The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1866-08-21
The Philadelphia Convention.
From the Richmond Times.1

From the richmond Times.
The interesting particulars of the last day.
proceedings of the great Philadelphia Conven
ton, will be found in another column of this
paper. Its mighty work was accomplished
in three days, and in that brief time il dug The
foundation, laid the cornerstone, and reared
the superstructure of new party, which is
destined to annihilate that revolutionary Or
ganlzation which menaces the nation with
anarchy and utter ruin. ~ 81 q.
While the effects of the Convention will
prove Of incacuable advantage to the South
ern people, the part allotted to our delegates
in its proceedings was not particularly bril-
liant or fattering to our selEesteenl.
Personally the delegates from the South
were most kindly and Hospitality treated, but
they were required to swallow resolutions
which must have tasted about as pleasantly as
mixture of gall, SIENNA and worm wood.
The scenic effect of the plethoric Orr. of
South Carolina, and of the demure looking
Couch, of Massachusetts, walking armand
arm into the great wigwam, was no doubt
very striking, but even Orr must have made
as many wry faces when he swallowed several
of the resolutions as the ''ancient Pistol" did
over the leek which he was forced to devour.
The resolutions eulogistic of the Federal
soldlery were not, we imagine, hailed with
any especial ntfusiasm by the Southern dele
gates, whose houses had been burned and
lands laid Waste by those. Immaculate pat
riots. Nor can we be expected to feel keenly
interested Ia the widows and orphans of those
Federal soldiers who were slain by our armies
while every act of private charity to the
wldows and orphans of our own chvarous
dead Is denounced as an exhibition of treason.
The congratulations and rejocings of the
Convention over the triumphs of the Federal
armies, must have grated some what harshly
upon the ears Of General Dick Taylor and the
other ex-Confederate Generals then and there
present. While every Southern delegate in
attendance is faithful to his allegiance and
willing to submit to the inexorable logic of
defeat, none of them would have given way
to irrepressible grief had the result of the war
left the Convention NJ cause Tor rejoicing.
Nothing but the necessities and exgencies
OF most important canvass could, we hope,
have induced the Northern delegates to in-
troduce into their platform resolutions which
they knew must have been offensive to the
Southern delegates.
There is, we believe, much Indignation felt
that the Southern delegates should have
quietly submitted to the obnoxious resolutions
to which we have referred. Many think that
they should have left the Convention rather
than sanction their adoption by their presence
We think differently, however. Tlss .s-si..
tions for the most part are unexceptionable
Ttey advocate every measure OF reconstruc-
ton which we approve, and they denounce
all those acts of vile Radical oppression Of
which we have been the victims. The trainers
of the obnoxious resolutions are as implacable
enemies OF the Radicals as ourselves. We
know that they are our friends and that if
they are defeated this fall, our enemies will
not stop short of negro suffrage and the i'm
parchment of the President.
After a long civil war, which was waged
with unusual ferocity and vindictiveness we
could not have expected greater unanimity of
sentiment than that which marked the late
Convention, We must submit to some differ
ence Of opinion with our friends, or become
the sport of the Revolutionsts and the vassals
of the freedmen di'
If the principles of the Conservative party
are acceptable to the Northern people, we
shall very soon be restored to all Of our po-
litical rights. as
In Spite therefore, of the character of some
of the resolutions the people of the South
have every reason to congratulate themselves
upon the complete success of the first Nation
al Convention which has been held for six
years. The position of our delegates was
most embarrassing one, but the policy OF re-
ticenee and caution was SO obvious that we
rejoice they did nothing which was calculated
to produce dissension.
An officer who greatly distinguished him
self in the wars upon our frontiers was once
asked to sum up the duty of soldier. His
reply was ''to fight Indians" Until their
grasp upon our throat is released, we should
ard MI nd
merely as weapons for the demolition of Rad
ioalism. When that party is routed and put
to the sword, we will hang up our bruised
armor and greatly improve and lberalize our
platforms of principles.