The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1866-11-28
n ESSA G E
GOV. JONATHAN WORTH.
OF

GOV. JONATHAN WORTH.
70 .fkx HOnsrask, tls General Assembly Of North
C0rplins
GHHrLsHBH.--The attention Of this whole
nation IL now specially directed to the
suomslous condition Of our national affairs.
il seems 6t, therefore, that our considera-
tion should be primarily directed to the
restoration Of national order and harmony.
Although we..are now denied any legisla.
tive participation in the conduct OF the
government Of the United States. we should
moi be listless az TO passing events, nor IN
mindful OF the benefits 10 be derived from
an occasional review Of the past.
More than eighteen months ago bloody
sectional war was closed by the total over
throw Of the weaker by the stronger sec
tioa. Is declared object. on the one side.
vas to break up the Union; on lhe other to
preserve IL. The commanders Of lne SCUM.
ern armies. sfter the south was completely
exhausted. a. TO eseything which const'-
tutes strength in war. and after exhibitions
of vslor. 10 the field. which astonished the
world. surrendered on the stipulation of i'm
muui,y to the surreadering forces. ArmS
bad established the supre Of the pn-
ion. Not guerilla party in the South re.
mained under arms. The whole people..of
the south. whether they had favored the
inception Of the VAR or sympathised With
their section after il began. or not, gave
every evidence they could give OF their
submission 10 the result Of the conflict. and
their willingness to obey the constitu uon
and laws Of the United States.
What was then Ia the way Of an imme-
date restoration Of the Union The ma.
ehinery Of government 10 the southern
states was 10 the hands OF those who had
given their, r,adhesion to the rebellion. This
vas a state Of things not contemplated by
the constitution Of th. United States. Pre-.
eed.nt furnished no guidance 10 altering
the machinery of the rebellious state gov
ernments so a. TO work IN harmony with
she national government. The President.
Who owed his elevs ted position TO his re-
pntstion for stalesmanship and the eonsis-
tent devotion Of his life 70 the preservation
Of the Union, held that he ought not 10 re-
eogniZe the officers Of the states Who had
given their adhesion 20 the rebellion, even
90 far as TO make them the instruments Of
reorganization that while the states exist.
ED. aud the Union bad been preserved,
shere were. 10 those states, no Legislative,
judicial or executive officers. lawfully con-
stituted.
To enable the states 10 reform their con-
stituiiops. and the machinery Of their gov.
ernments. he granted amnesty 20 the peo.
ple who had favored the rebellion. with
certain exceptions. on the condition OF
hsu renexinr their allegiance 10 the Unit.
ed States BY taking an oath TO support the
eonstitption--reserving the right to grant
psrdons upon special petitions 10 such in
diriduals Of the excepted classes ~ he
might deem deserving Of them. lie ap
pointed provisional governors, under whose
orders elections were held for delegates
to state conventions, those only being al.
lowed TO vote az such elections 10 whom
general or special pardon had been giant.
ell. The great body Of the people compli.
ed with the conditions. aud voted al such
elections
When our convention assembled, il vas
understood that the president. and the pco.
pie Of the dominant. states. expected of Us
three amendments Of our constitution. as
c,eutial TO harmonious union aud perman.
snt reconciliation; TO wit: the rcnuncia.
ton Of the doctriue OF secession the aboli. !.
ticn Of slavery and the reputation ofthe
debt contracted 10 the prosecution oi the
rrbsl'icn; and The ratification. by the leg
islature, thereafter 70 assemble. OF an a.
nendmept 10 the constitution Of the Unit
ed states, proposed during the war. abol-
ishing slavery throughout the United States.
From all we could learn from the press,
the a'owals Of the representative men Of
the north, aud all the sources Of infcrma.
tOn, se entertained no dcub, that these