Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1868-01-07
POLITICAL REVELATIONS.
How A. ]. Seduced Raymond into At
tending the Philadelphia Convention
How Raymond was Deceived and
Cajoled-A. J. on the Disloyal Democ-
racy.

tending the Philadelphia Convention
How Raymond was Deceived and
Cajoled-A. J. on the Disloyal Democ-
racy.
Hon. Henry J. Raymond has final
| ly been goaded into the publication of
a long letter, in the effort to explain
why be figured SO conspicuously in
the Philadelphia Copperhead Con-
vention of 1866. His defense is sim
liar to that presented by Father AID.
ans at the time of the fall, only Andy
Johnson and Sew ard were the ser>
penis that tempted him. The follow
ing is the gist of his "explapation :"
declined, therefore, to be can
didate for the Convention, and con.
scented finally to go into it only at
the very urgent persona! solicitations
and on the very strong political rep,
reservations of the President and
Secretary ofState. | gave them, as
my reason for not wishing to go, the
certainty that under the call the con-
vention would be in the hands of
|
the rebellion, and who in the North
had opposed the war; that it would
be hostile in temper and in principle
to the Union party, OF which was
not only member, but in which |
held an official position, that / could
not consent to act against its inter-
ests.
To this they replied that if the
members ia the Union party refused
TO take part in the Convention, it
would necessarily fall into hostile
hands and be used by the Democrat
ic party to indorse its principles and
aid it's fortunes but they were COM
ident that if Republican friends of
the Administration would 60 into
the Convention, they could guide
its action and secure adoption of ma
tional Union, and Republican princi
Piles, as they had beed affirmed by
the Baltimore Convention of 1864,
and carried out by President Lincoln.
President Johnson said he was very
anxious that the Convention should
not be left to enure the Democratic
party. He knew that party thor
oughly-it had been disloyal to the
Government while engaged III war,
and did not enjoy or deserve the con-
fidence of the people. The Union
party, which had carried the country
| through the war, was the party to
restore the Union now that the war
was over. He thought the leaders
in Congress were going to extremes,
and were entering upon policy
which would prevent the effective
extension of the party to the Souths
ern States, and that q Convention OF
| this sort, which would demonstrate
| the readiness Of Southern men to
accept the principle of the Union
party, would have a good effect on
the party itself, and lead to the
adoption of more moderate counsels,
| and put an end to the sectional char
acter of political parties. He said he
wanted the Convention to take pre-.
cisely the same ground which l had
taken in speech made a few days
before in Congress on restoration
ard the Union party, every word of
which met his approval and he felt
quite sure that if l would go into the
Convention, and write an address
embracing those views, it would be
promptly and heartily endorsed by
| the Convention.
These views were strongly press
ed by both the President and Mr.
Seward in o conversation which last
ed for on hour. ! asked them if it
was designed or desired to lay the
foundation for new political party.
The president said certainly not;
the Union party purified of the ex~
treme doctrines OF it's extreme men,
and adhering to the conservative
constitutional ground it had always
held, was the party which ought to
rule the country and restore the I'm
ion; and, if it would act wisely
in this matter, it could retain power
and administer the government
for twenty five years to come. l ask
ed if it was desired that the Conven>
sion should support or aid in any
way the success of the Democratic
party in the coming elections. The
President said, certainly not, as
party. All he desired was that the
Convention should exert q strong
moral influence upon the Union par
ty, and induce the nomination and
election to Congress OF moderate men
who were for restoring the Union on
Constitutional principles, and who
would admit Southern men into Con-
gress provided they would take the
oath required by law. 1t was only
| in cases where the Republicans should
nominate extreme Radicals that he
should desire the election of Demo-
Gratis in their stead.
| told the President that l could
not refuse to do anything in my
power to aid an object which, as he
had represented it, seemed so just
and desirable, and that ] would go
| into the Convention, if elected, and
prepare an address for its considera-
tion-with this understanding-that
| if the Convention did not take the
ground indicated, but fell under the
control of rebels and Copperheods, |
should bolt. Certainly" he replied,
sand so hope will every friend |
have in it.
/ think you may very easily infer
from this what 4, at all events, chad
in view" in going into the Philadel-
phia Convention. Ithad been called,
and was certain to be held. 1t was
likely to be imposing and influential,
and certain to aid either the Demo>
cratic party by taking the ground it
had held, or the Union party by ad-
vocating its principles and acquies,
cling in its policy. thought, l
would be rendering the Union party
a service by trying to bring about
the latter result. | thought that the
Convention would be a powerful
agent in Matchmaking the Union par
a., ~ eaonrinor for ifs essential and