The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1865-09-05
IETTER FROM B. r. MOORE, esq.

His pfescs as to the action OF the w =. totote
Convention.
The following letter was written by b r. Moore
ESQ., of Raleigh in reply to an invitation 70 oeeon
G. candidate to- represent Wake county in the Con
yention soou to assemble in his State. AS Mi
Moore is considered of the leading lawyers o.
North Carolina copy his letter IN order that oai
readers may see. his views as to what the ConFen-
ton should do and what it should not do
To Messrs. Allen adams, Isaac Roacland ana
s. III. Wtlliams:
GENTLEMEN :-Abgence prevented my seeing
your card in the Standard of the I'D instant,
until recently. I feel much fattered by Its
mplimental notice OF me, -z=zgzz.zszz-zz.
For many years past have regarded myself
as wholly Withdrawn from public life; and, but
for the unhappy and afflicted condition of che
country, [ would feel myself at liberty to respect
fully decline your invitation to re-enter the pub
lie councils. In view, however, of the lansnta-
bic results of the late attempted revolution, aud
the necessity for amending our State constltu-
ton and retracng our public policy, which has
engrafted itself during four years OF war on our
institutions, | could not, as good citizen,
Justify myself, if should withhold from my
countrymen any services which they may think
I could render them, 10 this hour of trouble and
difficulty
Notwithstanding, however, any abilities which
age. cxperience, observation and study may be
supposed to have invested NE with, l deem 1t
highly proper that you should understand my
views upon all subjects proper to be considered
by the Convention. And proceed to give them:
[ deem it wise for the Convention Gas gen.
eral rule) to forbear ali action upon such matters
which may as we'll be done by the Legislature.
Not only because legislation is flexible, and may
be repealed or modified from time to time, as
experience may teach u.s. but because we are
not as likely, this time to be free from exciting
Influences as we shall be at more distant day.
If am delegate | shall assume as the basis
of my action l. That the act of the Conven-
ton of May Goth, 1861, which undertook to
withdraw the State from the Union, and is
void; and that all acts of arming the State and
confederating with other States in hostile re-
sistauce against the authorities of tie United
States, were acts Of rebellion against our country,
and, therefore, unlawful 2 That all enact
ments, whether by the Convention or the Legs-
lature, designed to aid the rebellion, were and
are void and not obligatory on the State.
Keeping in view these fundamental principles,
proceed to exhibit my views of a proper policy
to be pursued by the Convention
l. Negro .NGrcry I regard slavery in the
by the Convention upon the subject, and the
proclamations OF President Lincoln were deemed
Intellectual in point eff law to free the slave, yet
the occurrences since tie surrender OF General
Johnston have thoroughly effected his emanci-
paiou. tits fact accomplished; and SO we
ought to accept it. 1t is impossible TO reverse
it, and what regard as practical fact, am
for making legal fact l shall, therefore, pro-
pose to remove, by al ordinance, all doubts as
to the legal status Of slaves. Let their domestic
relations be legalized their informal marriages
confirmed, and their issue legitimated Let
them take on themselves the legal responsibility
Of husbands and wives, of parents and children.
Let the law enforce the performance OF all these
duties as it does in the case Of Tie white race
,, Negro Suffrage. | know no fundamental
policy in the government Of Republic, which
would be go certainly destructive to the pros
rerity Of the State, and the morals and charac
actor of both races, as would be the boon Of suf:
frage to the colored race.
The right to vote ought to be conceded to no
class of men il, thereby, the government would
become worse. Who, for a moment, can sup
pose that the government would be bettered by
the allowance Of negro suffrage Does any per-
son believe that addition Of sixty thousand
ignorant voters, wholly unacquainted with our
form of government, of whom not one in one
thousand knows what is meant by the word con-
StifuttOn, would tend to the security of the fun
damental principles of liberty, or beget wiser
policy in legislation The race, long degraded
by sorvtude, ignorant of the politics Of govern
meut, very low in its grade of morals, and wholly
dependent for living the ability of the
wealthier class Of society, would, if allowed to
vote, consult their material aid, and speedily
cngender among the whites, hosts OF vile and
reckless demagogues, whose batteries, promises
and agitation would keep the public mind 10
tensely infamed with agrarian projects, until
the candidate and black voter mutually acting
on the vices of each other, would become utterly
depraved and demoralized And in those roun-
ties where the black race might predomnate,
the virtuous white man would cease to vote In
all local elections, under the apathy of constant
defeat Nothing, in my judgment, would more
sfIectualiy demoraize the entire negro race than
It's free exercise Of the right of suffrage, or more
lcprave the white man.
But independently Of these Considerations, let
it never be forgotten that the right to determine
the qualification of the voter is a sacred right.
enjoyed aud practiced from the beginning of
our government by every State in the Union,
and every territory seeking admission into the
Union; and its denial to Us, or making the con-
cession OF negro suffrage condition to our re-
entry INTO congress, would afnrm, In the most
solemn manner, that our motto Of association,
Jnuns z. Pluribus is political falsehood-
Yea, it would dc more, and do worse; it would
punish loyal and innocent citizens, ia order to
reach the disloyal and guilty. Tia most un-
scrupulous despotism can do nothing worse 1t
4s obvious from experience that the two races
cannot harmonic, socially or politically, upon
basis Of equality; and where the number Of the
loferior is, comparatively, SO great as it is
With us, i. will always be az element of serious
discnrl The nfosnerity hannincss and neace