Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1866-11-15

The Wilmington Journal is mistaken in suppos
| ing that We desire to intimidate the Southern
| Legislatures" into the adoption of the Howard
| amendment. We have no hope that IL VIII De
adopted large majority OF the members OF these
conId not vote for it now, if they would. If they
| should vote for it, III the face or their solemn
pledges they would at once forfeit the respect ano
| confidence of all honorable persons.
No, the Southern States. under the lead OF dis
affected and ambitious leaders, arc going to do as
( they please now, they did in 1861. The conse-
! uuenccs Of such action cannot fail to be dlsaS-
| trous All we ask is, that it be understood and
borne in mind that we not parties to this new
| folly. We seek to s. intinidate no one;
Raleigh Standard.
We certainly desire to do no one inJus-
tice, or even by mistake misrepresent them.
We published in full the article of the
Standard and copious extracts from all arti-
Gle of the New York Ecening Post, to show
that the purposes of both were the same,
the one to intimidate the South by open
and violent threats, and the other by aw-
full and terrible insinuations of the dangers
to life and property, in case the Congress
sional ultimatum is not accepted. We &C
cept the explanation of the Standard of its
| intention, but we are satisfied the effect of the
article, if any, will be to make the Howard
amendment moro acceptable to our people,
through fear of the awful results predicted
by that paper.
As much attached as we are to our sec
ton, and as dearly as we prize the reputa-
ton our people purchased during their
struggle at such terrible expense, if they
could now be frightened into accepting
their amnesty and buying political rights
at the cost of their honor and by the sur
render of their manhood, we should regard
defeat and subjugation as the evidence also
of our cowardice and degradation.
The Standard is also mistaken in sup
posing that the Southern States intend OF
expect to do as they please. The people
of the South as fully and clearly under
stand the So situation" the lesson it teaches
and the duties it imposes, as does the edi-
tors of that paper or our neto and reliable
friends and advisers of the New York Her,
aid and Times We know and feel the dan
gers and appreciate the disposition of the
North to take advantage of their power
We know, too, our utter helplessness and
poverty. But, thank God, defeat has not
destroyed our manhood, helplessness has
not made us cravens, nor poverty blunted
our sensibiities. If our rights as citizens
are denied us, we will never recover them
by FORGETTING those of men if the Constitr-
ton of the United States, which our fathers
gave us, and which we have learned to
honor and love, is not acceptable to the
Northern people, we will never voluntarily
by amendments to suit their views, render
it odious and injurious to ourselves.
We feel most keenly the condition of the
country and the gloomy prospect of an
cal difficulties, and know the great respon-
sibility devolving upon the South in the
premises. We have advised and will con-
tinue to urge our people to bear in mind
the duties devolving upon them by the
terms of the surrender Of their armies, by
the obligations of their oaths, and by
the legislation Of their Conventions
These are part and parcel of the result
of the war and the conditions of their
restoration. We have, also, continued to
urge upon orr people full and just APP
probation of their duties as citizens Of the
United States, and their obligations to
maintain the peace and support the laws of
the country. We have urged them to turn
their attention to the development of their
resources, to rebuilding their fortunes, to
encourage emigrants and capital to seek
our section, to educate and aid the freed
men to become intelligent and contented
laborers, to continue to claim their rights
under the Constitution and laws, firmly,
considerably, and with due regard to the
dignity and character of the body which
denies them to us, and finally, to do our
! whole duty as high-minded and honorable
| citizens of the United States. But further
than this we cannot and will not go. We
can never urge our people to accept their
own degradation, and will ever plead with
them to maintain their honor unsullied.-
| We regard it neither consistent with sound
policy or true craftsmanship to attempt by
intimidation or threat, to urge people to
| iect in cooler moments nor can we recon
| Gle appeals to their poverty and helpless
| ness to barter their birth-right for mess
of pottage" as in conformity with either
their present interest or future prosperity.
Thus believing, we shall continue to urge
the rejection of the Constitutional amend
ment, regardless of the promises OF threats
held out by Congress. Reconstruction and
representation may be procured at cost
which will render both valueless, and will
prove curse rather than blessing to the
South.
Weregret exceedingly that any man in the
South can be found, who would willingly
accept the terms of reconstruction as pro-
posed by the third section of the constitu-
tional amendment. 'sTo suppose that any
"Southern man would voluntarily adopt
sssuch provision, says Governor Perry in
his late able and patriotic letter, land these
words come from q distinguished and hon