The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1868-07-03
THE DEmOCRATIo CONVENTION.
The AnImus Of the Party.
EEoo1a M W1Shfn0ton rbronirIe.

After a separation OF eight years, all
of which they have employed in
bloody rebellion against the Govern
ment, or in an equally dangerous at
tack upon the attempt to restore that
Government in the interests of freedom
the Democrats meet once more in ma
tional convention. Precisely the ele-
ments which divided them in 1860. for
the purpose of electing Republican
President, and sofurnish a pretext for
secession and war, constitute the body
to assemble at Nav York on Saturday
next. 1.-THE Charleston Convention of
1860 had adjourned to meet in eight
years, the delegates 10 that of the 4th OF
July, 1868, could not be in more hearty
sympathy with that famous gathering.
Il is true thousands who voted for
John @. Breckiuridge in 1850, and a
large majority of those who voted for
Stephen A. Douglas in the same year,
now act with and form an influential
power in the Republican party; bnt the
ole pro.slaHery leaders,, North and
South, are nearly all to-day, where
they were In 1860 and throughout the
rebellion. geul.z-l era s31-,t
The fundamental purpose OF this Ma
-fional Convention Is to re-establish the
Government exactly as ii was before
the war. To secure this end they will
nominate such candidates and assert
snch principles as will best conceal
their real object. They will recognize
the abolition of slavery, and may even
promise to recognize the irancnlse S zen.
ferred upon the new citizens. IHey
3nnV 40 so far as 10 nominate Hancock
or Chase, but they auiH secretly hdTtaolttse
upon the great objective point OF restoring
tfe Government IN the interests Of those
IRho brought on the tOGr 10 0pertjtfOlR q.
The men composing this Convention
will therefore come together preeissly
-. III, rR1 6anfdnn
battlefield. Although ludicrous at
tempt Is made to cover their proceed
ings by a simultaneous meeting of a
few. soldiers who fought against the re-
bellion, and who will. probably in
their individual and unauthorized ca
paeity, renew their devotion to the ke-
public, yet the main constituent body
will labor to obliterate all those sacred
memories so fondly cherished by the
| loyal American people. How could 1t
be otherwise, with this main body
made up entirely of rebels who fought
against the country or OF Democrats
who sympathiZed with them?
The startling differences between the
two great parties copld not be more
truly delineAted than by the simple
statement that the inspiring element OF
the Republicans Is a constant and
grateful recollection OF the self.sacrlh-
cling Valor which saved the Republic,
while the equally controlling element
OF the rebel Democracy Is constant
and ungrateful contempt of this same
self sacrificing valor.
But IL this contrast is striking it Is
not more striking than the similarity
between the men who met at Charles
ton, in 1860, and the men who will meet
Mt New York on Saturday, The former
substantially declared that all legisla-
ton against slavery was unconstitu-
tional: the latter will declare that all
| Legislation in favor of reconstruction is
Unconstitutional. The former procur-
ed corrupt decision OF the supreme
Court TO cover their aggresslons; the
latter believe similar decision of the
same court awaits their success III NO
vember. The plotting SecessionlstS at
Charleston in 1860, finding that they
were out-voted at the polls, appealed to
arms; the plotting rebel Democracy
In 1868, anticipating the same tate, APP
peal TO prejudice. Reunited after a
| temporary separation-a separation,
however, which did not prevent a con"
slant sympathy between their leaders
their reunion Is to be signalized by n
new effort for the herestes they never
| for a moment Abandoned. NO matter
tDhGt may be said IN The Demncr0tIC
platform, The object Is the TeStoTttt0R' %
the rebel leaders of the South, and 1CIth
this the overthrow Of all the acts Of Tecon-
StrucEi0Il, invoking reputation or q re-
| co0Hition of the rebel IDGT debt, and the
payment of The traitors for the loss Of
their slaves.
Although, as have said, u concerted
| effort is made, to conceal this design
and to suppress everything like attacks
on General Grant, yet so sincerely is II
entertained that il frequently crops out
| In Democratic and rebel speeches and
editorials. have already called your
attention to the resolution of the South
Carolina State Convention, which lays
down the So hstantive condition that the
| Democratic National Convention mus
''declare against the fraudulent gov
ernments created by military power
under what are called Reconstruction
laws, and thereby restore to the Union
the Southern States such as they t0eTt
before the enactment of said LutDS." The
Cincinnati, Enquirer, Pendletpn's or
gan, of Saturday last, obediently echo
ing this mandate, says:
Those laws are. in fact, utilities, being ut
| terly opposed TO the Constitution OF toe
United States. They cannot stand mo
ment the test OF judicial scrutiny. TneJ
cam exist for any length OF tine after thu
| Sonth, is Withdrawn. Each House OF Con
greEs Is the judge Of the Qualifications Of ~
own member. The NEXT Democratic HoLsl
Of RepreSeHtn ttreS, In case Of coTttest, tctL
lreeo1nt=e, only s.tch u,enlbs5s as com
There under legal stats constitutions. and ina
hdpe been adopted by lL6 free consent o. IN
GCJlite peopls Of L19e State. The Senate Will b,
poWeTleeS to sustain an unconstitutional en-
actment against the other branches OF th'
GoYernment-theH House Of Representative:
and tue Supreme Court and, more than ali
the states themselves.
|