The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1865-06-20

CARNATIONS = loyal people," loyal men," &c.
1t is fair to presume that the phrase includes two
classes of southern men, viz: those who were
genuine Union men during the war and those who
have taken or may hereafter take the Amnesty
Oaths IF it means only those who have always
been Union men or who never did anything to aid
and assist the Confederate cause, there cannot be
found enough of intelligent men of that class in
North Carolina to fill half the State Offices for
the fact is patent that nine hundred and ninety
nine of every thousand of citizens voluntarily
aided and assisted in prosecuting the war after it
commenced, the present professions of many to
the contrary Notwithstanding. Generally, those
who are now foremost in expressing Union sent-
ments were foremost in urging secession. We
know precisely what we say and we know what
we can prove
The proclamation of President johnson in re-
gard to North Carolina shows that he considers
those .'loyal" who take the Amnesty Oath as pre-
scribed by him on the 29th May, 1865. In that
proclamation he says, :" for the purpose of en-
abling the loyal people of said State to organize
State government" Sc, he appoints William w.
Holden Provisional Governor, IS whose duty it
shall be- at the earliest practicable period to pre-
scribe such rules and regulations as may be
cessary and proper for converting Convention
composed of delegates to be chosen by that por
ton of the people of said State who are loyal to
the United States" &C.; and then the President
says:
provided that in any election that may be here
after held for choosing delegates to any State
Vention, as aforesaid, no person shall be qualified
electer, shall be eligible member of
such convention, unless he shall have previously
taken and subscribed to the oath amnesty set
forth in the Presidents proclamation of May 20,
1865 and is a voter qualified as prescribed by the
constitution and laws of the State of North Carolina
in force Immediately before the Goth day of May A.
D. 1861, the cate of the so-caed ordinance of
cessiOn"
So, it appears from the above that the Presi-
dent considers every who takes the amnesty
oath land who is not excluded therefrom by the
fourteen exceptions mentioned in the procama-
tion) loyal citizen, and. therefore, entitled to
vote for members of the Convention.
SENSIBLE ORDER.-Major General Iartsuff.
the commander at Petersburg, Va has issued
the following order in regard to the rights of the
negro:
Headquarters United States Forces,
Petersburg, April "a, 1865.
General Orders No. IL.
merly slaves, are laboring under concerning their
rights and privileges. having been in many in
stances productive ofevil. and giving prospect of
much trouble in the future both to themselves and
their former masters. it is deemed necessary to
correct it and explain what the true relations
their changed condition places them in towards
the government and Their former masters. as well
as what their own duties and responsibilities are.
Their error consists mainly in tn belief that with
their liberty they acquire in6ividualrights in the
property of their former masters, and that they
entitled to live with and be subsisted by them,
without being obliged to labor give any remu-
neration for their support. Many even believe
thst the entire property of their former owner be-
| longs now to themselves. and that the owner re-
mains with them only by their sutferance. This
mistake has been originated and sustained in
many instances by thoughtess, ignorant or mis-
cheyOus soldiers.
1t is therefore stated, for the information and
guidance of negroes formerly slaves. and for the
benefit of themselves. their former masters and
society where they live, that the operations of ex
listing laws is to make them free, but not to give
them any claim whatever upon. or rights in con-
nection with, the property of their former own
ers. They at liberty to make any contract
or agreement concerning themselves that a white
man may. and equally bound to abide by it.
Their former master has the right to refuse them
anything that he might deny to a perfect strang-
| er, and is no more bound to feed. clothe or pro-
tect them than if he had never been their master.
They may remain with him if he and they both
desire it and agree on the TERMS in which case
each party is equally boundby the contract.
The fact must in time be learned by all ne
groes. and the sooner the better for themselves
and all concerned, that they must work for their
support now, the same as before they were free;
in some instances perhaps even harder. The
difference between then and now being that now
they have the entire wages of their labor to them
selves. ~
All colored persons living in the country are