The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1866-10-02

anu oaliors, recently held at C1eaveiand, Ohio
were presented to President johnson last week
by a committee appointed for the purpose. The
proceedings endorse the Presidents policy. In
reply, Mr. johnson remarked:
while thew physical struggle. con-
nected, OF course. with intelligence and intellect
as far as the science of war was concerned, the
contest now is purely of civil character, for the
establishment of basis upon which our institu-
tions are to rest hereafter. The goery which
now arises is whether the character and genius of
the nation are to be subvered, whether it is to
be settled upon the principles of the Constitution.
L think we are now at the most important crisis
of our country's history, when are to fix
substantial and enduring basis upon which thes
institutions of the country to rest. We are
to return to the Constitution and establish the
great fact that this is government of Limitations
that it has a written Constitution and that its
boundaries are to be observed and strictly guard
ed, ii free government is to exist. And coming
out of rebsllion,- we ought to demonstrate to
mankind that a free government cannot exist
upon hatred, dstrust and ill-will; that with US
the time has come for a re- establishment of all
the relations of the States to the Federal govern
ment. This look upon as being of equal i'm
portance with any part of the war. if not the most
important part.
have said more than intended, but repeat
that the encouragement, the countenance and the
confidence given coming from the source it
does, is perfectly acceptable to me. God willing,
will. with your help, pursue the. course have
been pursuing in the effort to save govern
ment. know that it has been said that the
founders of government entitled to the most
conspicuous places in history, but my opinion is
that the preseruers of government should occupy
the most important Places ... .,....
DEATH OF DIR. HAwKs.-We regret to see it
announced that the Rev. DIR. Francis L. Hawks,
of the Episcopal Church, died in New York on
Thursday last He native of North Caro-
lima, and loved her with all his heart In 1857 he
delivered an able Address in this place to prove
and establish the genuineness of the Mecklen-
burg Declaration of Independence made the
Goth of May, 1875. He has done more than any
other man to collect and preserve correct histo
~ of North Carolina from the first settlement of
the State.
The patriotic labors of the late National
Convention which met in Philadelphia have we
fear, been attended with good results
truce was patched up between the Northern De-
mocracy and the moderate Republicans, but it
temporary, hollow and insecure, and has been
followed by open hostilities between the late al
lies The pledges to support the Presidents
policy of reconstruction which were given by
Raymond and Weed the accredited represen-
tGtves of the Conservative Republicans. have al
ready been broken Richmond Times.
And are not many of the professed friends of
the President North and South, to blame for the
failure of the .'patrotic Iabors'' commenced at
Philadelphia! No sooner had that Convention
adjourned than we heard it denounced by class
of men in the South who profess to be truer to
Southern interests than the delegates who partic-
ipated in the Convention-they declared that the
Southern delegates lad degraded the South by
agreeing or asserting to the resolutions and adj
dress-Gov. Orr and the South Carolina delega
ton and others were ridiculed for associating
intimately with Northern delegations-and it was
proclaimed that the South would repudiate such
work. These declarations were republished at
the North by our enemies and the opponents OF
President johnson, to show that the South was
not acting in good faith. ----
And many of the friends of the President at
least about their conduct. Northern democrats
appear to be contending more for party organi-
cation aud for office than for conservative princi
PIES In New York the johnson republicans and
the democrats are q uarreng about the spols,
instead of uniting in harmony and working to-
gpther to overthrow the radicals.
No wonder 1.-The patriotic labors'' of the Phila-
delphia Convention have not been attended with
good results.
We do not profess to be able to see further into
mill stone than the man who picks it, or to be
nfabe in our ideas of public policy, but we do
profess to have learned something from past ex
perience and observation. which teaches US that
all should be cautious and careful of the language
they use in referring to measures. 1t is
no sign of true courage to bold or harsh
words. The best plan is to judge man by what
he does and not by what he says.