The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-08-16
The Convention.
From the Daily Nea0s.

Certain delegates selected to represent Demo-
cratic constituencies at the Philadelphia Con-
vention have determined not to urge their
claim to seats, in the face of any opposition
calculated to disturb the harmony of the assem-
blage. The motive is an honorable one, and
doubtless, the action of these gentlemen is to be
commended; but it is much to be regretted that
the Convention should be influenced at all by
any such spirit of prescription as would even
suggest the withdrawal OF duly accredited dele
gates. II the parties Withdrawing are, in their
individual opinions, in antagonism with the
sentiment Of the great body OF the Convention,
they certainly could not control its proceedings;
it, on the contrary, their views are those of the
majority, the propIiety Of their presence and
participation IS Still less 70 be disputed. 1t
is not in view of existing issues that
this sentiment OF prescription is held;
for it Is founded upon the political antece-
dents of individuals, in regard to questions
that have ceased to be a subject OF controversy
in the political arena. In originating and
organizing movement coniessedly Tor the pur-
pose of harmouiZing all the elements that can
be opposed to radlcallsm, it is most inudicious
policy to begin with ostracising any of the
friends of that purpose. The men who in the
Morrill, i've years ago, earnestly and conscien-
tionsly opposed the doctrine OF armed coercion
OF the States have no intention to advocate that
principle IN the Convention. The ques ions 10
be debated there are entirely distinct from those
that were the subject of contention before the
war and during its progress AS Justly might
those be excluded from the conservative camp
who were opposed to the Mexican war or to the
campaign against the Florida Indians. These
issues are all dead; but so far as this campaign
is concerned, they are not more thoroughly dis
posed OF than the theories maintained by the
Federal arms in the late struggle.
In all sincerity we invoke liberal spirit to
guide the organization of the conservative
party. The gentlemen who have withdra Wn
IRON the Convention have demonstrated that
they, at least, had no ambition in this move.
ment beyond the desire to do it service, as best
they might, whether delegates or as simple
servants OF the cause. II, through their absence,
any element OF d!scord will be avoided, they
will doubtless have attained their object. Then
let us hope that the remaining delegates will
equally ignore all personal considerations, and
will apply themselves, upon broad liberal, and
national principles, to the attainment of the
object tor which the Convention was called.
And tirsC they must feel that the memories of
the civil strife through which we have passed
should find no expression beneath the roof of
that WlgWam dedicated 10 the cause OF fraternal
union.
The Convention is not tribunal before which
10 discuss the wrongs, the enmIties the antago-
nisms OF the past; but an assemblage of the re-
prcsentatives OF the people in council gathered
to give utterance to the popular will, mlsinter-
preted and thwarted by faction chat has
usurped the powers OF national legislation. The
voice OF true patriotism will pronounce there
no word designed TO provoke recollections OF
the strife between the sections. The language
OF censure, even OF criticism, upon the events
OF that unhappy war will not be heard while
conservative influence controls the action of that
body. And much less, in the presence OF the
representatives OF the Southern people, will any
doctrine be advanced humiliating to the South,
offensive to Southern pride, or repugnant to tine
feelings OF those who shared the fortunes of the
Contederacy.
We arc convinced that the Southern delegates
will not be oVersensitive: that they will exhibit
neither temper nor awkward susceptibility in
debating questions that may reflect upon the
events and results of the war; but still It ia due
to their position and to the interests of the Con-
servatve cause to avoid dragging the history or
the sentiments of the past into the deliberations
of the Convention. Let the panegyrics upon
'loyalty" and the anathemas upon Treason" be
dispensed with on this occasion. Let there be
no recrimination, no provocation to the express
sion OF sectional prejudices; that the Conven-
ton, having fulfilled its mission, may in its very
record rebuke radicalism by proving to the Re-
public that the elements of concord and union
still exist and that Congress of the true repre-
sentatives of the people, North and South, can
meet and deliberate harmoniously and with
purely national spirit.