The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1865-06-14
Reconstruction in North Carolina.


ernor ". ". Holden. lie was a delegate
10 the state Convention 0f SCI, and signed
the ordinance of secession because he says
escape was physically and morally impos-
sible." But Mr.. Holden mas for some time
worked against the rebellion. as an editor
Of a paper 90 Raleigh, and as the peace
or Union candidate for Governor There
seems 10 be 10 doubt but be L sincerely
for the Union. But be- comes % the work
before him with the prejudices VI the for
mer generation. To said, in late speech
that he would educate the cOlOred man, re-
connie his married relations, let him learn
10 read aud hold property; but as tine
whole vast continent is destined to fall IN
der the control Of the AnglO-sax0n race
the governing and elfgoyerned race, he
determine the relations between the two ra-
ces. We hold that this twaddle about the
governing race" is all nonseuse-an Idea
contrary 10 our National Constitution and
to republican institutions, and Is the very
foundation on which Calhoun built lis the
ory of society lie thought the capitalist
should own the laborer. This Is the same
idea carried to us ultimatum. Holden's
idea is merely preliminary 20 this result-a
large step in that direction. such i the
Governor the President has selected.
2. Under this Governor state COnven-
ton is 10 be- held 10 form q state Consiitu-
ton. Persons who were voters before May
9th IsCl. and shall have taken the oath
prescribed in the amnesty proclamation OF
MAY 20. ls6J, may vote for members OF
such Convention, OF DO members thereof
and no others. This Convention. or the
succeeding Legislature, will prescribe the
qualifications OF being voters and holding
Office under the new State Constitution.
Under these provisions all rebels except
those ovciufed from the benefit Of the am
nesty proclamation, Immediately become
voters. If they choose 10 take the oath, and
all the legislative power OF the State is put
into their hands Jointly With the small num-
her Of Union men who have always been
voters.
Now lei Us look at the figures. The pop
ulation of North Carolina in ls6O, was gg2,
e62. of whom so. 1853 were free cOlOred, and
33IO59 we're slaves Thus tho coIored
population is rather more than third Of
the whole. OF the white population iu
1850. Is. sos were holders Of slave. All
freemen of the age of 81 years, who hav
been inhabitants OF the state twelve months
NAV vote for Governor and member OF tnc
House fCommons. According To The cen
sus Of 1850. there were at that time 81. 30
white males and Il, 327 white females, over
20 years of age who could not read and
write, and the total number OF this class in
the State excluding slaves, was so, l23, or
Just about one person IN ten Of the whole
population. Michigan had AZ that time %
the same class just 5, PSI, or one-tenth of
the number in North Carolina, being one
in As OF our population. The blacks, as I
voters. are objected TO As being ignorant
but We see that ignorance is not limited al
together 70 one color.
There can be no doubt that a large ma I
jOrity of the white people have not only /
participated in the rebellion. hut have been
rebels at heart and having the offer of all
political power 10 DE put into their hands, Z
they must be different from other men if
they do not accept il and use il 10 aggran- /
die their own class and shut out all others /
from rivalship in power and privilege. BY /
the census Of 1850. it appears that, in the
eleven late rebel States, the exact numbers
were 5.f77.2 ODD whites and 5. 666, 10 col
Ored and Indian population. The present
proportion is undoubtedly more favorable
10 the blacks. In two of the States they
are a majority OF the whole population
In five others they arc more than One-third,
and in every one of the old slave States
they are enough, when united with the 10y
al whites, 10 control the state.
If Gov. Holden's idea of the '.g0rernin0
class" be carried into the reconstruction OF
the other rebel States. We shall have the
spectacle Of more than half of all the peo-
pie in South Carolina and Mississippi. and
about one-half in Louisiana. excluded for
ever from all participation in the govern
ment of the States. The portion excluded
will be all loyal. and will he excluded bv {
the action Of persons nearly all disloyal, /
and for the benefit OF the disloyal portion.
There wiz be no more certain way Of !
causing trouble disturbance, and violence /
in these States in the future. than by exclu- i
ding a majority or a large minority Of the
people from all political power. the persons /
excluded beng all of one race, and having I
been excluded for the sole reason that they (
were OF that race. Modern history. for 4
several centuries, presents long catalogue Z
Of mobs. Instructions. civil wars. and ma
iiona! wars. all Of which grew out Of the
tetermination,of the oppressed and disirau-
chised classes 10 share political power and Y
privilege with their more favored fellow
\ cOtomporary Justly OBJ
serves:
The fundamental political fact OF this "
country has been its progress toward G
more perfect and wise distribution OF the e:
light OF suffrage. In England the break e,
ne down Of the rotten borough system il f.
ustrates this truth. In France, Napoleon .
SIN rules by suffrage however imperfect. =
n place OF BOurbOnIsm. which ruled bv d. a
me right In Italy the same progress is es
gong on. In the rad cal dissolution OF Old d,
IMPRESSIONS connected with slavery which =,
now gong on in the United States il
would DE wonderful indeed il no prorress pr
we're being made toward a more perfec, IN
uifrage when the question forces itself nm In
N US IN its most formidable form. ". ~
Thether four millions of native born cui-
ems Of the United States, end their Dos .r ia
y forever are 10 be excluded from the m
ISht of voting, regardless Of any ouaif- m
alton OF property or Of intelligence g..
1T IS objected that the antaEOniSm be- 49,.
ween the whites and blacks at the South.
50 great that the former will never con. uu
emf that the latter should have the right
= vote But II is because of this very an
asonlsm that the blacks ought, in common rel
ariance, 10 have the right We're tbere nj
10 such antagonism there would be less
rounds 70 conceive that the whites mirbt ot
ppress the blacks; but with such n me- DO
xistinS antagOnism. ii is certain in a. De
ance' that the whites viii Cypress The
lacks unless the latter can defend tbem- an
ewes through the RIGHT of Srffr,--, o. =