The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1866-09-11
NO. 75.r.

powers as ours, nave altered their con.
stitutions in many important particulars,
not necessarily connected with the
changes demanded by the overthrow Of
the Confederacy.
If there be any acknowledged force
in the positions laid down by the wri-
ter, is it not matter of profound sur
prise, that no where else have they been
raised before the people, or, if raised,
that they have had no weight in the pub
lie consideration?
But, fellow citizens, have not been
prompted to defend the Convention from
the charge of being either a mere eau
Gus of irresponsible men, or (ifnot al
together such body ofhaving transcen-
ded its legitimate powers and usurped
others never committed to it, by display
ing to you the dreadful consequences
which must follow the establishment of
the charge. Having been member of
it, I gave due consideration to the ques-
tion whether the Convention was a le-
gitimate body or not, and, if it were,
what powers it possessed Pit is true,
that / preferred, that, in raising our
State government from its utter prostra-
ton caused by the late war, we should
pursue, as nearly as practicable, the
forms to which wehad been accustomed,
and was, therefore, in favor of allowing
the Legislature to assemble even under
the military banner and provide for call
ing Convention in the mode prescribed.
/ SO urged upon Gen. Sherman, in cur
first interview after his arrival at the
seat. of government, and ] found him
altogether disposed to the same course.
l asked him if he would furnish trans
=. g A1,<
members who might desire to attend,
and he replied that he would. When
about one month afterwards, / visited
gentlemen from the State, to see what
able the State to resume It's political and
civil condition, urged on him the pro-
priety of allowing the members ofthe
Legislature to convene, because this
was the mode prescribed, by our Con-
stitution, for calling Convention. He
unhesitatingly disapproved of it, saying
there was no Legislature; that it was
elected, qualified and organized as a
body in rebellion against the United
States, and was not legal body
/: urged him to waive this and allow
them to convene for the mere purpose
of calling Convention, and, among
other objections, he said Suppose
should allow it and thus recognize the
legal existence of the rebel State Gov
ernment, and the Legislature should re-
fuse to conform to such terms as may be
deemed essential to suppress the reb-
ellion and restore the State to its duty ?"
I replied that he need not fear it, that
there was, at this time, no one of that
body who might not be led back into
the Union with a silken thread" The
President was, however, fixed in his
purpose of ignoring the existence off any
civil authority in the State, and he even
maintained that there had been no law
full authority of any kind since the reb-
ellion had become open and hagrant.-
l did not concur with him in all he
said but l mention this to show how
great, in his opinion, was the necessity
for thorough fundamental organize
tion of the Government, and owample
and unrestrained should be the powers
of the Convention. In his proclamation,
issued few days afterwards, he. reaf-
firms the views above expressed, and
says that the rebellion t'hts IN its rev-
dictionary progress depri0ed the people
Of the State of North Carolina of all
civI government" that ut becomes aec-
essory and proper to carry out onden-
force the obligation Of the United States
to Mepeople IF North Carolina IN Sc
curing them IN the enjoyment Of re-
publican form Of government"
Therefore, as ''President of the United
States and Commander-in-Chie of the
army and navy of the United States"
he appointed d" William w. Holden
provisional Governor of the State of
North Carolina, whose duty it shall be,
at the earliest practicable period, to pre-
scribe such rules and regulations as
may be necessary and proper for con-
vening Convention, composed of dele
gates to be chosen by that portion of
the people of said State who are loyal
to the United States, and no others, for
the purpose of altering and amending
the Constitution thereof, and with au-
thority to exercise within the limits of
said State all the power necessary and
proper to enable such loyal people of
the State of North Carolina torestore
said State to its constitutional relations
to the Federal government as will enti-
tie the State to the guarantee Of the
United States therefor, and its people
to protection by the United States
against invasion, insurrection and do
mestic violence Provided, That, in
any election that may be hereafter held
for choosing delegates to any State Con-
vention, as aforesaid, no person shall be
qualified as an elector, or shall be eli
gible as member of such Convention,
unless he shall have previously taken
and subscribed to the oath of amnesty
as set forth in the President's proclama-
tion of May 29th 1865, and is a voter
qualified as prescribed by the Constitu-
ton and laws of the State Of North
Carolina in force Immediately, before
the goth. day of May, 1861, the date
of the so-called ordinance of secession
and said Convention when convened or
the Legislature that may be thereafter
assembled, will prescribe the qualiica-
tions of electors and the eligibility of
persons to hold ofhce under the Consti-
tuition and laws of the State-s power
the people of the several States compos-