The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1866-08-12
A Convention OF Eaua1s.

Convention OF Equals.
Every now and then some citizen
OF Southern State publishes a long
letter to his fellow-countrymen. nd,
Vlslng them to bear themselves more
modestiy and humbly in the presence
OF the victorious North. We have
now before us very long letter from
one OF these meek gentlemen, wherein
he oounsels the people of Mississipni
to instruct their delegates to the Phi
ladelphla Convention to appear in
that body as "suitors," modestly
seeking nothing but '.the enforce.
ment of the right of representation"
and observing on all other questions
an attitude of strict neutrality.
From all such advice we earnestly
dissent. The delegates from the
Southern States ought not to enter
the Convention rs ''sujtors," but as
free citizens of our common republic.
claiming to be and being the peers of
their fellow delegates from the North.
1t is as such that they have been in
vlted to come. 1t is only as such
that they can honorably enter the
Convention. No Northern delegate
Will go into that Convention expect
ing or wishing the Southerners to
meet him as snppliants, or otherwise
than as equals, and upon terms of
perfect equality.
The Convention has not been called
for the exclusive benefit of the South.
but for the common benefit of North
and South-of the whole country.
10 be sure, the immediate object of
the Convcntion--thc restoration to
the Southern States of their consti-
tutlonal rights-apparently concerns
those States alone, but it really con-
Germs the North just MS nearly, for it
is only through the enforcement of
the Just claims of the South to a par
tlclpatlOn in the Government, that
the conservatives of the North can
nope to acquire sufficient strength to
resist the revolutionary and destruc-
tive purposes of the radicals. The
enforcement of the right of the
Southern States to participate in tho
next Presidential election is lust as
important to the conservative people
OF the North rs it is to the people of
the South. and he errs who thinks
that the earnestness with which the
conservatives urge the right of the
South to representation in Congress,
springs altogether from Il sense of
justice. 1t springs. also, from the
conviction, that unless that right be
enforced, themselves will be involved
IN the ruin which threatens the
South. Let these facts be borne in
mind, and let the delegates from the
North and from the South enter the
Convention as equals, allies and
friends, bound to each other by a
common interest, and seeking by
united effort to escape " common
danger
And again, it should be understood
that the Southern delegates have no
need to appear in the Philadelphia
Convention as ''suitors, begging
that body to declare that the South
Is entitled to representation in Con-
gress. For it must be remembered
that every Northern delegate is alrea-
dy pledged Ly the very terms of the
call to demand the enforcement of
that right
Nor should the Southern delegates
observe strict neutrality upon the
other questions which the Conven-
tioll may consider. Let them freely
discuss every matter which concerns
them at all. They will be respectfully
listened to by the Convention and by
the country. That Convention has
been called primarily for the purpose
OF securing their right to speak in
Congress on all subjects affecting
Yhcir interests, a right of which they
have, IN the opinion of the callers Of
the Convention, been unjustly de-
prived by the revolutionary conduct
OF the radicals in Congress-. Nothing
could be more absurd than for a Con,
ventlon, called far such purpose, to
wish to deny the fullest latitude of
discussion, within their own hall, to
the delegates from the South. Let
the Convention be II Convention of
equals. lS.-Ne'r York Ne,rs.
MIR. SEGAR's CLAIM.--The large
flr.Do n tna How JDrn,,l,