The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1866-06-26
From the Memphis Post.
Sensible Remarks Of a seutherner.

m
Hcre and there the truth is not only break
mo npon the minds of leading and thougnt-
flI men in the South. but they are given
voice to utter it. Mr.. Robert T. Dies u
Guilford. N. c., said to the convention no"
in session at Raleigh:
There are times when great queseloile a,o
70 he considered. North Carolina Is upon
tIo veroe of ruin. Rebellion has nearly
wrecked all her hopes, and it rebelllon Is
eth To prevail she is ruined now and forever.
Her reputation and principles are gone WIN
ont n full and unequivocal connecnon WIN .a
the United States. They can be notnlnS I'll,
relations are restored between the State anu
.iaa General Goyernment-untii, in his opln-
ion the spirit of rebellion is entirely crushed
in North Carolina They are the representa-
tiyes of a people that expect them 10 GO
something The high duty which they nave
TO perform is fully understood. the posi-
ton of affairs requires that they should rise
equal to the emergency. They were no" ne-
fore the country They stand before the
bar of nublic opinion. The eyes of the Gov
eminent and the people are upon thelr ac-
tons They are closely watched, ana tney
were not to allow themselves to he contfolleu
| Inv minorities-not to allow themselves TO DE
controlled by selfish ambition or private III,
| terests. A new destiny is before them, anu
is to be determined by their action, whether
il shall be for veal or for woe. They were
|
and to ameliorate their condition they must
meet the responsibility and the confidence
| imposed on them in a calm, dignlted, hDerai
and conciliatory spirit In the great duty
they had to perform they were surrounded
by many difficulties and embarrassments.-
| They were to examine as to what is the true
position of North Carolina. They must know
| that North Carolina can never have peace,
prosperity and happiness, or freedom, until
She is again connected with the Government
of the United States. This proposition can
not be denied. She must take this position
before she can enjoy the blessing and PRIV
lege of free government and equality among
her peers.
/ Before the rebellion they had constltu-
ton, handed down to them by their tore
fathers, which secured to the people all the
RIGHTS and blessings of freedom. Then she
had a public credit, and held high posi-
ton among the money markets OF the Worio;
then she had a system of good, wise laws,
speedily and Justly administered; then she
had a school system, which was rapidly IN
creaslng and operating for the virtue and In,
teligence of her people, taking grand ana
making rapid strides in the march OF I'M
provement and progress Of art and science;
but, in an evil hour, controlled by inevitable
circumstances and unwise counsel, she broke
loose from this wise government, and fer the
last four years of her history involved her
self in IA series of misfortunes that have near
ly cost her ruin, and sent fifty thousand OF
her best and bravest men to untlmely graves
Their school-houses were closed; their mag
nitfcent colleges, founded by private gene
rosity, were swept away and her whole pub
lie credit is bankrupt. Her labor system Is
overthrown her fertile soil no longer yields
its accustomed treasures; while private for
tunes, accumulated by years of patient and
economical industry, lie in ruins This Is
e
should meet the questions under the new or
der of things as patriotic men. and not as
partisans. There is great duty to perform,
and upon their actions depends the issue
| What is this great duty to perform in order
to restore the State to the Union 1t Is to
restore peace at home; to commence right
here; cease from quarreling; lay sectional
prejudice aside our own private claims and
injuries, cease our political wrangiing, our
elimination and recrimination, dismiss party
feeling and enter into the dignitied duty of
restoring the State to her full privileges to
the federal government.
These feelings are by no means inconsis
tent with the feelings of true patriotism, and
he said there as he would venture to say in
the halls of the Congress OF the United
States, or in the presence of the setting sun,
he loves North Carolina better than any
spot it shines upon; at the same time he
claimed to be loyal to the Government of
the United States. In the formation of their
laws they must adapt their constitution to
the exigencies and requirements of the times;
they must not be constrained by personal
feelings nor by the hallowed memories of the
past. They must act equal to the present
time they must see that laws of both Gen
eral and State Governments are enforced and
obeyed They were to adopt good system
of laws-they must stimulate industry, go
to work in earnest. They have lost every
thing except the grand storehouses God has
given them, out Of which their fathers dug
their wealth. To set the State in order they
must invite foreign capital and industry;
they must build up the waste places of the
country-they must give men-yes, and
Northern men, cordial welcome; accord
them full protection under the laws and re-
q cogniZe them in society. If we do these
things we will rescue the State, now bowed
down in sackcloth and humiliation. We
can raise her from the dust to the proud po-
sition she has occupied among her sister
States. If they do their duty as men, citizens
and patriots this work can be accomplished,
and before another decade North Carolina
will be memorial of sincerity, honor and
fidelity to the Union and the Constitution.
Do not these sentiments find some response
in every truly patriotic heart? Could the
South stand up as one man to this declara-
ton, and show a corresponding effort, how
soon mutual confidence, and consequent har-
mony and peace, would be restored. Every
noble purpose prompts it. All classes of in
terests urge it. Only prejudice. passion and
folly oppose it. Men who trust the f1eeting
hopes inspired by their feelings may gain
some momentary advantage, but no perma-
nent good The great cause can afford their
loss 1t ever sings the song of the brook:
i" For men may come, and men may go,
! But go on forever"