Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1868-04-24

Editorial Correspondence of the Mobile Register.
What is Expected of the Southern Delegates
In the Democratic National Convention
| Pend.e,on and the Presidency.
~ WASHINGTON, April l.
The universal wish and expec-
tation of the Democracy of the United
States is that the whites of the South shall
be represented by delegates in the Nation
al Convention. I have taken good deal
of pains to learn what are the sentiments
of leading Democrats as to the action of the
party, should it win the administration in
the November contest, in reference to Fed
eral policy toward the South. It was
question of the largest practical interest,
whether, should the Democracy come into
power, it would leave the whites of the
South to struggle as best they could out of
the mire of Radical reconstruction, or
whether it would at once lift them out by
the strong hand of Federal power. I get
but one answer to the inquiry, and that is
the Democracy will be swift to sweep from
the statute book the whole system of mill
tary and African reconstruction as utterly
null and void and of no effect, and at once
to recognize the existing white Constitu-
tions of the Southern States, and re-admit
the latter to their full equality into the
! Union. [ must confess that / did not per
sonaly need such assurances, for when
policy and good faith both point to one
course, the result is seldom doubtful. But
some Southern friends did deem them ne
cessary I think that before Congress ad-
iourns, the Democrats in that body will
make further declaration and pledge to this
effect.
Inhuentially, the Southern delegates will
have to play very Important part in the
July National Convention. L am sure the
feeling of the men of the South is to bear
themselves with moderate reticence in that
body, upon whose action SO much depends.
But Il position of great influence will be
forced upon them, as to advice upon, if not
absolute determination of, very import
ant and delicate question. This relates not
to the platform--for happily there will not
be unmanageable diversity of opinion
here--but to the choice of the available
candidate. General Grant being the op-
posing candidate, the soldier vote of the
late great armies. now scattered in every
State, will be large clement i'll settling
the result. And the question is, can that
be counted on for Democratic candidate,
taken from the wing of the Peace Demo
cracy ?" TO take all extreme case hardly
any will be found to deny that it would be
extremely hazardous to make Mr.. Valland-
ingham the standard-bearer, for not only
would his peace principles and his copper
headism be vocalized from every stump,
but his actual hostility to the war. 1t won t
do to undertake q million of men who were
in arms in that war, even by implication
that they fought and risked life and limb
on the wrong side. No one knows this bet
ter than Mr.. Vallandingham himself. He
felt and patriOtlcally acted upon it at the
august, 1861 Philadelphia Convention,
when, to avoid conflict Of opinion, he re-
Trained from pressing his undoubted claims
to seat on its floor. Had he done so no
conscientious Southern man. grateful for
sacrifices to his people, could have voted
against his right to sit, and yet the politi-
cal effect of SO just vote would have been
unfortunate at the time. Mr.. V. yielded
his rights to the cause of harmony
Mr.. Pendleton. of Ohio, will go into the
New York CONVENTION with a greater num-
Der of, and more enthusiastic friends, than
any other man. Everybody admits his
high qualifications for the Presidential
office Independent in private fortune he
has turned his leisure for years past to ac-
count in studying the science of politics and
government, and he stands before the coun-
try ripe statesman, equal to the duties OF
the highest offices of craftsmanship. Ad-
ded to this, his character as &; man and a
gentleman is lofty, unimpeac.. ihle and
spotless. II he could be elected, say even
those who question the expediency of his
nomination, he is all that the party could
want and the country demand in Presi-
dent of the United States. But the outcry
aginst Vallandingham, it is argued, would
be raised in a lower key against Pendleton.
The idea of this class of Democrats is that
the Democratic candidate must go to the
soldier vote with an unstained war record,
or Grant will win in such soldier States as
Illinois and others in the West, which we
cannot afford to lose. And what is little
singular, this class of Democrats look to the
Southern influence in the Convention to
settle the question Of eXpediency and policy.
The Southern stake in the result is so IN
speakably great that these gentlemen be-
lieve the South i'll the Convention will de-
eide the question with the maturest con
sideraton, and under the gravest RESPONSE
bilities of sound Judgment. [ submit the
case for reflection to our people at home.
My own feeling about it needs no con-
cealment. While | believe PendletOn is the
trained statesman who would best fill the
office, and while he is my first choice, the
fact that the man, who has lately made his
mark so friendly to freedom. as commander
of the Fifth Military District, was the best
fighting corps commander in the Federal
army, would not cause me to hesitate one
I instant in giving him my most cordial sup,
port. So, too, of President Johnson, if es-
Gaping impeachment, and he should be eli,
) gible, and by chance the Democrats should
nominate him. This is great question,
involving nothing less than the "deliver-
ance and liberty" of ten States, and to be
most carefully pondered.
a Radical View or impeachment.
The Washington Chronicle thus ex
presses itself concerning the final result al