The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1866-08-15
False Prophets.

thew would consent to break up the Union
there would beno war. They next told them,
otter the war had commenced, that it would
,,ot last more than six months-that England
and France would soon take our part-that
the Democracy of the North would divide
the Northern States and help US out-that
slavery would not only be saved, but that II
would be stronger, and spread wider ana
further than ever before-that the South
would, in the end, dictate terms 10 tue Nof'",
and establish a government on the basis OF
State RIGHTS that would last always. These
,rore the predictions and promises. They
have turned out to he miserable, wicked lies.
The whole country see and feels that they
are lies.
And now these same leaders, instead of
shrinking into some obscure corner to hide
Themselves from the curses of an indignant
and ruined people, are again before the pub
lie with their predictions and promises and
have the assurance to claim that they are
specially entitled to I've heard and respected.
They now say that North Carolina is better
off ont of the Union than she would be In
it-that every step thus far taken to restore
her to the Ur;on is null and void-that all
she has to do is to wait until the Northern
Democracy shall divide the Northern people
and involve them in fight among them
selves. or until the President dsperses the
present Congress and recognizes the South
ern members and the Northern Democratic
members as the true Congress; and then,
thew say, the South will get her rights!
As foolish and as wicked as their first pre-
dictions were, these are still more foolish and
wicked. We pity any honest man who puts
the slightest confidence in them.
In the first place. we can no more stay out
of the Union than We could 90 out. We
complain now of hardships and expressions,
but we tell the people that these things will
increase more and more as long as we resort
to measures to keep out of the Union. We
are adding to our troubles every day by the
delusiye idea that we can safely remain as
we are.
In the second place, if every thing we
have thus far done is null and void, as held by
Judge Ruffin and other maicontents, then the
President is usurper-then the radicals are
right. and he is wrong and if he is in error,
and if we repudiate him by repudiating his
work, then, according to the secessionists
themselves, we have No friends any where to
care for or protect us.
In the third place. if We wait till the North
ern people fight among themselves, or until
the President, sword in hand, disperses the
present Congress and sets up another, We
will wait until the crack of doom. No such
thing Will happen. The next Congress will
be more strongly radical than the present
one. 1t will do its work, and that work will
stand. If Lee, and Johnston, and Beauregard,
= and their gallant followers could not van
uuish the Northern armies. what hope can
there I've that the great people who raised
and sent out those armies, who mourn So
many of their slain, and who have incurred
such an enormous debt to suppress the re-
belion. will ever consent to restore the Union
on our terms2 The idea that they will do SO
is preposterous.
The President offered US his plan of resto-
ration, and we refused it. If we had accep-
ted it in good faith, it would have forced its
way over all impediments, aud We should
have been, this day, full member of the
Union in good standing. Then Congress
offered its plan, which, we undertake TO say,
though not SO advantageous to us as the
Presidents, is, upon the whole, mild, reason
able, and Just. The secession leaders, headed
by Gov. Worth. will not permit the people OF
the State to accept it; and why Bec@use II
deprioes them Of office, unless two-tairds OF
the Congress, after full hearing and fol
good cause, shall think proper to remove the
disability. This is the whole secret. They
love office better than they do the peace
AMI prosperity of the country. They are
destitute Of patriotism. They are intensely
selfish. They do not care who sinks 50 they
can swim.
If We were back in the Union, We should
not only be heard aad respected in the coun.
ellis of the country, but the thousands of oul
citizens who have just claims against the
government for property taken or destroyed
by the Union armies, would be paid; and
in addition to this, emigration ard capital
would at once pour into our State-industry
would revive, the rich and the poor would
be benefited, aud our people would start
anew with bright prospects in the career
nHtOrrrise and prosperity. Tirose, therefore
who are keeping the State out of the Union
by false predictions and false promises, are
not only disunieuists, but they are enemies
to the State.
We told the people the truth in 1860 as to
the result of secession. We told them the
truth in 1868, when we implered them, at
the risk of our lite, to stop the war and re-
store the Union. We told tl,em in 1865 tina;
If they did not accept the Presidents plan
IN good faith, worse terms would be impo-
sed upon them. And we tell them now, il
they DO not accept the proposed constitu-
flonal amendment, tlsey will be oyertaken.
within less than twelve months bv greater
evils than any they have yet had to endure.
Our opponents may seoff at this prediction.
but they VIII live to rue their conduct.
beware of false prophets"