Delaware State journal and statesman., 1866-08-28
From 1Iarper's Weekly,
THE RESULT AT PHILADELPHIA

The Philadelphia Convention sat for few
hours on three successive days. II served
the purpose, which is now plainly acknow
lodged by its chief organ of enabling the
johnson members Of the Union party to Join
the Democracy The Convention was os-
tensibly intended To afford opportunity lor
consultation and frank expression Of opinion
between fellow-citizens long.alienated But
no expression was permitted. The way in
which the managers controlled the proceed
ings showed that they feared to allow gen
eral debate. Every resolution was immedi-
ately referred TO Il committee without discus.
sion, so that there was never any question
before the Convention, and no debate was
possible. AS soon as the assembly was
temporarily organized it adjourned for per-
manent organization, and as soon as per-
manently organized it adjourned until the
managers were ready to report When the
report was read it was instantly adopted
so, also, were the resolutions; and then
under the same urgency of silence, the Con
vention dissolved. The whole performance
has now been pondered by an intelligent
people. We do not believe anybody is in
the least deceived by its purport or result
1t leaves everything exactly where it was
That the old Democrats like General Dix
had returned 10 their party fold everybody
knew; that Messrs. Doolittle and Cowan,
and Weed and Raymond, and Randall and
Browning had left the Union party and would
act with the Democrats in the Congressional
elections nobody doubted.
Mr. Raymond's address is merely one OF
his Congressional speeches, to which he has
somewhat accustomed us, 1t contains moth
ing new and states nothing old with novel
force. 1t is painful to remark that ii assumes
the late rebels TO be the only citizens of the
Southern States, and quietly ovorlooks the
whole body of Southern whites who re-
mained faithful through the war, to whom
Mr.. Lincoln intrusted the reorganization o
Louisiana and Arkansas, and TO five thou
sand Of whom in any State MI johnson
declared himself willing to contide the Go
vernment. Every word of the address con
victs the President of the most stupendou
usurpation of power. 1t leaves "My Policy
utterly without constitutional justification
and betrays the absurd inconsistency of dc
nouncing Congress for daring to propos
what the President has already done.
The resolutions merely echo the address
They arc cordially approved by Mr. Alexan
der H. Stephens, who holds to the constitu
tional right of secession. They take til
| &c
and they will be adopted by every Demo
cratic Congressional Convention. If til
Philadelphia gentlemen should make sepai
ate nominations, it will be with the simpl
Intention of attempting to divide the Unio
vote in favor of the Democratic candidate
This is the sole practical result of the PhilJ
delphia Convention, and this was obviou
from the beginning For the question
the times before the country does not chang,
1t is whether those citizens at the Sout
who made the war and those at the Mort
who supported it are more likely TO settl
reconstruction more constitutionally an
more wisely for the permanent peace Of III
Union than those who sustained the war
the North and sympathized with it at IL
= South. II is whether the policy vi II
Democratic party, based upon a steady an
contcmptuous denial Of the iundament
principle Of the Government and illustrate
by the late war, into which Mr.. Sewai
truly said two years ago 1t had plunged Il
C country, is more conservative OF the rgh
and interests OF the American people than
S policy Of constitutional equality and justic