The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1866-09-08
Southern Unionists.

1He NEW L DIX IGUseS, SLICE II HdS OeSeTCeu
the Union cause, is joining the Richmond
Enquirer and other rebel papers in under
rating the numbers and influence of South
ern Unionists. The Enquirer copies APPROX
ingly from the Times as follows:
"The New York Times says the claim of
the so-called Union men of the South to the
political control of the Southern States,
seems just and fair, and if it were not ut
terly and hopelessly impossible, would de-
serve consideration. But it is impossible
The men in the Southern States who stood
by the Union do not number one in te,a-we
believe we might say one in taoenty-of their
capable Inhabitants. They have not the
slightest hold upon their confidence, they
cannot command acquiescence in their rule,
and If installed in power can only be kept
there by the bayonet. The reason for this
state of public feeling toward them may not
deserve approval, but it is natural, and not
inconsistent with renewed and sincere loyal
ty. Every community confides in those who
stand by 1t in its hour of trouble-no matter
from what source those troubles may come;
and it condemns those who, when the die is
cast neither come to their aid nor sympa-
thize with their sorrows. And it is utterly
hopeless to expect that they will choose them
as the recipients of their honors or the rep
resentatives of their wishes and opinions"
To all which we reply in the language of
Andrew johnson, addressed in August, 1865,
to his Provisional Governors. President
johnson said:
az would impress upon you the Importance
of encouraging and strengthening to the full
est extent the men of your State who have
never faltered in their allegiance to the gov
eminent. Every opportunity should he made
available to have this known and understood
as your policy and determination.
What does that mean Does it mean that
there is not one in ten of Union men in the
Southern States ?-and that these Union men
have not the slightest hold on the confidence
of the people2
The policy of the government was and is,
to reorganize the States on loyal basis. The
Union men were to be foremost in this work,
and those who labored to bring on the re-
bellion, and who opposed all efforts to make
peace during its progress, were commanded
to take back seats" This command was
obeyed for a while; but the secessionists now
have the front seat and the Union men are
hustled out of the way and treated as crimi-
nails, because they were not true to the Con-
tederacy. The Enquirer rejoices over this
state of things, and the New York Times,
which processes to be Union paper, acquies-
ces in it, and tries to produce the impression
that the Unionists of the South are insig-
nifcant in numbers and influence. The
Times ought to hide its head in shame, and
the Editors of the Enquirer and Examiner
ought to be thankful, under all the circum-
stances, that they are permitted to remain in
the country. If justice were done in their
cases. they would be tried and executed for
treason, or at least banished to Brazil or the
Dry Tortugas.
There never was time during the rebell-
ion when there was not a majority of Union
lists in North Carolina, counting those in, as
we'll as out of the army. But these Unionists
were crushed and silenced by the strong
hand of power. Fifteen thousand of them
the bravest and noblest men that ever trod
shoe-leather- against Gov. Vance in
1864. There are now, in this State, about
eighty thousand voters. We feel sure that
thirty thousand of these are Enthusiastically
loyal" and "devoted" Union men :; and that
twenty thousand more of them, though not
as cordial in their feelings towards the Union
and the Northern people as the thirty thous-
and referred to, are nevertheless not merely
but anxious to see the Union re-
stored. But for the fact that the entire ma
chinery of the State government, with the
exception of the Judiciary, is in the hands
of the secessionists, and but for the influences
thus brought to bear, and the constant clam
or about NEGRO equality" coupled with |
appeals to the passions of our peo-
pie against the radicals''-we say but for |
these things, it would be an easy matter to |
unite these twenty thousand with the thirty |
thus placing the State in loyal |
hands by majority OF twenty thousand
The main object of the proposed State Con-
vention in Raleigh, on the goth of this
month, is to unite these voters on a loyal, |
national platform-to present the issue of
the restoration of the Union at all hazards, !
as the paramount consideration, and to ap-
peal to the people of the State to remove
from Office those who are now thwarting and |
delaying the work of restoration The re-
naming thirty thousand voters are case
hardened secessionists and latter-day war
men, who glory in their efforts to destroy the
have no regrets for the past, |
save that they failed to establish the Confed-
hate the flag, and the govern
ment and the Northern people, and who are
looking anxiously for some CONFUSION at |
Washington and in the Northern States |
which will crush the real friends of the |
Union, and place their friends and allies, |
the copperheads, in power. These are the
followers of Gov. Worth, once Union man,
but now a tool in the hands of secessionists |
and bloody war men. l
Let the New York Isnaes-let the North |
ern people decide which they prefer, the fifty
thousand Unionists referred to, or the thirty
thousand case-hardened WORTHLESS and Sc