The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1866-06-09

are Door and ignorant, and can be easily IN
f1uenced by bad men to act unWlsely., ne
will always vote the way that the man VINO
gives him bread may direct. :. :,
The Southern people are now very kln 1
! dismissed towards their former slaves. Inc
old ties of domestic affection were not COM
nletelv sundered by emancipation. The poor
NEGRO is now an object of sympathy. In the
| first wild delirium of freedom, he quit MS
best friend-his former master. With many
the phrenzy mas passed away, ana IN "a any
and rags they have returned to their old
homes, where they will be treated with KIND
ness and Justice. But establish the doctrine
of zegro e0unlity and as long as Southern
blood shall flow in Southern hearts, we Will
hate and scorn the people who would humll-
late and degrade us. This measure Will
have Il direct and powerful tendency to pro-
duce a war of the races; and the weaker
race will soon have a fate less fortunate than
the Indian, whose hunting grounds are now
so far removed from the graves OF his fathers
Mr.. President: want peace in this land.
1 desire all disturbing political questions to
be Justly settled. / want to have warm
feeling of brotherhood for all the people OF
this great country. 1 want to see the South
ern people rally with affcctionate loyalty be-
meath the proud folds of the "old flag )" but
this can only be brought about by generosity
and Justice We were conquered, and we
submit Our homes were destroyed, and we
will rebuild them Our fortunes Wee swept
away, and we will try by energy and indus
try to procure the ncccSSaries and comforts
of life-and we will be ever loyal and true
to the government; but humiliate and de-
grade us, by negro equality, and we may not
have the power to resist oppression, but our
hearts will burn with an undying hate that
will descend to our latest posterity. The
bitter animosity between the stern and stub
horn Saxon and the conquering and doml-
neering Norman, lasted for one hundred and
fifty years, and Magma Charta the first
treaty of their friendship. This unity OF
the two races was the birth period of Eng
lish nationality. liberty and greatness. The
spirit of the Saxon still lives at the South,
and it will never cease to demand liberty,
equality and justice.
The President has completed his plan of
restoration and by proclamation he has de-
clared the war at an end, and the Southern
States are now entitled to all the benefits and
privileges of the Constitution and the Union.
Congress refused to acknowledge this eX-
ecutive action, and our fate is not yet deter
mined. 1 prefer greatly the plan of the
President, but l recognize the authority OF
Congress as a coordinate branch of the gov
ernment. | cannot assist Congress i'll carry
ing out its radical measures, but when Its
action becomes law of the land l will sub
nit to the law as good citizen. The term
submissi0nist is not quite so odious as 1t was
few years ago. 1 believe in due submission
to law, and it is the highest duty of a patriot
and good citizen. If we send commission
to Washington I hope its action may have
some tendency to produce reconciliation
between the President and Congress. AS at
present advised shall cling to the Presl
dent, as believe that he is the true friend OF
the South and the supporter of the Constitu-
ton. 1 cannot believe that the present Con-
" Snr1ti
The people Of the North are highly educated,
refined and christianized. They are in every
way great people and l sincerely believe
that when the storms of passion are lulled.
they will show themselves to he just and
magnanimOus. They conquered the Southern
people in arms, but they might have won
higher triumph by immediate generosity
If the news of the downfall of the rebellion,
as it spead with the speed of lightning
through the land, had called forth general
spirit OF forgiveness and charity the South
ern heart would have responded with the
warmest feelings of brotherhood and loyalty.
The rebellion, although it was wrong-yes,
criminal yet it was not without some excuse
1t involved questions which had been dis
cuSSed and produced serious divisions ever
since the foundation of the government
The doctrine of ultra States rights has found
many advocates among the ablest and purest
men of the nation; men who have adorned
our history by their genious and left the i'm
press of their wisdom and patriot SIN upon
our free institutions. The rebellion was
urged on by continual strife of sectional
ism, and the impartial historian of posterity
will not cast the whole blame on the South.
The bitter and proscriptive spirit that made
constant warfare upon Southern opinion
and Southern institutions while they
were under the shelter of the Constitution.
is in some degree responsible for the fratri-
cidal blood that now cries from the battle
fields of the rebellion.
These great questions which SO long pro-
duced angry discussions and divisions in the
halls of legislation have been decided in the
dreadful tribunal of arms. Upon the tcrmi-
nation of hostilities, 1 believed that the true
policy OF the government was to proclaim a
general amnesty to all persons, who by act
and speech whould show themselves in heart
and spirit, loyal to the constitution. This
much ought to be demanded, and nothing
more required. Confiscation should not
complete the ruin and dessolation almost ac-
complished by arms and the tragic scenes of
the scaffOld should not add darker shades to
the horrors of fraternal carnage. The gov
eminent of the United States has shown itself
to be the greatest military power the
earth, and its statesmen may win prouder
fame than its warriors by course of high
souled generosity and magnanimity.
Mr.. President, there is another question
which has produced great excitement in the
country, and has been a serious obstacle in
the way of reconciling our national troubles.
L refer to the treatment of prisoners of war
during the rebellion. deeply regret that
there is occasion for much complaint upon
that subject on both sides of the contest. A
people may forget and forgive the bloody
strife of the battlefield, where brave foemen
meet, face to face and steel to steel-but the
horrors OF the dark pestilential prison house,
and the agonies of the helpless, suffering
and dying captive can never be effaced from
the memory, but will always rankle in the
heart. In every age of the world the treat
ment of prisoners of war has been regarded
as a truthful indication of the spirit of a
people and of the civilization of the times
As an American citizen 1 regret that such
stain of barbarism rests upon the name and
fame of my country. I will now, and at all
times and everywhere uttermy indignant de-
nunciation o. cruelty to prisoners, ard in
so doing feel that am but expressing the
sentiments of the civilized world. The man
whether North or South, who was guilty of
II Il =,