The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1866-07-28


the extreme Radicals entertain them,
however, there is not the slightest
doubt, and we know, from the expe'
rience of secession in 1861, how few
men it sometimes requires to plunge
great party or great nation into
war.
THE PHILADELPHIA CONVENTION.
The Philadelphia Convention is
another source of panic to the Union
party. BY the Radicals of whom
have spoken, tits regarded as intended
to pave the way for bringing Northern
Democrats and Southern rebels into
close concert of action under the pro-
lection of the President, at the opening
of the next Congress for the purpose re-
ferred to above. And by nearly the
whole Union party, as repres en'ed
here, it is believed that its object is TO
break up the Union organization and
form new party which shall embrace
Northern democrats, Southern rebels,
and such portions of the Union party
az may be detached from the old or
ganization.
It seems to be overlooked that the
Convention is called simply for consul
tation-that it is not proposed to make
nominations for any office, to organize
any new party or to interfere in any
wav with existing political parties.
ANY one or all of these things may be
done by the Convention-but none OF
them are embraced or proposed in the
call for it. Those who may do them In
Convention, or support them when
done, will of course be responsible for
their action. If the Convention should
take steps hostile to the Union party,
no one could longer adhere to both
If it should make hostile nominations,
or adopt a hostile platform, no one
could support both. But until some
thing of that SORTS actually done, 1t is
not easy to see why any man OF any
party may not 20 into consultation
with his. fellow citizens, from every
party and from every section, without
forfeiting his party relations. The
idea that Members of Congress have
any right in caucus or elsewhere, to is
sue DEGREES of expulsion or exclusion
in such case, is simply absurd.
IMAGINARY ArpREHENsIoNs OF UNION
At the same time it is evident thai
the Philadelphia Convention is regard
ed with great disfavor by all sections
ofthe Union party. That party is moi
disposed to forget that it was the only
political organization upon which th'
Government relied during the war, ant
that it saved the integrity of the nation
against the armed efforts of the rebels
in the South and the political hostility
of the Democrats in the North. l
feels, therefore, that is now entitled tt
control the Government as against botl
these parties, and it is not disposed tt
cooperate with either of them or to &C
|, ccpt their cooperation in any politica
action whatever
They objected to the first call for tn
Philadelphia Convention, that it woul
admit ali Southern rebels who woul'
: not accept the Union they had tried t.
destroy, while it excluded many OF tn
men who had saved it. They objecte'
to the second call, that while itcxclude
all Union men who insist on guarantee
and conditions of restoration, 1t ex
|. pressly hands over one-half the Con
vention to those who opposed tn
Union party in the election OF 1854
giving them, in fact, the preponderanc
inasmuch as in eleven States the unio
party had at that time no existenc'
., and can now, therefore, have no repre-
!. sentation.
y And they are it'll further repelled b
3 the eagar alacrity with which the recel
!. rebels of the South and the intens
q Copperheads of the Nort'', like Fe
/. nando Wood and Valland CHAM, accel
r the invitation and prepare to take pa
e in its proceedings. The repugnant
!. which they feel to political associ
q ton with men wi ose record is so utte
# ly unpatriotic and so obnoxious to pu
q lie reprobation, is by no means unna
|. ural or unjust, and contributes large
to prejudice the public mind again
r. the Convention and all connected wi
!. it. 1t gives color to and confirms tt
o charge that its object is to reinstate
# office and in power men who have be-
o Justly expelled by the people for the
# crimes against the country, and to e
# clude those to whom the country is
!. dcbted for its solvation.
l. FOLLOWING FALSE LIGHTS.
y The Union party must not forg
a however, that the Philadelphia Conve
's ton is due entirely to its own failure
81 81 comprehend and meet the necessitl
Il Il of the hour. When the war was ov
~ ~ and the rebellion suppressed, a pow
=, ~ full public sentiment, pervading all p'
l. ties, demanded the prompt restoratl
~ -, of national action under the Constll
70 :. ton, and in accordance with the fund
aS rs mental principles of the Governmel
u u If the Union party had responded
:. . that sentiment, which was very pow
y. erful in it's own ranks-if it had coo
90 90 Grated with the President, who did COZ
IN IN prehend and sympathize with it-a
T., IT, had made the restoration of unit
y peace and concord the first object
~ its endeavors, it would have broad'
=" ~ cd it's own foundations and left neitf
~ M motive nor excuse for any such mo-
y" y. ment as that which is now on foot.
II II Congress had, two months ago, adm
- - ted to their seats loyal members fr'
!. - Southern States, who could take
20. oath prescribed by LAWN other wor
IN if they had admitted the members fr
=" Tennessee and Arkansas, the o
~ u.