American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1866-07-21
The Philadelphia Convention-0nce
More, Briefly.

@s4SA ~
We were in favor OF sending dele
gates from this State to the Phila-
delphia National Convention from
the beginning, and we are in favor
of it still. We have seen nothing, as
vet, to change our opinion. We con-
fess we cannot see in this propC ST.
ton, emanating from the North, that
the Conservatives of all sections OF
the Union shall meet in convention,
Trojan horse that is to ride rough
shod over us and trample out the
little breath and vitality that the
war has left in us. We "can't see
it."
1t is indisputable, that there is
party in the North that, SO far, has
deprived us of all participation in
the legislation of a Government
which demands our allegiance and
compels us to pay tribute to lt-e
party that would hold the Southern
States as conquered, subjugated
provinces, to be kept "out i'll the
cold" indefinitely. But it is also
true. that there is another party at
the North. the exact antipodes of
this-a conservative, constitutional,
union party, that favors the policy
of the President, to restore the South
ern States, 'lately in rebellion" to
all their rights, privileges and i'm
munitles. This party is composed
of the old-line Democrats and con-
servative Republicans, a party which
it is fondly hoped will be in the as
cendant at the forthcoming elections.
The Democratic party of the North
has always held to the doctrine of
State Rights and State Sovereignty.
1t voted for Breckenridge and Lane
in the Presidential election of
1860, and for Mcclellan against Lin
coin in the election of 1864. 1t is
composed of such men as Mcclellan,
Pendleton, Long, Nallandigham,
Salisbury, Ben. Wood, Mutually, and
a host of others whose names do
not now occur to us. Then there
are a large number of moderate Re
publicans who are in favor of giving
us all our rights under the constitu-
ton, and of an immediate restoration
of the Union. To say that these two
classes of men at the North are nat
the "friendS" of the South, is a sim
pie absurdity. They invite lis to
meet them in council, for the pur-
pose of defeating the wicked machin-
atoms of the Radicals, and to re-
store us to our former status III the
Union. Shall we treat such men as
enemieS-Shall we say, by our refusal
TO meet them, 1--WE have no faith III
you--yOur invitation is but the
syren's song to lure us to our destruc-
ton 2" The Southern people will
not be guilty of SO great a blunder'
As to 'tloyalty," we have all taken
the oath of allegiance to the United
States Government, and we claim to
be "loyal." If any other test of 10y
atty should be prescribed, the dele
gates from the South can simply re-
tire, with dignity not humiliation.
They will have shown their willing
ness, nay, their anxiety, to meet the
Conservatives of the North in a
spirit of fraternity, amity and con-
cord. If humiliating conditions are
proposed, the South will reject them
and will have the proud conscious
ness of knowing that she has done
all she could do, without dishOnOr,
to restore a broken Union. She will
thus have placed herself right before
the world.
1t should be borne in mind that
the leading object of the proposed
convention is to effect a better un
Outstanding among conservative mel
of all sections, and to see whether
they cannot harmonic upon some
plan of operations By which they
may be enabled TO defeat the radica