The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1866-06-28
From the New York Tribune.
NoRTH-CAROLINA. a

Procesdiaqs Of the STATE Co'lae,F zee sns
,,o,tant Measurss4-P Paying The Rebet is'1r.
5De5t-Patriotie Utteraaees g ssir tfect-z'
The Coming Elections
RALEIGH, n G., June 1G, 1866
The Convention the past two days has
hem engaged with two ordinances, one to!
cianoe the time for holding elections, and
the basis of Representation, and the other,
amending the Stay Law passed by the Leg
isIature at its last session. Neither. OF these
has, as vet, been finally settled. They are
the most important measures before this As
sembly, and consequently produce consider
able discussion send you the following
characteristic and patriotic speech OF Thorn
as Settle. of Rockingham county, who, with
r. p. Dick, of Greensboro, and DIR. H. Grls-
som. of Granville, are known as the most
promising young men of the State, and
whose influence is potent in favor OF the
/ Union cause. In the debate OF yesterday on
the Stay Law Bill, u Rebel membef-Who,
by the way, is in sad minority-lndulged
in many accusations against the Union men
sswho would tarnish the fair fame of North
Carolina by Reputation, and he thanked
God that at the last session he had not voted
for the ordinance prohibiting the payment
of the war debt" a.-
This language certainly merited a reply,
and the three Union members above cited
were instantly on their feet. MIR. Settle,
however, catching the Speakers eye first,
while every hitherto listless member gave
earnest attention.
Mr.. Settle stated that he was the author
and introducer of the ordinance which pro-
hibited the payment of the war debt, and
that it had secured the support of large
majority of this Convention. I am tired of
hearing insinuations cast upon my honor
and integrity, and that of those who acted
with me, and it is now high time that some
things should be said and understood
Those who insinuate that was in favor of
repudiating any honest or just debt, public
or private, simply said or insinuated that
which was false No man in the State
would scorn the reputation of just debt
more than I, but this war debt, tainted with
treason, was not to be classed and confound-
ed with just and honest debts. I hold that
if the State had this capitol building full of
money, and nothing else to do with it, not
one dollar ought to be applied to the pay
ment of any debt incurred in trying to de
stroy the United States government. That
government owes it to itself to see that
money advanced in seeking its life-blood,
shall never return to the pocket of its owner.
That is but small punishment to trea-
son. To think of paying it, but invites
another rebellion tomorrow, and offers a
premium anu u IeWdTu 1OT lfcdSOu. nc
said he would ask question, by which
every man who had taken an oath to sup
port the q. S. government since the close
of the rebellion, could easily test himself, so
far as this debt is concerned, and see wheth-
er he was honest, and in earnest, when he
took the oath, or whether he was deoeiving
himself or attempting to deceive Others
Are you not all now prepared, said he. to
say that every dollar hereafter advanced in
l.
shall be tainted with treason, and should
never return to the pocket of the person who
it |? If you hesitate moment, you
are not fit to be re-admitted to the privilege
and protection of the Union. You say you
loved the Union up to May 1861. know
In February, 1861, that the people of North
Carolina did love the Union, and opposed
secession by large majority. Do you think
then, that dollar advanced in aid of any
conspiracy to destroy the, Union up to that
time, ought to be paid? I imagine not.
Pray tell me why it is, then, that money
advanced between May, 1861 and May, 1866,
to destroy the Union, meets with much IA
vor?
It is charged, said he, that am repudi-
ator, because will not consent to pay this |
money. / could with much better reason |
say that any man who has taken the oath of
allegiance to the United States government,
and shouts for President johnson, but still |
longs for that flesh plot of secession, the |
war debt, is nursing treason in his breast |
Those who cast insinuations upon the honor
of others for not paying the war debt, are
the most Vociferous men amongst us in their
1audations of President johnson, and yet |
they know that President johnson said not |
only to North-Carolina, but to every South
ern State, that not one dollar of that debt |
should ever be paid.
You praise President johnson for recon-
mending the very thing that you abuse me
for doing. Oh, consistency!
3 MIR. Ferebee asked Mr.. Settle if he had
not been in the army2
Mr.. Settle replied that he was coming to
that. Every body who knew him at ali,
knew that he had exerted to the utmost his
poor powers to save the Union, and that he
had plead in its behalf against secession I'M
til after hostilities had actually commenced.
He could truthfully say that he clung to the
Union with affections that knew no bounds,
and he witnessed its dissolution, with the
same feelings that moved his bosom, when
he stood by the death bed of his father.
I had the dreadful alternative left of tax
ing the one side or the other became
traitor and went into the Southern army.
went in spirit of desperation more than of
hope. Indeed my only hope was that by
appearing to be united we might con,pro-
mise the matter. l soon found that 1t was
impossible for such villainy and corruption
tossucceed, and it ought not to have sue
ceeded. got out of the army honorably,
and returned home and advocated peace on
all occasions. Endangered my life by so do
ing. In that twelve months of service contin-
ually felt that was guilty of treason, but
Others made my course my only alternative
for life. 1t was a bloody tragedy, and the
majority who. entered the rebel army were
duped and led on by bad, black-hearted
men, The difference between me and some
other traitors is this: no man, woman or
child has ever heard me boast of it. 1 have
always looked upon the whole matter with
regret, and instead of grieving after the
dead Confederacy, it costs me no effort to
my first love. did all could to prevent
the rebellion and urged peace after it had
commenced. I Witnessed with admiration
the gallantry of our poor soldiers who were
being led to destruction, and plead fo1 peace
in their hal,alf .zapd 7 now, ,,-Lo4