New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1866-09-24
THE UNION CANVASS IN NORTH CARO-
IINd

LIMA.
Mr.. Holdens Address to the people of North Caro-
lima carefully avoids making any direct issue WIN the
President and indeed assumes that the CONSTITUTIONAL
Amendment carries out his principles. II quotes from
his speeches of year ago to show that he not only
fayors the plan of the amendment but is In favor oil
impartial suffrage. This reference is not very COM
pmentary to Mr. Johnsons consistency, and nothing
could be more severe than the GOODNESS with when
is ignored the change in the Presidents politics
Gov Holden argues with great eamestness the value
of the Congressional plan, aud says very truly:
There is not principle in any section OF the pro-
posed amendment which has not received, in some
form or other, the approval Of the President. Ii,
therefore, our people agree with the President and if
they are disposed to carry out in good faith what they
have already conceded Ito say nothing Of the respect
which they owe to the aw-making department OF the
Government), l can see no good reason why they
should not settle this business finally and forever by
placing these guarantees in the national fundamental
law. There was no time within sixty days after the
surrender Of Lees forces when they would not have
accepted such terms gladly
OF the condition Of the State the address speaks
plainly. Before the Rebellion the estimated value OF
the property of North Carolina was four hundred MIL
lions in specie; now it would not reach one hundred
millions. The debt is eighteen millions and there are
no means to pay it. He points out that, by the re-
lection of the new State Constitution submitted at the
late election, the ordinances repudiating secession
and the Rebel debt acknowledging the abolition OF
Slavery and allowing colored persons to testify in
the courts have but temporary value They may be
.abrogated by any future Conyention-a fact which
shows how important il is that the Union should have
full security from the Rebel States. Business and
politics are thus alike unsettled, and every
day adds TO the poverty and embarrass-
ment OF the State. Gov. Holden de-
cares that there is no hope but in the prompt res
toration of the Union; and this be effected in no
other way in my judgment, than by accepting the
proposed Constitutional Amendment. We are admon-
shed by the recent elections that the North will be
satisfied with nothing less 1t may require more and
have no doubt il WILL if we reject this amendment
With this warning he gives the people equally we'll
founded encouragement: The great body of the
people of the North are our friends. They wish Us
we'll They do not desire to humble or degrade US
They do not want our lands or our houses. They are
not seeking our blood They are tired Of war. They
yearn toward Us as an elder toward his younger
brother who has been sorely chastsed for his first Of
Tense. They desire prosperity, because 1t is IN
separately connected with their own. They do not
want hold subject provinces but they wish to
live with as as equals IN the Union. That Union
stretches out its mighty arms to embrace us. Forone,
| am anxious TO return to it,"
This address should have decided effect upon the
Union men Of North Carolina and even the discon
tented Rebels must be influenced by its argument
The Union candidate for Governor, Alfred Dockery,
will go before the people the champion Of the Con-
sttutona Amendment, and whether he is defeated or
elected the canyass, if theoretically conducted, can
not fail to have a good effect in all the Southern
States The Congressional plan is now fairly before
the people in open canvass and North Carolina,
one Of the last States to follow South Carolina in leav
ing the Union may be the first to follow Tennessee in
relnrnlng.