The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1866-07-26
Ms..r.. speed and seward.

'oSVSiS VI IhCo0 u'shOu
gentlemen on the subject Of the call for
the Philadelphia National Convention,
arc given on u first page, and will be
found worthy of attention.
Mr.. Speed takes tho ground Of
pure, unadulterated Union patriot
and tho fact of his being a citizen of q
former slave State adds weight to his
argument and strength to his position.
He has presented, with a force and
clearness not to be surpassed, the rea.
sons and considerations against en-
ploying any other agency than the tried
and faithful, regular Union party in
the pomentous work of Restoration.
The view of the new movement ia
ken by Mr.. Seward appears to be dit
ferent from that Of any Of the promi-
nent men who have como out in its fa.
vor. Conceding the exclusive power
OF Congress to act in regard to the ad-
mission Of representatives elected by
the late rebel States, he looks upon the
Philadelphia Convention as being
chiefly useful in serving as a spur to
induce Congress to act speedily in a
proper direction. He does not seem
to view it as a movement tor the for.
nation of a new party, or as finally
cutting off from the regular Union or.
~ganization those Union men who may
take part in it. He would, apparent,
iy, await the effect Of tho preparations
for and assemblage OF the Convention
upon Congress, before resorting to "ul.
terror measures" such as the absolute
institution of a new Union party, or
handing over the business of restora.
ton to other hands than those now
having il in charge.
If the effect Of the proposed CONVEX
ton, (whatever its otjecD shall be to stir
up Congress- to prompt and practical
measures Of restoration, and thus OF
preservation of tho unity of the pres.
ent dominant party oftho country, and
OF the Republic itself, it will SO far be
Of beneficial influence. We are no be.
liover in the doctrine that tho present
majority of Congress can do no wrong,
or that all its accomplished measures
have been tho best or wisest that could
have been devised: and if they meet
with a somewhat Rough admonition in
reference to their short comings il will
DO them no hurt. We adhere to the
opinion that Congress ought long
since to have adopted tho principle of
immediate admission for the loyal rop
resentatives duly elected from any Of
the States and that the longer this is
deferred, the more tho future well. be.
ing and peace ofthe country will be
ieopardized. We repeat here, also,
the observation we made on q former
occasion, that unless the present Con.
gress does admit true men, there is
great danger that tho next will admit
traitors.
While, therefore, VIC think the pro.
posed Philadelphia Convention will be
no appropriate place for genuine I'm.
ion mon, we cannot shut our eyes tc
tho fact that some genuine Union men
rtH participate in it-and We can bul
hope that such fact may have its prop
or influence in inducing the Union
party proper to survey the whole
ground on which it stands, and if il
shall find its footing uncertain, then tc
divest itself ut once ofall clements of in,
stability, and, without yielding one jot
ofthe principles On which it came into
power, take to itself those of practical
strength recognized by tho universal
popular intelligence us tho vital 70.
quircments OF tho national emergency