Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1866-02-22
From the National Intelligencer. ]
To the Sovereign Peonle.

We cannot doubt that it has now become our
duty as Journalists, claiming the public good as
our cherished object, to invoke the testimony from
every loyal man that the acdr has ceased, the u7aion
has been restored the time has when the states
must be practically, as they have always been hy
pothetcally equal IN rights IN fnmunities, and in
S0re1egf dignity.
Either this is So or it is not IF So the refusal
of congress to admit members elect from part of
the common union is revolutionary. The exam
pie is one of fearful promise. The practical form
OF the question is, TO the qualifications for seats
of the individual members elect Adverse reports
upon their credentials have not been made. No
reports have been made. There is by a majority
mere non-action on the subject After long hest
tation the clerk OF the hous lad declined to en-;
rol those members elect. NhuS, the ministerial
act of an inferior officer-doubtless, in this in
stance, conscientiously done--has had the practi-
cal effect (by giving opportunity to party organ
1zatlon unknown to the organic law to refuse to
exercise Legislative functions upon a certain and
vital matter to suspend tie conSttution0e country
Is this not fearful precedent to set The clerk
| OF any future congress may refuse to enrol the
names OF the adverse party without regard to their
sectional locality, and his party might upon as
sembHng, organize the house and delay action up
on claims to seats, of which they might not even
deny the validity. What would that be called
and what is the present case else .r,! ,
The truth is plain, and it ought to be heard
Everybody knows it. To deny it is to dishonor
the mind which contrives the subterfuge of dis
sent We talk now not at the augmentation, but
/ reader And
/ that truth 1t is this ...
Tile RepubliciS restored IN uh0e and in erery part
And what is the republic union of states in
which all that they have not give up to the nation
they have reserved to themselves, and what they
have given up to the nation is specified in the con-
stitution, and is to be exercised by equal dele.
gates from all the states subject to its jurisdiction
But if men have the audacity to say that the
civil war is not over then whe is to be oUer Are
we III the midst of a civil struggle now. If So
proclaim to the world that the overthrow of the
rebel armies, the abolition of slavery and the
general amnesty conclude nothing obligate moth
ing, end nothing, effect nothing; that have de.
frauded the rebels into submission, and have re-
solved to force them into a retraction of it. Let
us confess that in every syllable of the following
heartfelt pledge of the loyal people of the United
States, made almost unanimously by congress two
days after the battle of Bull Run, on the Odd of
July, 1861, and solemnized by every drop of loyal
blood ever shed since, were recording the gra-
vest and most stupendous falsehood of history. It
was the faith of the following that our loyal
mics were raised. Those who now seek subversion
of the republic dared not then disclose such an
object:
ResoEved, That this war is not prosecuted upon
our part IN any spirit OF oppression, nor for any
purpose of conquest or subjugation, nor purpose
of overthrOwlng or interfering with the rights
established institutions of those sates but to de-
fend and maintain the supremacy of the constitu-
ton and all laws made in pursuance thereof and
to preserve the union with all the dignity equality
and rights of the several states unimpaired; that
as these objects accomplished the war
ought to cease.
Is that resolution zoyd or disloyol no,y ?-that is
the question. We pronounce without the least
hesitation opinion that is loyal who
denies the opposite, conclusive, and controlling
application of the doctrine of these resolutions
| noW and here. We think they perfect test.
We hope the people will open their eyes
The scenes of 1861 in congress are being now
re-enacted in all their substantial elements of revo-
| luton, of disunion, of treason The old rebellion
is suppressed and the rebellion is in progress
| 1t is only the difference of circumstances that
makes the difference of consequences. The ma
lorlty In congress carrying essentially
revolutionary scheme And the object is like that
Of their predecessors in conspiracy and treason.
It is to preserre poWe. For this object the seces-
sionists undertook to southernize the north
against accomplished event, and adapt the
constitution by violent reform to their Sec
| ton. For the self-same object the disunionists
now in congress undertake, against an accom-
plished event and one of the greatest ill history,
! by denationahzing the south, to deliberately de-
| stroy the rescued union, abolish the social
pact defy the laws Of nature and revive the abom-
inable abasement of feudasm which perished
under the curse of Heaven three hundred years
ago. This, from the lust for power in few hands
just as the few artful and arrogant traitors of
1861 did for the sake of power
But there must soon come to pass notable diff
ference. The desperate secessionists were able to
induce their people to follow them, and war re-
suited. The present revolutionary combination,
defiant and desperate as 1T is, canLOt command
their people, and hence their extreme and reckless
malevOlence,
We implore the people to realize for themselves
that the solemnly declared pledge made by every
one of them, through congress, in 1861, is being
repudiated by their party leaders, and conspira-
cy is on foot for the subversiOn of the republic
and the establishment of grim and monstrous
military despotism instead. Do you doubt it, fell
low-citizens of the union I? The south is to be-
kept down as a fulcrum. But the iron lever is
coming with crushing force upon your own breasts,
and you must rise and Indignantly demand that u
restored uniOn shall not be Subrered the power
will pass forever from your still sovereign hands.
Let the people hold meetings in every hamlet
resolution of 1861 and the union as the only par
ty platform, and rebuke with disgust every sug-
gestiOn of sectional malice ruinous fanatcism.
We say to you, llow-citizens, that your awful
sacrifices and your splendid achievements are to
be all in vain, and that speedily if you do not put
forth your powerful arm and smite your betrayers.
Their scheme is to perpetuate their hold upon you
by establishing themselves and naighty
SldUe pOueT in The south, through the pretence of
negro suffrage and thus entrenched aided by the
powerful name of universal freedom they will es-
tabsh a remorseless and tremendous enginery of
oppression of the white people of the whole cOun-
try, through passive and brutal negro sOldiery.
The issue is between liberty and boudage-and
bondage to a race of bondmen, through a few who
are to control them. Men of the United States,
you for u,aion for free,nen md freedom for
Uhite men
We should like to know by whose authority
ga colored gallery is established in the senate
chamber. The senate has just passed bill to
make all men equal before the law; why does it
! onO Thn