The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1866-07-19
Secretary Stewards Letter.

ntGle, as Chairman OF the Executive
Union Club, addressed all the mem
bers of the Cabinet, asking their
views of the Philadelphia Conven.
ton. We Published, on yesterday,
the principal portion of the response
of Secretary Welles, and we now sub
join that of the Secretary of State.
Although, like Mr.. Welles, he is in
favor of the Convention and its pur-
poses, his reasons for this position
lack the force and power of the reply
of the former The one advocates
tho proposed meeting to save the two
sections Of the country from 'sper-
manent alienation;" the other MS II
means by which to ''indnce Con
gress' to act-that is, to admit the
Southern States to Congress.
Mr.. Seward has certainly known
the animus Of the dominant faction
long enough to know that no induce
ment, save that Of absolute control,
voluntarily conferred upon its lead
ers, could iniuce them to admit
the Southern Senator's and Repre-
sentatives to Congress-. If all the
able and powerful arguments that the
President has brought forward, in
his various lnessagcs-all based, too.
upon the Constitution-has thus far
failed to 'inducc" the desired action.
no bodyof men could be convened
no, not even if the spirits Of the de
parted patriots and fathers Of the
country were to unite in the appeal :
can induce Thad. Stevens and his ST.
traps to forego their settled purpose,
either to rule or ruin.
And us to 'petitioning" these men
for redress, or for the restoration of
the constitutional rights Of the South
ern people, the procedure would be
an idle show of subserviencv. The
only sure way to check them and
Undue" them, is to turn them. neck
and heel, out of Office at the ..p-
proachlng elections. They arc now
pretty we'll frightened, but they have,
nevertheless, thrown down the gaunt
let OF war as party, and the only
safety is i'll an effectual defeat of them
aud their schemes. Mr.. Seward
writes:
DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
WASHINGTON, d. c., July IL, 1866.
SIR: Excuse me for expressing sur
prise that You ask me whether /
approve of the call of u proposed Ma
tional Union Convention ut Philadel-
phia.
After more than five years of 'tlislo-
cation by civil war, 1 regard a resto-
ration of the unity of the country as
its most Immediate rs we'll as its most
vital interest. That restoration will
be complete when loyal men are adj
mitted as representatives of the loyul
people of the eleven States so long
anreprcsentcd in Congress. Nothing
but this can complete it. Nothing
more remains to be done, and no,
thing more is necessary. Every DAYS
delay is attended by multiplying and
increasing Inconvenience, embar-
easements and dangers ut home and
abroad. Congress possesses the power
exclusively; Congress, after session
of seven months, still omits to cxcr-
else that power. ''What can be done
to induce Congress TO act?" This is
the question of the day. Whatever
Is done must be in accordance with
the Constitution and laws. 1t is i'm
perfect accordance with the Constitu-
ton and laws that the people of the
United States shall assemble, by dele
gates, i'll convention, and that, when
so assembled, they shall address Con
gress by respectful petition and re-
monstrancc, and that the people in
their several States, Districts and
Territories shall approve, sanction
and unite III such respectful repre-
sentatlons to Congress. No one party
could do this ciirctually, or even
seems willing to do it alone; no local
or popular organization could do it
etfcctually. Ii is the interest of all
parties alike; OF MI Tie States, and of
all sections national interest; the
interest of the whole people.
The Convention, indeed, may not
sncceeu i'll inducing Congress- to act,
but if they fail, the attempt can make
matters no worse. 1t will be IL lawful