Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1874-09-21
THE SOUTHERN CONVENTION.

Some days since we made editorial
mention Of the fact that = movement
was On foot at the South for the holding
Of convention Of Southern Republicans.
at which the present distraeting state Of
affairs might be considered and remedial
measures adopted. Ii has now been de-
eided that such convention shall be cali
ed at Chattanooga. on the 18th Of oeto-
Der, The leading Republicans Of most
Of the Southern States are said TO be
warmly in favor Of the idea, and arc
lending their influence to make it sue
cess, Very wisely. the leaders Of the
movement have placed the date of the
meeting subsequent to the elections. 50
that the cry Of influencing votes cannot
be made use of BY the opposition. The
call. 1t is stated by dispatches, is not
addressed to Republicans merely, but to
all who earnestly desire the restoration
Of peace, order and good government in
the reconstructed States. 1t is being cir
eulated. not only in the extreme South.
and in the localities made notorious by
the recent outrages, bat in every State
infected with discomfort on account of
past measures Of reconstruction, and
those proposed for proper carrying out
Of the provisions of the Constitution and
national law. Delegates are expected
from Virginia. West Virginia, Delaware,
Nsrth Carolina, South Carolina. Georgia.
Alabama, Florida. Mississippi, louisa
ma, Kentucky, Tennessee, Missouri. Tex
as and Arkansas
Such q convention. it seems to us,
may. if conducted in the proper spirit,
be productive of incaleulahle good. Ev-
cry possible agency that can influence
popular opinion to a better way of think
ing. or that can bring about a better era
Of feeling among the disagreeing people
of the South, is urgently called for. The
fresh reign Of terror in Louisiana has
reopened the old sores that we thought
were so nearly healed, and much Of the
work must be done over again. We
know of no better way than fol the rep
resentatives of public opinion in every
Southern State to meet IN friendly coun-
Gil. for the purpose of calm and impair.
tial deliberation The situation of the
South is not to be played with by poll
tieians. or for political purposes. The
exact situation needs to be placed before
the people, free from the sensations and
exaggerations which have characterized
most Of the reports from Southern points
for months past.
The prevailing design of the conven-
ton is to promote a permanent peace
among the factions now at war with
each other, and restore the now afflicted
sections toa condition of safety. Until
that is done. everything is at stand
still. Industries of every kind suffer
the crops go to waste; and, worst of all
condition of social anarchy is engen
dered productive of the most alarming
results. Localities whose natural adyan
tages call for development lie idle anC
barren from the fact that no capitals
will invest. and no workmen from tn,
North win live in communities wher
human life is so cheap and destructibl
property so unsafe. The convention ais
proposes TO gather reliable and exact in
formation from every Congressional dis
triet in the South, in regard to the out
RACES, murders and lawlessness that hay
of late shocked the whole country an
disgraced those sections where they hav
occurred. By doing this, and acceptin
only such information as may be incon
; testably set down as facts. the true ca
: be sifted from the false, and. We hops
| much that has been ascribed to the pee
: pie of the South proved no more tina
: wicked and misehievous rumors-
The projectors of the convention hav
4 received assurances Of the attendance
e the President and Vice-P President and
large number Of members of Congres,
but VIC trust there is no truth in the II
Y tinati0ns that it will concern itself wit
0 the third term project The movemer
e can be looked upon as an opportunit
o for the better class Of the Southern De
; pie to begin a new era IN their histor,
a Let them only send their best men /:
: delegates, who will unite to search o,
= and punish the criminals now engage
: In a carnival Of murder and outrag
n men who will cordially sustain the Fe'
. eral Government in It's endeavors to DIT
Il tect those who seem powerless to prote
If themselves, and peace and prosperit
d viii not be long IN returning to the
r now devastated borders.-B0sto1z GLol
L One day recently provoked schoc
mistress sent nischieFous urchin dow
D. stairs to the principals Office to get pu
- fsEed FIR Tnfracfion of the miles IT