The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1867-11-07
Hon. G. w. Dudley on the Convention

This gentleman has recently published
letter in the Charleston NetUs on the
subject Of the approaching Convention
There is much in the tone OF his letter
which we cannot approve, but 10 the
main it's warning is such as to entitle it
to the consideration Of the people in the
important decision which they are about
to make. Being too lengthy for our
space, we publish the following extracts /:
He favors y Convention and says:
"lf any one can see possible advan.
tage to be derived from Opposition in
either Of its forms, his views Of public poll
cy are at least peculiar. Those who have
the power in their hands will 70, be iu.
timidated by anything short Of terrors
greater than they can inspire themselves
Now, what is there within the reach OF
the Southern people that can alarm the
Republican party The surrender Of
General Lee settled the arguments Of
force forever, and IL force cannot be EN-
ployed what will it avail TO quarrel about
issues that we cannot possibly control
II the hope be, that the recent elections
in Ohio and Pennsylvania exhibit the
growth Of Southern opinions in Northern
latitudes, hear what 10 said BY a Charles
tonian, now in New York: Il know many
of our people will conclude that the result
of the late elections in Pennsylvania and
Ohio will be Of great service to them
Such hope is idle. The apparent defeat
Of the Repu blican party in those States,
does not mean that the Northern people
are not as thoroughly united as TO the
rights Of tho South, as they were in the
early part Of the year. II our people did
not learn enough Of the perfdy Of the
Democratic party, during the war, they
deserve to have the lesson taught them
again. &c.
This is from the pen OF a soldier and q
clearheaded Southerner, who has watched
closely every passing event as bearing
upon the questions Of the day, and HE
opinion is that Il would be idle to expect
any encouragement from the Democratic
party in any Of the issues now pending
for the late elections have only settled the
domestic affairs Of those States. The peo
pie have said that they do not desire nei
gro suffrage where they live, and that Ia
all that they intend to say. They do not
mean that they want any distractions
thrown in the way Of reconstruction, but
they do intend to say that they consider
the plan OF reconstruction definitely set
tied, and that il must he carried ou, in
the South, no matter what questions II
may please the voters Of certain States to
discuss among themselves. Let IL not be
forgotten that even Revsrdy johnson
voted for this plan a. the best that could
be devised and nothing has occurred
since that vote that has changed bis opin
ion.
II the disagreeabls alternative Of ne.
gro suffrage 10 made a condition, it is be,
cause We refused to accept the Howard
Constitutional Amendment, under which
We might have been restored to the Union
without that condition. For this purpose
the negro vote is a necessity and cannot
be dispensed with whatever may be the
future policy it 10 evident that that vote,
on the present occasion, is simply loco
motive, placed upon the track 10 order to
draw in the Southern States to their
places in the Union, which they refuse ed
to accept upon terms offered that we're
far less or ,ctionabls.
What can We possibly gain by contio.
ually annoying the Northern mind, and
provoking !: TO tighten .hs coFds by which
We are already boundi But meet them
in q spirit OF cordial reconciliation we will
find our protectors. where they are now
constrained to be dictstors. providing for
their own safety by depriving those who
seem TO be hostile Of the power Of doing
any more harm. Let them be assured
that tho South intends to harmonic cor
daily with the North, and one by one the
knots now complained Of will be united,
and the same power that has exerted Il.
self 90 fearfully for evil will beuceforth be
exerted in Offices OF valuable friendship.
The fret step to be taken 10 this new
and desirable direction, is to vote for the
Convention. Make IL as respectable az
possible, and let its proceedings conform
to the model prepared by Congress. II
any delegate introduces other matter,
foreign to the legitimate business OF the
Convention. or IL II shall appear that lie
proper functions have been unwiseIy per
verted to improper ends, the only remedy
is with that Congress, which may contain
saemiss or friends. just a. the people may
choose to make them. one or the Other.
II they euti,le themselves to the protsc.
ton Of Congress, by = hearty acceptance
Of the terms offered, there Is not reason