The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1866-12-04
, SOUTHERN OPINION. /.

LETTER OF Ex-GovERNoR SWAIN, OF NORTH
CAROLINA, TO HON. B. F. PERRY ON THE
PROPOSED CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.
CHAPE1. HILL, N. c., Monday, Nov. 10, 1866.
MY DEAR SIR Il have received, and read
with the attention it deserves, the copy of
your letter of the Goth ult, to G. w. Wood
ward, Esq.
Your analysis of the Howard Amendment
is so clear, and the objections you present to
its adoption SO forcible, that there is little
necessity for further discussion-nr ne, in
! deed, for those who understand the peculiar
condition of the state affairs at the South
The great obstacle at present to perpetual
and perfect union is the want of accurate in
formation at the North of the true condi-
! ton and feelings of the Southern people. 1
| am satisfied that the trainers of the Amend
ment, if they really knew,as statesmen ought
to know, those for whom they legislate, would
not for moment urge its adoption, much
less insist upon it a u sane qua non.
| The third section proposes double dis
| reimbursement of nine-tcnths of the people of
North Carolina. 1 do not ovcrstate the case
when assume that not one-tenth of those
who would be regarded as falling within the
range of selection under system of unrc-
stricted suffrage are eligible to Office under
the State or Federal Government. While
all who gave aid or comfort to the insurg-
an extent, have the right to vote, it is the
| right to vote. not for the men of their
choice, but for persons selected from that
tenth of the community, who, as a gen
eral rule, without any reference to pollti-
cal opinions, have no paramount claims
| to consideration. mental or moral My
acquaintance with prominent men through
out the State is, perhaps, as general as that
of any other citizen. and yet l do not
know of single in tance in any one of the
| Congressional districts of person who can
| honestly take the test oath who, in 1860,
would have regarded himself, consid-
cred by others, as one of the number who
might reasonably aspire to a seat in the ma
| tional councils Is it any evidence of a want
| of loyalty to decline such a system of suf-
| frage ? 1t mi ght seem strange if instead of
the privilege of selection from the tenth of
our own, we were allowed to vote for citi-
zens ofanother State to represent us. For
one, l could name score OF citizens of other
States of the American Union, of either po-
| litical party, for whom 1 would much more
willingly vote than for any one in this Con.
gressional district who can give the evidence
of loyalty required by the test OATH
Suppose the third section adopted, how
many voters would avail themselves of what
has hitherto been considered the inestimabe
right OF suffrage Not more than half the
voters participated in the last election for
A small proportion. and that not always the
most discreet would attend the polls, and
the portion of the tenth selected would not
always be the most virtuous and intelligent
of those eligible to office. One thing is very
certain. those most apt to seurc IA majority of
votes under such system would be the least
loyal In profession and devotion to the Uni
on, and most objectionable to those who have
been its most earnest advocates in times of
the creates peril.
will not do the Committee of fifteen the
injustice to suppose that the majority desir-
ed the adoption OF basis of suffrage for the
South that would insure the selection of the
small proportion Of those eligible to office,
yet such would be the invitable result and
therefore, repeat 1 do not believe that the
author of the amendment, Judge Howard,
would himself desire its adoption if he was
accurately acquainted with our condition.
1t is not very difficult to decide the char
acter of oul representatives if this rule shall
be forced upon us. Let us inquire for a mo
ment who will be excluded. Take your State
for an example. From early life to the pres
ent time have had opportunities to know
something of your leading men. I knew Mr..
Pettigrew personally met him in Charles
ton in February, 1861, correspondent with
him during the entire period of the war, and
to within two or three weeks of his death,
regarded him when living, and venerate him
and purest men have ever known. l can
not say that if he was alive he could not
take the test oath, but can affirm with great
confidence that under no circumstances would
he do it. My personal knowledge of you cx-
tends through nearly half d century. We
were schoolmates and intimate friends in
early life, and at all subsequent periods
have been familiar with your history. With
out entering into details that might be often |
sive to your delicacy, can say with conf
dencc that investigation will establish the
fact beyond CONTROVERSY that from the first |
avowal of modification by Mr.. Calhoun. in |
his letter to Gen. Hamilton until the scces-
sion of your State, no member of the Com
mittee, not even excepting Senator Johnson. |
OF Maryland, had ever been placed in circum- |
stances that required or admitted the con-
slant, untlinching, hazardous devotion to the |
Union, and opposition to modification and |
secession, which have characterized the whole |
course of your political life. President |
Johnson, lin 1920, beieve.) resided in |
LauIens, the adjoining district to Greenville, |
in your State; and few persons beyond the |
limits OF South Carolina are as familiar as he |
or sympathised as deeply as he, in the con-
hicts which you wagcd for SO many years in |
behalf OF the Union. You cannot take the |
oath, and what affirm in relation to those |
in North Carolina who can, will not apply |
with less force to South Carolina. You have
ho HoHeSI anu competent men VINO can SUBJ |
nit to a test of loyalty which is in my esti-
nation, as clearly unconstitutional as mex
pedient.
And yet we are told, no doubt honestly on
the part of many who say so, that range of |
confscation which has no parallel in the |
history of civilization since the days of Will
liam the Conqueror, is a mild punishment
for Confederate treason. The descendants of |
Shay rebellionists. whisky insurrectionists, |
and Hartford conventionists can afford to be |
merciful, if not magnanimous. We are as
sured, moreover, with equal honesty and sin
cerity, that Southern statesmen should con-
sent to their exclusion from Office with exul-
tation. as affording an opportunity to open
the way to office and emolument to those |
who, under other circumstances would never |
have been thought of by themselves or Others |
inconnection with official station. John Quin-
cy Adams, you may remember, entertained |
and expressed on a memorable occasion very |
different sentiments. When, with a view to |
censure Mr. Webster, a Pennsylvania repre-
sentative offered a resolution, calling upon