The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1866-06-27
WHAT is LOYALTY.

The Daily Ne,os, in leader in gen.
eral approval of the late pro-secession
speech, in Congress, Of Mr.. Harris, Of
Maryland, says:
1T is of no avail noao to insist that
the right of secession is one of the at
tributes of the political system under
which exist the United States Of Amer
lea. That question has been submitted
to the arbitrament Of arms and, so far
as the mere influences of physical force
can determine it, it has, for the time
being, been determined. The South
accepts the results, in respect to
its present practical application; but
that acceptance does not imply any
abandonment, in thought, of the prirl-
ciple upon which the secession move
ment was founded"
1t is of the gravest consequence that
the people of the United States should
clearly understand each other on the
question mooted. We say nothing as
to the past: Let bygones be bygones.
But does an ex-rebel, in now swearing
allegiance to the Constitution and
Union, s,cear to be faithful only tiNhis
State shall see. fit again to secede?
This is an eminently practical ques-
ton. Its right decision is of momen-
tous, vital import. Could State for
merly absolye her citizens serving as Of
ficers in the army or navy of the Uni
ted States from the obligation of the
solemn oath of fidelity exacted of them
OH entering that service? If she could
rightfully do this once, can she now p
Does the oath no,o mean, will bear
true and faithful allegiance until my
State shall secede from the Union Pr
Let us have a clear understanding on
this head before we educate any more
Lees and Stonewall Jackson's al West
Point. We cannot afford to be trified
with.-N Y. Tribune.
The above contains matter for serious
thought and sober reflection. An oath
taken and subscribed, with a mental re-
servation on the part of the person tax
ing it, is not worth the paper on which
it is written. The Ne,os says, The
South accepts the result, in respect to
it's present practical application; but
that acceptance does not imply any
abandonment in thought, of the prin-
ciple upon which the secession move
ment was founded" Now, what does
this mean? Does it not plainly imply
that the Southern people have taken the
oath with mental reservation-wlth a
purpose only to observe it SO long as
they are obliged to and no longer? II
so. then the conclusions to which Con
gress have arrived, are correct, and
the extreme measures which they de
mand are not. injudicious. We cannot
believe that the Ne,cs correctly repre-
|, sents the Southern people, and yet
when we take up Southern papers and
see such almost universal colnmenda-
ton of this Harris speech, we are al
most driven to believe that we are mis-
taken. One of two things is true be
vond the possibility Of contradiction,
either the Neaos and Mr.. Harris are mis-
representing the Southern people ano
doing them great injustice, or they arr
disloyal to the government, for no loya
man can take an oath to support the
government, while, at the same time
he harbors secret purpose to overthrow y
or rebel against it whenever a ia
vorable opportunity Offers Ne'ooe'7
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