The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1866-01-31

are to be regArdedas; acting in their individ-
ual capacity ORR their organized political
u capacity as the ueople of State.
va Inow inquire what must be the terms and 7
Tco11itions Of peace in order to put an end 1
to civil war in these United States2 lam
swer, the Constitution of the United States
is the paramount and iindissoluble bond of
Union and relationship and peace among the
several States. An attempt to overthrow
that is civil war; Submission to that is peace.
Therefore, neither the President, nor Con-
gress nor the Supreme Court, nor all put to-
gether, can make any other treaty of peace
or bond of relationship among the States.-
Nothing short of successful revolution, or of
! decision Oflthe sovereign people OF the Uni
ted States to amend that Constitution, can
change the relationship between. the States
Il one jot or title. Though men and parties
Z. may change, the Constitution as the basis of
that relationship in this Union will remain
perpetual. y ti'ss' az q aiis lfHa Sol
Z What, terms had the President a right to
6 demand Of these States, or Of their people
as conditions precedent to peace and tile
Withdrawal of the army = ~ 90 .l;e
II First, and before all, and as the basis Of
/, I all, unqualified submission to the Constitul
VI ton of the United States, and all laws OF
! SOuSIySS pdSScu IL puiSutiCS tllCICOI.
Second. The annulling of all acts, laws,
and proceedings by which the States made
i or prosecuted war against the United States
including the rebel debt. tl,s..s stsH3a
Third Acquiescencein the situation which
the war has brought upon them, including
the abolition of slavery, for and on account
J, of which they made the war /; for the sin
cerity of such acquiescence, and as the SUI
prelne test of its good faith, the adoption Of
!, | the constitutional amendment by which
slavery, the cause of the war, is surrendered
> and made impossible, and liberty made sure,
r by being placed under the guardianship OF
| Congress in every State snd Territory forever.
!, Fourth. The practical resumption of their
E political duties upon those terms as States in
the Union. - f'.sd
e These are the conditions, in substance
e upon which President Lincoln almost three
: years ago announced to the people of these
I States the terms of pacifcation to which he
t pledged the support Of the Executive Gov.
r eminent. - -
0 These are the substance of the terms offer
s ed by President johnson. &
t Several of the States, or the people of sew
!. eral States, have accepted them, and offer
b now to resume all their political duties as
! States in this Union, and practically enjoy
t., their rights as such. Shall we allow them
# to do so %
), Ifthese terms have been accepted by theso
y States, or the people of these States, in good
faith, is not the faith of this nation pledged 7
e Just as much pledged as by the terms con-
/ tanned in the surrender of their armies?
Il 1t is not sufficient answer to say, this
; Congress is not bound by the acts of preced-
# ing Congresses, and therefore we can pass
v laws requiring the President to impose other
It and new terms of pacifcation not required
# by preceding Congresses. Technically that
If may be urged but it will not do for great
s. nation, dealing with fallen enemy after he
If has surrendered to impose anew any other
l. terms Had we been fighting with any for
It eign power, the treaty made by the President
If would have been most scrupulously kept
o As between and among the States, the Con-
r stitution-which is the treaty Of peace, and
d more than treaty, which forms perfect
s. Union. and makes the States one family-ia
e certainly to be regarded with equal sacred
e ness and validity on our part, when after a
l. civil war peace is made, and the offending
= citizens or State makes submission in good
+ faith and seeks to renew allegiance. Moth
n ing is more clear than that we have made no
e conquest of these States We hold them on
T. ly by virtue of our original right as States I'M
o der the Constitution.
i But the question is sometimes put, by
5, what power, then, if these States are still in
e the Union, does the President appoint those
i provisional or military governors That
question is important; but to that question
# the answer, in my judgment, is perfectly
e clear The President does not make the ap-
II pointment of these agents, call them by what
e name you will, provisional governors, militia.
S, ry governors commissioners, agents, heralds
t. of peace, generals, anything you please, nor
n does he employ these agencies, by virtue OF
Y his authority as u civil magistrate. They are
not civil appointments. They are in no sense
a civil officers for there is no law under which.
a thev are appointed at all They are mero
e military agents of the President, as Comman-
E. dcr-in-Chief of the army, who is bound to as
v / certain the fact which he must know before
Il he can discharge this duty Of mastering the
= forces out and of Withdrawing the army
a, He Sends these agents into the several States
E. for the purpose of ascertaining whether the
,r rebellion is suppressed; not only whether tho
d people have ceased armed resistance, but In
,r tend to submit in good faith and make no
" more resistance to the authority of the Gov
If iefnmcnt. These agents are ny him authOriZ-
r ed to ascertain that fact; in substance, ito put
,e certain questions to the people int States,
r no matter iii WHAT form they are to abe an
1t swered; whether by i'm election the casting
d of ballots, Of by an oath. The question is,
It sssAre you willing now, in good faith to sub
he nit toand oacoept the true situation which
If the war has brought upon you Are you
e bireadyy asiifee Etatesj to put on, republican
r. bformiofr government r. and are, YOU deter
D tiinineethereafter,t to be lawful and laWabid-
If ling citizens of the United States e. they
it oanswerithat they are. what then no. Assure
" me ofthat,N says. the President, "and will
If Withdraw the military power; I VIII no lon.
IS eger hold you as Commaa. der in, Chief; Twill
lie 1gno longer govern you by martial law will
I withdraw the troops and let the :ciyl laws
he whichiare silent in, the mi DIST of arms once
a. more COME into full play You may substi
tute the balldtIof the loyal citizen for the
D. jtbayohet of the soldier which command
1T can then safely sheath the. sword and leave
At yea to yourselves, And when 14 lean can DO that
Al This S tie sab sts e,,5 It all Y may
j say there is an air. Of the ilian, scent O
ID !thecigil law and civil auth ority in the Ilsga
n, forms employed in which to put and answer
Mt these questions; What Of tina These agents
Off lnara military agents althons Is wearing thu
E. gaEh of the civilian They are called previ
iey sional governors, but in they are com
il missi9nefs to propose terms 1f peace O. !.
5c= see if Peaee has come in reality OF Nhetheri
a. isia holloN and daceitfqL appea rance ofpsacs