The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1866-11-27
A Counter-Proposition- Worth and
the Freedmen.

| is met at last We have been insisting ths
the South should accompany its rejection c
the proposed Constitutional Amendmen
with the offer of some other basis of restors
ton; and 10 (! it is here.
Gov. Worth, of North Carolina, has sup
piled it. Profiting by the shortcomings q
other Southern Governors, he has propound
ed plan for the settlement of existing diff
! culties between the sections. The dlfhcul
! ties, as the Govern sees them, are very serl
Gus, and the plan he promulgates IS intended
! to prove that he has studied them phlioso
| phically and eXhaustively.
The negro declares Gov. Worth, is " still
the subject of strife More than half thu
message addressed to the Legislature o
North-Caroina is devoted to the Constltu
tional Amendment, and to an elaborate
though in no respect original argumen
against its ratification. But now the whole
trouble as the Governor understands 1t, pro
ceeds from the emancipated negro; and TIT
Governors proposal is to solve the problem
of restoration by disposing of the negro
Remove the cause, quoth lie, and the effect
will cease. And since the hapless black man
is a source of perpetual contention between
the North and South, Gov. Worth suggests
that all trouble may be ended by satisfac
tory disposal Of the black man.
But how shall he be disposed OK That is
the question which the chief officer OF the
sovereign State of North Carolina undertakes
to answer. And the answer furnished by
his message is evidence incontestible OF his
genius patriotism and craftsmanship.
Vulgar, commonplace politicians are &C
customed to deal with the problems arising
from the rebellion and from emancipation in
very vulgar way. They suggest that mas
much as lie who but yesterday was slave
is now free, he should be dealt with as a
freedman and citizen. They argue that the
freedmen, being also citizens, should be
placed on an equality with white citizens in
respect of their rights to property. to protec-
ton under the law, and to entire equality in
all that concerns their freedom and well-be-
ing It is further contendcd that, as the
freedmen form large proportion OF the
originally loyal people of the South, they
should no longer be subject to sweeping dis
franchisement. In other words, that the color
of the skin should hencefnrth have nothing
to do with the civil or political status OF the
individual. but that the possession OF the
elective franchise should be regulated by
some defined test of fitness, applicable alike
to white and black. Finally, it is asserted
that the South should demonstrate its title
to the confidence of the nation by atfording
guarantees that the results achieved by the
war shall be Loyalty sustained with all the
force of constitutional authority.
These, we say, are commonplace devices
for solving the problems which enter into
the general question of restoration. None OF
them, however, satisfies the requirements OF
Gov. Worth's transcendant craftsmanship
He expresses a profound contempt for all
that ordinary mortals esteem as practical,
His lofty spirit chafes under the outrages OF
the proposed amendment. His genius scars
above the conditions of restoration which
Congress and the plebeian North have ten
dcred as the basis OF compromise. His chlv-
aIric soul despiscs the idea OF guarantees, and |
contemns the people that would demand |
them. He aspires to the reputation OF an in |
ventor, disc0verer, philosopher. His eagle |
eve pcnctrates to the bottom OF the great diff |
ticultv. and his comprehensive mind discerns !
the secret of the countrys great deliverance. |
The process is very simple-when Worth |
has explained it, 1t is as simple rs the prob |
lem of the egg. after Columbus explanation. |
One sentence states the problem and embod- !
les its solution The negro being still the |
subject of strife reln0ce tile neg7U The rights |
OF the freedmen being the bone of sectional |
put an end to the contention by |
its cause. This is Worth's philos-
ophy in 4 nutshell.
But how get rid ofthe negro In the gen
Grafton of Henry Clay transportation to Ii
IBERIA was not unpopular specific. " Send
the blacks to Africa it was said. &" and they
will bother as no more" Their colonization
i'll + lOflCIt IS = more recent prescription Oh
State doctors. though one that has not been
received with special favor. The commonly
received notion nowadays Is. that they
should, like the rest of humanity, be lett to
work out their own industrial. social and po-
itical redemption care being taken, that
neither local nor Federal law shall cucumber
hem with burdens not shared by their white
brethren, Gov. Worth's remedy presuppos- |
IS none of these roundabout methods He
Il, ~,
question presses upon North Carolina because
he negro is there. TtunJer the ncgro to Nus
0chuactts and the difficulty will exist no
more in h-Carolina.
We are not indulging in satire. We are
lot resorting to hyperbole or exaggeration
or the sake OF political effect. We are not
language which others may con-
true differently. Gov. Wortiis W ords are
90 plain to be misunderstood. He says
the cause OF the trouble is the unequal dis
ribution Of the between the sections"
nd % the plain and practical remedy is their
nore equal diffusion Diffusion is the word. |
md Gov. Worth maintains that the requi- ]
tie " diffusion" may he accomplished 8 by .
iyertiug the appropriation made to sustain
he Freedmen's Bureau to defraying the tray
ling expenses of those freedmen who may I
hoose to move allowing each one to choose :
he State or territory to which he would 60 | I
LdDOT IS ucCucCl lI lIC COulIl, Ol COuTSe.- r
'he complaint comes from North Carolina
hat large numbers of citizens, black and /
'hite have, voluntarily left the State. The I
hole South is puzzled to find labor equal to 6
s necessities. 1t requires not only every man
lready there, but as many more men as can {
e attracted thither. Gov. WoRTH's pro- 4
osal, therefore implies, not only an exhaus- c
i've philosophy, but profound self-sacrifce. G
lie would have the Sonth consign itself to
he dogs, that the negro question may be
ettled.
There are wise men, perhaps, who will see Z
4 the Worth scheme of relief for North Car :;
lima righteous retribution upon certain of :,
ne Northern States. The Northern Radi-
als-these pundits may suggest-would v
nder the Worth plan, have an opportunity a
manifesting the virtues which they now +
to their neighbors. But the sub !,
ect is too solemn for practical jokes. And l.
Iorth Carolina would he scarcely justified n
l running herself for the sake of testing the t
epth of New England philanthropy. i
Besides, there is no occasion for so much
'ouble on the part of North Carolina. An !,
asier method of relief than that invented by b