need not be harmon
; ious and united. There are, to be sure,
numerous candidates for the nominations
to be made, but the contest will be with
out acrimOny, and the choice of the ma
jority will be cordially acquiesced in by
the contestants and their friends There
was at one time some prospect ofa lively
fight in the Convention in reference TO
the platform, but the attempt of tue
johnson oflice-holders to control the pri-
mary elections has been such signal
failure and has demonstrated such a weak
ness on the part of the johnson men, that
they will not dare TO raise peep in the
Convention. In this condition of affairs
it behoOves the radical Union majority to
be as msgnsnimous and merciful as it can
be- consistent with principle A plat
form can and We hope will be framed
upon which every Union voter can stand
and to which if any johnson UnioDist OBJ |
jects the fault will be obviously his own.
Such platform is found in the Recon
struction Amendment which has recently
passed Congress by such overwhelming
votes. While this does not give US all i
that we wanted, it gives us infinitely /
more than either the rebels, the copper
heads, or the Johnsonites are willing TO
coneede. Our. friends in Congress have
adopted il, and its ratification is now the
paramount issue before the American
people. We shall be amply satisfied,
therefore, with the platform of the Union
State Convention if it endorses that
amendment and declares for its ratifca-
ton; and We do not appre bend that any
further declaration in regard to national
matters will be either expedient in policy
or necessary in point of principle.
Such platform would have the rare
merit of simplicity. 1t takes up the issue
of the time, and declares the allegiance of
Ohio Unionists to the position of the Ma
tional Union party as defined by its req
resentatives in Congress. Its adoption
would place us in accord with the party
everywhere, while if it is burdened by
any side issues, Union voters in this State
might be alienated, and the action of the
Union party in other States seri ously en-
barrassed. But this amendment, present.
ed and carried by the Unionists in Con-
gress, is the Union partys scheme of re-
construction, as opposed to the policy of
The President and the Copperheads. Be-
tween these two plans the issue is clearly |
joined, and it only remains for the Union
men of Ohio to express their choice
Such platform would be beyond ques- l
Lion the strongest which coIld be con-
Though it is Numerically op-
posed TO the policy of the President,
which has for its basis the denial of the
right of Congress to impose any condi- =
lions upon the rebel States, We do not see t
how any loyal man can object to any par
-icular of it. Its every feature is SO mani !
'estly right and just and necessary, that
t forms the strongest measure before the Z
people for years. Give it to US as our q
and We can carry the State, against
Iohnsonites and Copperheads united, by II
ilty thousand majority.
Some Of our friends will doubtless de-
ire to see in the platform an expression
n favor OF equal suffrage. Our readers
will bear witness to the patience and per-
istence with which We have advocated | Y
hat great and essential reform. But O
quail suffrage is not now IN issue, and it C
5 the fault of the Union party that it is
lot. As n condition of reconstruction it ,
las been laid aside, at least for the pres s
mt, by the adoption of the constitutional 0
As question of State poll =
les it cannot be put in issue before the Al
,eeple until the election of 1867 We sec S
10 great good, therefore, that could result
rom a declaration by the convention on
hat subject. We do see that some harm
night result from the alienation of many
.ood Union men who are at present op-
'osed 10 negro suffrage Let US continue p
O agitate the question before the people,
ct Us hope that in 1867 the question may
ONE before US in State and National q
'olitics, but let US not eumber ourselves g
With declaration upon an issue which
We cannot at present make