The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1866-07-19

sirous than I am to attain the entire restora-
ton of the American Union, with Its prac-
tical workings in more perfect harmony ana
concord than ever, and the surety, as far as
mortal affairs can be made. sure, OF endless
perpetuity in the future. The blessings 10
flow from such Union are countless and IN
estimable. But such n Union, consistent
within itself. maintained by the universal
consent of all classes and sections, and laugh
inc to scorn both the assaults OF foes internal
or external and the ravageS OF time ana
change, will only be obtained by sternly re-
tracing every departure from, or compromise
with, the supreme and general idea OF the
American fundamental law, the Constitution.
That general idea consists, In brief, OF the
political liberty and equality OF mankind
under the law. Such, and such only, can be
the Union, the nationality, that will put in
form the magnificent and lofty dreams of the
American continental mind, and fulfil i'll the
future the highest efforts of the present and
the past. 1t is not the vague delusion that
the rights of the States need d0ctoring. The
American theory eliminates properly IN the
sacredness of the rights of lndlv1duals-of
each single individual. That, after all, is
what Washington carved out with the sword,
and Jefferson, filtering it through his subtle
and free mind, drew up and put on record
with the pen.
It is we'll known that in the political and
legal history of the United States, the only
departures or compromises of the kind allud-
ed to have been those in the interests OF sla-
very, and of its manifoldincidents. L do not,
of course propose to go over the thousand
times told tale of the past sixty years. 10
day. slavery, as confessed Legality. Is, us we
all know, no more But some OF the most
important of its incidents or compromises
still remain-blots and incongruities upon
the law What equitable reason can be Civ
en- why these incidents also should not be er-
ased Time was that when the brains were
out the man would die but now we see the
limbs demanding to live and move, as II the
nervous centre still existed.
The persistent attempt to keep in the Con-
stitution the rule of an unequal and unfair
basis of representation is perilious to the fill
ture peace of the country. and will surely
cause a chatting sense of injustice as long
as it is continued.
furthermore. the high mission of the Union
party, as avowed in the Baltimore Convcn-
ton. to ''extirpate," includes the removal of
all hateful and anti popular excrescences en-
grated by that institution for its own sell
fish ACKNOWLEDGEMENT upon our free national
laws and polity. That high mission and OBJ
legation cannot be accomplished until all
which slavery has so engratted is cut out
for until then slavery is not " cXtirpated.'
Earnestly sympathizing with the men, who
look to law of equal representation as the
only guaranty both for popular rights and
popular acquiescence would feel myself
out of place in party that favors basis of
representation giving peculiar and upright
eous advantages to a portion of the body
polite to the detriment and dissatisfaction
of the whole.
Uniting with you and all good men in the
soul-felt desire that peace, prosperity, and
that amicable brotherhood which is more
than any worldly prosperity, may soon pre-
vail, and continue unbroken through Our be
loved common country. that former enmi
ties shall die out and he forever lost and that
all over the broad domain Of America equal
laws shall protect equal rights TO all man
kind
have the honor to subscribe myself your
obedient servant, JAMES SPEED.