The Van Buren press., 1867-11-08

tOngrcs, Ia attempt 10 no Wa SioS> hsH PS-
tion. Hence he would say vote No Conveh- /,
ton because the act ordering Convention
was despOlic and by voting for that act We
ourselves became parties guilty in thi. Viola
ton OF the Constitution. IL We wanted that
instrument changed let rs 20 about 1t IN the
way provided in this Instrument itself. Bat
il Was evident the Republican party did not
want peace. Mr.. Lincoln In looking forward
to the close of the war, feared that the South
would prevent the restoration OF the Union by
refusing to send delegates to Congress and he
urged an amendment compelling them to do
so and during the war the Southern States
were Invited to send delegates to Congress
Arkansas scnt Mr.. johnson rs Representative
and hc was refused seat because he was not
the man tu suit their views Again the ith
Article WAS proposed as final settlement and
the States urged to accept il; Tennessee did
so but il was only aftera bitter debate in the
halls OF Congress that her delegates were ad-
mitted, the Republican party at the same time
declaring that the acceptance Of that amend
ment by state still lcft IL optional with them
whether the state would bcadmitted or rcius-
ed; why in the name OF Heaven offer a COM
promise which does not change our situation
even if we accept it, and yet the refusal of
the States i made the pretcXt of military dcs-
pOtism And in the question before rs now
what il We vote No Convention-wc are SIM
ply excluded. Suppose we vote For Conycn-
tion-thc people then may vote the new Con-
SttutiOn down and we are still excluded. Bat
suppose they do not-it then goes to the
President who can ifhc chooses put it in his
pocket and We are still excluded; but he
may send it to Congress and if they refuse it,
we are still excluded. But suppose they ac-
cept tive are then where We were when we
sent Mr.. johnson some years ago; that is we
must send the kind of'men they want or they
will be refused admittancc. Let Us then have
nothing to do with it, for do as we will we
cannot be admitted until after the next Prcsi-
dental election and after that we will be re-
ceved upon equal terms.
The speaker cautioned thinking men against
comforting political equality upon the negro !;
For he had read history in vain if it furnished
single example where social equality did
not inevitably result from political equality,
and if we were needless of this lesson genera
tions would arise to curse us as the authors of
their degradation. Some gentlemen thought
even if a Convention was called there will
still be time enough to countcr-act any harm
by refusing to ratify its proceedings; he be-
lieved otherwise and that the registration rolls
would be Oycrhauled and enough names
stricken of to make the ratification sure. Al
luson was made to the enmity which was in
creasing under these repeated wrongs; if we
wrong our nciShbOr once ortwice he may for
give us, but if we follow him up year after
year with repeated wrongs his hatred will
end only with his life; so it is with govern
ments and we need only turn to our neigh
boring State of Mexico for an exampie-herc
we behold descendant of Charles V. yield
ing up his government and sacrificing his life
to the hatred OF Juarcz descendant of Mon
tezuma. The manner in which the designing
yankees expected to confscate the lands OF
honest farmers, themselves becoming the easy
| anu lllcIIl W tIlt
negroes upon terms equal to "your noses on
the grindstone" was lucidy explained. Ifhe
had vote, it would not be for Gen. Bowen
he did not wish to instrust grave matters to
the hands of a stranger who had no interest
among us; it was pure business principle
and one that every prudent man should OBJ
serve. ..t '#
Our standard bearer JAMES GREIG, Esq,
then came forward and announced his views
upon the Convention. Like the speakers
who had preceded him, he was opposed to the
Convention; he was a candidate because his
friends compelled him to be; he had lived here
ever since Al and was well known; Gen.
Bowen his opponent was also we'll known in
Crawford, he had held high position here and
whether he bore the office meekly or grew
vain because of it, was also we'll known. He
had not canvassed the county-had business
at home to attend to; his interests were the
same as theirs and he went to the Conven-
ton he should certainly try and attend to
them; whether the Generals interests were
common with theirs, they knew as well as
himself; and the matter he was willing to
leave In their hands.
Is. ). BROWN, Esq, was called for, but excus-
ed himself, as the day was drawing to Il close
by furnishing clever anccdotc: The fishea
once had frog to make them spcech-thc
frog gave them long talk but after it was all
over, the pcrchcs still went on perchny and
the pixies went on piking and so he thought
If there was still Republican present he was
too deep in the wool to be converted.
And thus ended the most interesting politi-
cal meeting that your correspondent has had
the privilege Of witnessing for many years.
~t~
Our Connecticut Letter.