The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1866-09-14


= The moDgreI convention which met at
Philadelphia on Monday last, adjourned f.
nally on Thursday evening. 1t issued an
address and platform, weak in conception,
false in terms. and wholly unsatisfactory to
the friends Of Congress, in matter and scope.
This extraordinary assemblage was called /
by few corrupt and discarded Southern
politicians withsa view ofsetting on foot an
organized Radical party in the South-in |
which it has most signally failed The ac-
ton il has taken. instead of strengthening,
has weakened the cause it was intended TO
build up, both in the North and the South.
For this it is entitled to the thanks of the |
people of the country. A few words as to I
its origin, progress and termination:
It was called by few bankrupt and char
acterless politicians from the Southern
States, who dubbed themselves Southern
Loyalists.'''' The delegates, as a general !
thing, who appeared as representatives. of
the Southern people, were self-constituted |
and really represented nobody. They were
made up of about one-half Southern men in /
whom the people had lost confidence and
respect, the other half strangers and adven-
turers, who came to the South as camp fol |
lowers during the war, or as spectators af- !
ter its close.
Generally the Radical wire-pullers APP
pointed delegations from the Northern
States to the convention, and most of these
delegates were present, including the free
negro, Fred Douglass, and few others of
the same color. It was supposed, at the
time of their appointment, that the conven-
ton would assume national character, and
the delegates from all parts would sit and
act together as one body, For some reason
this expectation was not strictly fulfilled,
and all the Northern State delegates were
held and treated as "consulting delegates
They did not have any voice or vote in open
convention, but had the unlimited run of
the committee rooms, and a strong hand in
cutting out the work proposed. They re-
manned, therefore, behind the curtains, and
the Southern Loyalists' acted the bur-
lesque in front. They adopted an address
and string of resolutions, the former here
tofore given, and the latter printed in an
other column this morning. The platform
means absolutely nothing, except opposi-
ton to President Johnson and his support
ers. 1t wholly fails to lay down the Radi-
cal doctrines, 1t omits all direct issues up
on the subject of representation or negro
suffrage-the two chief pillars in the Rad
ical temple.
This was not satisfactory to a portion of
the delegates. and after a prolonged strug-
gle in committee, the malconients were
squelched. But they renewed their demands
in convention, and were met and defeated
by the previous question. At shis stage of
the proceedings many members left the as
sembIy, asserting that the convention had
concluded its labors, although it had not
finally adjourned. Among these was the
presiding officer, Mr.. Speed, who. left the
chair, and disappeared. The remaining
members, among whom were Gov. Brown
low and others Of the Tennessee delegation,
reoPened the question of negro suffrage, and
by vote of IS to II, adopted an address ad-
vocating and urging negro suffrage. They
thus split into two separate factions, and
the convention goes before the people d.
videdf upon the most important question
before it.
1t is but just to both parties to say that
all were really in favor Of negro suffrage,
and o social equality with the negro; but,
while one thought it was impolitic to say It,
the other insisted on putting it in the plat
form. Practically, they are substantially
agreed but their indecision and want Of
harmony will-dsprive them of that political
unity SO necess ary to success, and has
placed them before the country in an atti-
tude at once weak and ridiculous.
This division occurred among the South
eruers themselves. Aud what may appear
singular, the Gulf tier of States were the in
satiable advocates of negro suffrage, includ-
ing the majority. If not all the Tennesseans,
while the border States, Maryland, Virgin
ia, Kentucky and Missouri, were oppo ed
to it. The reason is plain--though dis
creditable. In Tennessee and the Gulf
States 1t is clear that the Radicals cannot
carry eorporal's guard without the negro
vote, while in the other States they hope to
succeed, or at least keep up respectable
organisation until henegro is invested with
the voting privilege
Such has been the action Of the convep.
ton, of which there has been sue -four
ish Of trumPets. There is not an expert
euced RadicalpOlitieisn in the country, who
will honestly claim that it has added a par
tielc 10 the cause it was designed to
strengthen.
cbsnoery Court adiourued last night.