Daily national Republican. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1862-1866, 1865-11-11
THE PRESIDENT AND NORTH
CAROLINA,
Mr.. Holden TO be Continued as Pro-
NIslonal Governor.

Yesterday q delegation composed Of men,
bers Of the late Convention in North Carolina
and other gentlemen of that State visited the
President, when Hon. Mr.. READE made tho
following remarks:
MR. President: In behalf Of the Conven.
tion Of North Carolina, lately In session, over
which had the honor to preside, present
for your favorable consideration certain Of
its proceedings.
In the late war there were two issues:
First, the existence Of the Union; and, Sec
ond, the existence Of slavery. The result
was favorable to the Union and adverse to
slavery. North Carolina submits, not in
degradation, but in moral grandeur of resig-
nation, to rightful authority
The frst thing done by the Convention
was to declare her uninterrupted connection
with the Union, and that the ordinance of
May, 1881, by which she was attempted to be
severed, was null and void. This was done
| by a vote very nearly approaching unanim-
ity, and thus the first issue was yielded.
The next thing done was to prohibit sla-
very, and this was by q unanimous vote; and
a committee Of able lawyers was provided to
prepare wholesome laws for the consideration
of the Legislature, and thus the second issue
was yielded.
The excellent temper and disposition of
our people induced the Convention to ask
your Excellency for q universal pardon for
| them. This was done, not In any spirit Of
| complaint, for we concede that the action Of
your Excellency has been prudent, and was
designed to be magnanimous and concilia.
| tory; but our people are so well affected to
the Government, and are SO little sensible of
any sentiment of alienation that they feel
some modification at being kept in oondi-
tion implying that they are not-what they
so we'll know themselves to be--entirely rec
onciled to the Union.
The Convention having yielded what was
involved in tho war, and being Of the opinion
that the State was and always had been In
the Union, and that our relations had only
been disturbed, and not destroyed, respect
fully asks your Excellency to declare on the
part Of the authorities of the United States,
as the State has done on her part, that our
governmental relations have been reconciled.
Not only are our people well disposed
towards the United States, but their appre-
citation Of the administration Of the Govern.
mcnt by your Exeellency has been so marked
and universal that the Convention thought
it due to their constituency, and eminently
due to your Excellency, to vote resolution
of thanks for the ability and impartiality
with which you have discharged your duties
to every portion of the country.
We have heard MISUNDERSTANDING the
State might yield, and, us she understands
it, has yielded all that was involved in the
war; notwithstanding our people are submis.
siye, we'll disposed, and anxious for fraternal
relatiOns-her delegations to Congress would
not be admitted unless they had qualifica.
tions not prescribed by the Constitution;
that they would be required to take IN oath
| which few men in the State can take, affirm.
ing, not merely that they are right now, but
that they have never been wrong. The ex.
| clusion Of her delegation upon any such test
| as is suggested would be felt by our people
universally as such a deep wrong. that il
would put their strong devotion to the Gov.
eminent and their lively hope of perfect re.
copciliation to the severest trial. They can
understand the bitterness of strife and the
aversion to treason, but they will be con.
founded at the repulsion of offered friend
ship and avowed loyalty. The Convention,
therefore, respectfully ask Congress to repeal
the "test OATH
have though it respectful both to you
and to Congress that this request should pass
through your hands, with the hope that your
Excellency's magn nanimity would add to it
| some reflections which would avail with that
| body
The Convention instructed the Legislature
to provide for the payment of the debts of
the State, declared all debts contracted in
aid Of the rebellion to be illegal and prohib-
tied the payment Of the same.
To what has been done by the Convention
can add nothing of my own, except to AZ
sure your Excellency that my own senti-
ments are in accordance with the best deeds
Of the Convention, and the best sentiments
of our people.
have the honor to lay before your Ex-
cellency copy of our constitution, with the
amendments and the ordinances Of the Con-
| vention.
To which the President replied as follows:
Hon. Mr.. READE receive from you with
| pleasure copy of the proceedings OF the Con-
ventiOn Of North Carolina, over which you
presided. reciprocate cordially the concil.
iatory spirit in which you have addressed me.
The Convention of North Carolina has done
much and we'll toward restoring that State to
her proper natural relations, but something
yet remains to be done to render that restor-
alton Immediately practicable An accept
ance of the congressional amendment, abol.
! ishing slavery throughout the United States,
| by the Legislature Of the State of North
Carolina, is, in my judgment, practically
important to the successful restoration which
is so much desired by all.
Without answering specifically the ques-
tions you have proposed 10 me, it will be suf.
! Gcient to say that my action must depend
upon events, and that Mr. Holden will b.
again instructed to continue the exercise of
| his functions us Provisional Governor until
he shall have been expressly relieved by
orders to that effect.