They did not require any refinement of argument to convince them that men who attempt to destroy a Government should not be permitted at once to share in its administration.

They believed that the Congress of the United States would be guilty of a great wrong if it should unconditionally surrender its power to the men who demanded admission to peaceful control of the National only because they had failed to disrupt it by war.

Mr.Raymond's personal friends and admirers, who were not confined to any one party, were amazed at the recklessness of his position.

He did violence to sound logic by claiming more than was necessary to his argument, and he seriously injured his reputation for political shrewdness by attempting to enforce a policy which grated on the sensibilities and aroused the prejudices of the vast majority of those who had filled the ranks of the Union Army.
Great advantage was expected by the President's supporters from the fact that the convention, as they averred, was so truly "National"-- having delegates from every State of the Union.

This feature was presented as in hurtful contrast with Republican conventions, whose members came almost entirely from the loyal States.