The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1866-09-12

is no power in our form OF government TO an
initiate State, there is no authority, known
to the Constitution, to alter or diminish any
right which stands guaranteed to a State.
The only power, which may incidentally do
this, is that which enforces on the govern
meut the solemn constitutional duty to pre-
serve the States as an integral part Of the
Union. If in doing this, collisions arise,
and the laws of peace are too feeble to eff
feet the object, the laws of war must be in
voked to accomplish it. In aword the re-
bellion must be suppressed by arms, obedience
compelled, and tranquility restored, by such
means as shall be most efectual to preserve
the integrity Of the government
Political and moral storms no more sub
side, at once, into calm, than do those OF
nature The surging passions which have
been raised during civil war OF four years
will become tranquil at no mans bidding,
and those whose task it is to suppress civil
war heated by three hundred fields of blood
and carnage, and the fate of whose arms has
been to spread desolation in the track OF
conquest, may never expect, at the first mo-
ment when the roar of battle shall cease, to
find the subd6ed heart or the cordial hand
for peace and fraternity. The conqueror who
knows this must regulate his policy by the
condition of the people. If he have the
kindest of natures himself, and be ever SO
much disposed to proclaim pardon to all,
still he must watch the wave of discomfort, to
see whether it is really sinking into rest, or
restrained only by the check of triumphant
arms. It is doubtless his true policy to re-
move, as fast as possible, from before the eyes
of the people, all offensive displays of the
conquering hand, and substitute, in their
stead, the confidence of returning friend
ship Distrust begets distrust, and, 50 long
as it shall manifest itself, the door to cor
dial fraternity will remain closed. And
while admit that martial law may be alb
solutely necessary to suppress rebellion,
and, as matter of course, that those, who
may be entrusted to suppress it, must be at
all times unless there be universal civil con-
trolling power, the sole judgeto what extent
it shall be pushed, and how long it shall
last-yet 1 know of no instrument of war,
which is so hostile to the restoration Of
speedy and firm peace, as theexercise OF that
despotic authority over people accustomed
to the blessings of civil liberty, as used by
the citizens of every State in the Union from
its earliest existence. Nothing more frets
nay enrages, a people accustomed to be tried
by courts and juries, sworn to administer the
law they have made themselves. than to be
brought under guard, even in civil matters
before a tribunal, which disregards the
known law under which the complaint is
made, and substitutes, in its place, another
unknown to the people, harsh and despotic
It,therefore, will be ever the policy of any wist
conqueror to restore to the vanquished, as
early as possible, their civil institutions and
remove, from their midst, so soon as practi
cable, the sources of martial annoyance. II
this be true line of policy as to conquests
generally, how much more so must itbe, as tt
a State, or portion of common country
which under excitement for while, may
have forgotten its higher duties and plunged
into civil war
But whether the policy pusued be the wis
or the unwise one, the people when they an
restored by gradual steps to their former con
dition, must always regard each step prescri
bed by the supreme power and by them &C
cepted and used, as lawful. Having reached
the summit by this means, it will not do t.
determine any step in the ascent, lest the,
fall again amid chaos of ruins. This is alb
solutely necessary in order to protect thei
own agents during their progress to com
plete self government, and, indeed, to pro
tect the acts of society in all its tender ans
delicate relations from being regarded as th
doings of icentious. rabble. A contrary
doctrine snaps the continuity of government
and creates an interregnum, during which
there was no law among the people.
am, respectfully, yours,
B. F. MOORE.