Year: 1866

The process of regulating and prescribing
beforehand the proceedings OF a great National
Convention is extremely interesting; glance
behind the curtain discloses performances which
are very curious, and sometimes very astonish-
ing. On the floor of the Convention ITSELF it is
but seldom that anything of consequence is
accomplished. Like an automaton the vast,
unwieldy body each day goes through the pro-
gramme which the leading spirits have arranged
for it in the parlors and corridors of the hotels
on the previous evening. This was especially
the case with reference to the late Wgwam
gathering in this city, but with this marked
peculiarity-the leading spirits were so few in
number that you could sum them up on the
fingers of one hand.


In the great Convention of Southe rn Unionists
now in session in our city, every man is a lead
ing spirit and it is in this respect thet it differs
most essentially from its Wigwam predecessor.
The consequence of tins popularity is that an
immense amount of wire-pulling is done, and an
immense amount of argument directed at a
single auditor.


On Sunday evening the question of


The Permanent Organization of the Con-


ven ton


might have been considered settled, so univer-
sal was the opinion OF the delegates that ex-
Governor Pease, of Texas, was the proper person
for the position. But yesterday morning the
tables began TO turn in favor of ex-AttOrney
General Speed The Tennessee delegation pro-
nounced openly in his favor, which was great
accession to his strength; and by the time that
the Committee on Permanent Organization held
their meeting, Immediately after the adjourn
ment of the Convention, the change had been
so complete that his selection for that position
was made certain.


The way in which this change in the minds
of the delegates was brought about is interest
ing. Governor Pease is an advocate of uncon-
ditional negro suffrage, believing that it is the
only guarantee of protection that can be given
the loyal men of the South, who remained
faithful and true to the Union through the
| darkest days of the war; For this reason he
| was at one time the almost unanimous
choice of the delegates Since then,
however, parties whN are interested per-
! sonally and politically, in the success OF
| the coming elections in the North, have
| been at work with the Southern delegates
Their only argument is the fear that if the Con-
| vention pronounces IN favor of negro suffrage,
| success at the polls throughout the North will
| be jeopardIzed. For this reason the effort was
| made, and it has resulted successfully, to head
off the unconditional negro suffrage men in the
selection of the permanent Chairman OF the
| Convention. So immense was the pressure
| brought to bear by the anti-sutrage men, that
some delegates who were yesterday afternoon
| placed on the Committee on Permanent Organi-
zation simply because they were pledged to the
support of Governor Pease, are accused of
''going backFon their pledges, and giving their
support to Mr.. Speed.


Ex-Attorney-General Speed was not fixed
upon by the anti-suffrage men because he was
one of their number, but because he was not the
candidate of the negro-sufrage men. His
| qualifications for the distinguished honor can
be questioned by no one who respects true
! patriotism and answering loyalty,