The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1867-12-21
Correspondence of the Washington Chronicle.
THE GEORGIA CONVENTION.

"a ArLANEA, Ga, Dec II.
THE convention now assembled in this
s city have begun, but not COMPLETED, their
81 work z6f organization. The elements of
which it is composed are harmonious to a
greater extent than was hoped. So far from
its giving promise of placing Georgia under
the dominion ofnegroes, as has been foolishly
: asserted by interpretation press of the State,
there arc but thirty-eight negroes In the
convention, and so far from the white men
OF the State having been, as mass, oppos-
eel to its, assembling it is ascertained, from
official returns, that more than $4,000
white men of the $4,000 who registered
their names voted for a convention, or-witll-
in 10000 in round numbers of majority Of
the white voters. s.ra-ftF= IL
The delegates, with great unanimity, rep
resent that but for the pressure OF pubic
sentiment among their white constituents,
even in the black belt of the State, this large
number of white votes for the restoration OF
Georgia to the Union would have been in
creased to a decided majority and it is con-
fiClcntly believed here that such good consti-
tuition will be adopted for the government
of the State that the number of those who
will oppose its ratification will be largely in
the minority. 49, '--''-
The so-called Conservative convention
that lately assembled in Macon was good
illustration of the practical working of the
reconstruction acts. It was the object of
those acts to exclude from participation in
the work of demonstrating the State such
persons in Georgia as have been prominent
political actors before and during the late
war; The names of many of these excluded
men appear as appointecs to this opposition
convention; but the number of these actu-
ally present was much less than the number
appointed. The absence of some of the
most prominent of them is commendable.
The number of the DISTINGUISHED in the
State is comparatively small, and the major:
ity of the voters is about 1000 in favor of
the white race. If any objection is found
against the inexperience of some of the
members of this convention. the fault lies at
the door of the white persons themselves,
who in some instances did all in theirpow-
or to bring it into disrepute. 1t is farfrom
being true, however, that the convention is
destitute of talent, or that it will not com
pare favorably with similar bodies that have
hitherto assembled in this State; and what
is lacking among the delegates in talent and
! experience is more than made up in exalted
| patriotism and true devotion to the Union.
| AS an illustration of this we refer to the
speeches of both the temporary president,
Mr.. Blodget, and the permanent president,
Mr. Parrot .... ..i -. e.
| The delegates met in this city at the ap-
pointed time Such cordial greetings =
Many are in Office for the first time in their
lives. and most were strangers to one anoth-
err. 1t was quickly ascertained, from the
usual canvassings for the offices of the con-
vention, that there are nominaly two parties
in the body which may be best dominated
by the League and the anti-League. That
there is really much difference of sentiment
in these parties have been unable to discov-
err What difference there may have been
in regard to the application to the, members
and officers of the body of the test oath
seems to have been quickly. abliterated by
the all-prevaiIing sentiment discovered
among the members of moderation and
charity. 1t is not to be understood from
this that the convention is not disposed to
secure for itself and for its friends the advan-
tage which they have gained. That would
be contrary to human nature itself; and in
expectation that the convention would pro-
vide. as far as possible, in the distribution
of its offices, for its friends and supporters,
an unsual number of applicants for each Of
flee have presented themselves, The party
which sent the delegates here is in the maj
ority in all, or nearly all the counties of the
State, and this majority, it is expected, will
be largely increased when the time for the
ratification of the constitution comes. Pas
sion will then mcasurably have subsidized;
vituperation will have ceased from sheer ex-
haustion of the abusive epithets of the En-
glish language, and with rejoicing hearts
many will vote for ratification who have be-
come converted to the measure, or who have
hitherto been deferred by lack of moral
courage, from doing what they believed to
be their duty. ...,,.-. 4
The convention assembled in this city be-
cause there was no sentiment IN the commun-
ity of Milledgeville to give it support. Here
there is, and such sentiment is worth more
for insuring the good treatment of the mem
Ders than egiment of soldiers; and if. in
the future the property holders of Miledge
vile shall suffer by the removal of the capt.
tol of the State to this place, they will have
only to thank the intolerance of their. city
press for the damage they may sustain.
1t must not be supposed from the kind
feelings expressed by the members of this
body toward the erring and unrepentant
that there is lack of frmness and determlna-
ton in the body. The future may be safely
left to reveal how far such charge can be
sustained. 1t is the first duty of all persons,
bodies, and governments to throw around
themselves protection, and I hesitate not to
say that the convention Of the people of
Georgia, now assembled in this city, will 4
prove itself amply adequate to the accom-
plishment of that object .',t.
During the three days past the convention
has elected temporary president, Mr.. Eos
ter Blodget, OF Augusta, a permanent pres
dent, Mr. j. R. Parrot, of Gainesville, Sec
rotary, Mr. P. NJ. Shelbley, of Rome, and an
assistant secretary. Mr.. A. E. Marshall, of
Forsythe, Ga. Two of the officers the
doorkeeper and messenger are colored men,
Rev. MIR. Prettyman, of the Methodist Epis-
copal Church, was chosen chaplain. Il
The colored members seem quite at home
in the body, and take their full share in its
deliberations. Some of them evince great
intelligence and aclimen., The white men,
bers are necessarily thrown in contiguity to
them, and seem not to mind the proximity
as much as was apprehended.
Reconstruction and Rebellion...Their
Relative Cost. IN
The Montgomery convention has cost the
State fifty thousand dollars, all of which