The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1872-05-29
COLUMBIA. s. G.
Wednesday Morning. May %, 1872.
Wo "0an't SEQ IT."

can take part in the deliberations Of the
Baltimore Convention on the question of
endorsing Greeley and Brown and still
not be bound by the decision, but that
we may be bound by the action Of the
Convention, if we take part in the nomi-
nation of candidates. This the Neaos
pronounces ''olear enough" It is not
by any means clear to us. We are una
BILE to see how the nature of the .ques-
ton to be decided can in any way re-
move or determine the obligation to ac-
quiesce in the will Of the majority.
unless the question be one beyond the
legitimate sphere Of the meeting, as set
forth in the call. What is the difference
between voting for the acceptance of the
Cincinnati nominees, and for the selec-
tion of Democratic candidates, that the
participation in the one should entail an
obligation to abide the result, while in
the other it should not?
The News argues as if there were to
be two conventions-the one to deter
mine whether Greeley and Brown shall
be accepted or rejee ted, and the other q
sort of contingent affair. dependent
upon the action of the first, aud de-
signed to select o suitable Democratic
ticket, provided it's predecessor demurs
to Greeley and Brown. There does not
happen, however, to be any arrange
ment of this kind. But one convention
is called. It is to be o Democratic Con-
course to be pursued in the coming
Presidential election for the welfare of
the country and of the Democratic
party. The very same delegates who
are to discuss and determine. the ques-
ton of coalition with the Liberal Re-
publicans, will proceed, in case there is
negative decision of the first question,
to select Democratic standard bearers.
We respectfully submit to the News
that it makes distinction without
difference. The fact that such sophisti-
cal arguments have to be resorted to in
order to justify our sending delegates TO
Baltimore, shows that we cannot with
propricty do it. If we understand Alright
the public sentiment of the State, it is
opposed to the reorganization of the De-
mooratio party. The prejudices of the
oolored people against that party ore
strong, embittered. and beyond hope of
removal. What folly it would be, then,
to take such steps as will surely revive
their slumbering preiudices at the very
crisis at which we are anxious to use
every means in our power to influence
them to give US q better Government in
the State. But, says the Ne,0s. the as
@embling in convention is not perma-
nent reorganization of the party. This
means, we presume, that it is tempo
rary reorganization which is aimed at.
If it is'not good thing to have, We pre-
fer not to have it at all, neither perma-
nently nor temporarily. There is no
way to escape the conclusion, that if
Democratic Executive Committee, as
such, issues call which is responded to,
aud q convention assemblies and takes
action pursuant to the call, there is,
ipso facto, Reorganization of the party.
Furthermore. it must be plain that if
they do not go as Democrats, our dele
gates have no right to seat in the Bal
timore Convention, which is Democratic.
Simple opposition to the Radical faction
of the Republican party cannot furnish
o sufficient qualification for membership
of the Baltimore Convention. If that
were true, then Greeley, Schurz, Trum-
bull. and all the other Liberal Republi-
cans, must be allowed to take part in the
proceedings or to have their representa-.
tives there. Ours is quite different
case from that of the Conservatives of
North Carolina and Virginia. They are
Democrats in national politics, and ex-
pect to act with that party, and to abide
whatever decision may be made ut Balti.
more. We propose to act with perfect
independence of the Democratic party
or the Baltimore Convention. If that
body aots as We think best for the coun-