Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1866-07-14
pHrLApEIpHIA CONVENTION.


Some of the ablest and best Southern
papers are not urging the Southern
States, to send representatives. to the
Philadelphia Convention. Reasons that
influence such counsels are not, in our
opinion, good. 'Tis trse that the call for
the Convention limits representation to
those who can take the oath prescribed
by a Radical Congress. But the Con-
vention is intended to develop the views
of Conservative men of ; all sections
The South, invited to seats, will main
tain that as the war did not achieve its in
dependence, It did affect its restoration
TO the Union. This position the North
ern Conservatives will hardly controvert
Restored to the Union, any one whom
Southern State may send to Congress
must be admitted, otherwise the pretense
of restored Union is cheat and de
msion. 1t will be asked by the Southern
members: Who compose the Southern
States? There is only one answer. Those
who took up arms against the Govern
ment-the people Of the Southern States
are the States, are the South. If the
war did not restore them to the Union,
whom did il restore? Not those who
floated down from the war-like States
of the North to play therole of Govern
ment officials. Not the Southern mep
who escaped from the South, and, hiding
in the caves, or flashing at Saratoga,
came back at the sound of Lee ; last bn-
giles to claim TO be the .StFe. 1t will be
the policy--it should be the poliey7Tot
the Southern delegates to test the SINGER
ity of Conservative professions They
must recognize the late rebels as The
State, or our delegations from the South
must withdraw. They must insist on one
of two propositions Is the South IN the
Union, or out of il? If in, II must then
be affirmed that the majority Of the peo-
pie of Southern State are the, STATE.
If contrary doctrine is maintained by
the Northern delegates, the Southern
members will be compelled to Withdraw
Then. SO far as the South is concerned,
there will be little choice, il any, between
the radicals aud conservatives
But the call is not for those who claim
to have beep aoyalsts during the war
There is no need of consultation with
them. They are generally Radical
Nor is there any need in holding counsel
with those who slaim that they eantake
the Congressional oath, as any prominent
Southern man who eau take. 1t sis' not
fair representative Of State that poured
all but few of its population into the tor
rent Of the war. The moverso of the Con
vention wish to consult With the people
ofthe South, the rebels, the seeesh,
the men who fought the Washington
Government through four years of san
culinary war, rose to. the dignity OF a
great belligerent nation, and ultimately
surrendered TO superior numbers The
loyalist is not conquered, is denied no
personal right, and, therefore, is not to
be reconstructed, tits not between these
men and the Government that peace is
to be made. E It's between the rebel pee
nile Of the South and the Government
In no shape or form is your Southern
loyalist fit representative Of the South
ern people He should not be sent to
Philadelphia The best men of
the South should go men who
stand at the head of the people and
sympathize with them. Let such be APP
pointed, and let such stand up in Phila-
: delphia and say to the Conservatives Of
the North: Here we are, gentlemen Con-
ervatives--Demoerats of the North
We come to talk with you at your invita-
ton. We desire to know what you pro-
pose to do with us. We are the men,
and represent the men who fought
you. We are the South. If you re-
quire MS to send men TO Congress who
can take the test oath, We cannot
90 there. We cannot take il Any one
among US who can, is not, and cannot
be our representative. We prefer to be
governed as we now are, rather Than be
thus misrepresented We have come to
consult You about these things, and de-
sire to know your views Such an APP
peal would bring out the Conservatives,
and some good might really result We
urge, therefore, the appointment of full
delegation Of the best men Of the South
the leaders Of the people ,.