Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1866-08-15
THE PHILADELPHIA CONVENTION
The correspondent of the Boston Jour
,,oJ writes as follows:

PHILADELPHIA, Aug. IL, 1866.
Pennsylvania is again visited by a
Southern army of occupation. Not many
months have elapsed since the armed hosts
Of the Confederate rebels entered the Hey
stone State at Gettysburg, where they
were defeated by the loyal legions OF the
Union and forced to retreat back into their
sunny South" in double quick time
The grass has hardly rooted over the
graves of those brave soldiers in blue who
died at Gettysburg that the republic might
live, before we find another Southern host
invading Pennsylvania and occupying this
rectangular city. where was framed that
glorious document which declares 'all men
free and equal" -
They come as conquerors--these recon-
structed rebels-"Pride in their port, de-
6ance in their eye" Some Of them have
sat at the council.tabl of the arch. traitor
Davis. whose presence here would make
their delegation complete. Others were
members Of the rebel Senate and House
of Representatives, and are equally respon-
sible for the cruelties of Andcrsonville and
of Belle Isle.
Others holding local positions were in
strumental in quenching the last sparks
of loyal feeling at the South with the
blood of men who stood by the old flag
and others .(the least vindictive of the
crowd fought in the rebel armies with a
desperation that was worthier Of better
cruse.
1t was their men-civilians and soldiers
who waged war against the Union dur
ing four long years, sacrificing thousands
Of lives. manning thousands of gallant
men, desolating hoppy homes and impos-
ing heavy Indebtedness upon US and our
posterity.
President johnson. who owes his present
position to the ahti-slavery men of the
North, and who used to declare that trea-
son sis crime, and must be made odious''
has, SO far as in his power lies. reconstluc.
ted those unrepentant rebels. He has
pardoned their treason. He has appoint.
ed some of them to offices of honor and
profit, aud he has done all that he could
to carry out the Seward policy. that the
rebellious States should be entirely re.
stored to all their functions as such. But
Congress has not consented to at once
abandon the government of the country
and to place in power those men who
sought to destroy it, but who were con.
quered.
The SoutherDers. defeated on many bat.
tie fields, have thus far been equally un
successful in obtaining possession Of the
Capitol. where they had hoped to abolish
the test oath, to repudiate the national
debt, to pension the enemies of the Repub
lie, and above all to humillate New Eng
land, by depriSing her of Senatorial rep
rcscnsatiOn and by stripping her manu-
facturcrs Of protection.
II is to Vim. H. Seward that the South
is indebted for the idea of this Natioua
Convention. where the representatives o
united South can consolidate and crys
talize the various remnants Of Northern
political organizations who are in hope
less minority, but who are now to be &C
mented together by the spoils of of
fee.
The reconstructed South expects to 81
reconstruct the North as to secure a ma
jority in the next Congress. Hence W
see here old line Wings, Peace Democrats
Know-nothings, War Democrats, and sore
headed Republicans, with federal office
holders Of high and low degree. obsequi
ously greeting the Southern politicians
and humbly plodging themselves to follow
their head. Fortunately they can onl,
pledge themselves; for they have not tn
people behind them. The loyal masses
the North have never recognized these me
as their leaders. nor will they surrende
at discretion.
Sir John Falstaff's recruits at Coventr
were not more destitute of clothes tina
are these varied Northern delegates q
claims upon the political respect Of tn
loyal voters Of their respective section.
Personally the Convention will compar
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