The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1866-11-22


representatives. to congress. every citizen who
ad advocated the doctrines of secession be-
i're the war, or taken conspicuous part in
he military conflict. delicately forebore to
ask for seat In congress. Although human
experience has taught that those who (riSht
or wrong) have exhibited manly courage in
military conflict. rarely disregard the terms
of capitulation when conquered, in this state
no one who had favored the initiation ofthe
war, or distinguished himself in the field du-
ring its progress, asked to be made a mem
ber of congress. Every senator and repre-
sentative elected had always opposed seces
sion until the United States could no longer
protect his person or property.
Up to this time we thought the wise and
.nagnanimous policy of the president was
about to produce, at an early day, the benif-
cent results he contemplated. A few days
before the meeting of congress, after we had
complied with all those supposed prelimina-
ries to national reconciliation, speeches of
distinguished partizan leaders of the con-
gress, soon TO assemble, gave US premonitions
of the purposes of the dominant party. l
need not remind you of the chilling shock
we received when the action of the domi-
nant party in congress announced that OuI
members, irrespective of their qualifications,
would not be received, and that the Union,
for the preservation of which so many lives
had been lost, and so frightfnl a. national
debt had been created should be practical
ly dissolved until it should be the pleasure
of the dominant party to restore it. Up to
this time, this fra3tion of the congress con
templated by the constitution of the United
States, exercise the legislative power with-
| out declaring when. if ever, or upon what
conditions, the people of the other states
they govern shall have representation, and
the recent elections in the dominant states
sanction this action.
1t is proper to refer to the action of the
people and the authorities of this State in
the interim of these extraordinary national
movements.
Not guerrilla party existed in the late
rebellious states. In this state not a single
instance has occurred where sheriff has
had occasion, since the surrender. to require
a posse or other AID to execute civil process.
Our bench of judges have executed their
duties in manner which would have given
lustre to the judiciary of any, period, in the
history of the world. The steaCliness with
which our judges have held the scales of
Justice has, at last eXtorted praise from
those who studied to maiign them. A few
of the agents of the freedmen's bureau, and.
l er,evc to say, a few of our own people,
who seek to prupitlate the favor nt our con
querors by furnishing aiment to their un-
just preiudiceS have sought make the
impression. at the north, that freedmen and
Union men could not have justice at the
hands of our courts. To this end, emlssares
have been employed to traverse the country
and record er D,t1te statements to cast odum
on the administration of justice; petitions
have reen cnvertiy gotten up by some of
our own citizens anl sent to the president
OF the United States charging dIsloyalty to
our people and tavoritI$m to our courts to
enltter against us the virtuous classes of
rle north Amongst us these Vaccinations
/ IL ,pflarStnnl Tho and in
tcligent men of the north who have settled
among us, and especiall, the soldiers who
stood N trout nf the fight. on both sides, in
the late conflict of arms. dcspise these Sian
j drrs Through the agencies of whole souled
men. public opinion, it is hoped, will soon
reach healthy state. Our judges, unmoved
10y these unworthy imputations. and unawed
br intimations that they would he suspend
ed from the exercise of their functions, if
their adiudications did not accord with the
dominant power, have silenced SANDER it
self. No murmuF is now heard against
the fairness with which Justice is admins
tered in our courts. The fearful increase of
crme-a natural consequence of a civil war,
in which disrespect for the rights of non
cnmbatants was ,-uthoritatively counter
RANGED. if not encnuraged-is being rapid
ly repressed, and reverence for justice is
having its natural triumph.
Our legislative department has been anX
iously endeavnrIng to alter our code to suit
our novel situation, and to bring order out
of the chaos produced by the late convul-
sions
This review of our national affairs brings
US to the present period.
In June last l received. from the Hon.
William 81. Seward, secretary of state of the
United States, communication herewith
transmitted to you, covering an attested copy
of Joint resolution of congress, proposing a
| fourteenth article as an amendment to the
constitution of the United States. 1t pro-
poses:
| 1st. That I" all persons born naturalized
in the United States, and subject to the iju
risdiction thereof, are citizens of the United
States and of the state wher In they reside"
2nd. That " no state shall make or enforce
any law which shall abridge the privileges
or immunities Ct citizens of the United
States"
Sd. That "no state shall deprive any
person of life, liberty property, without
due process of law, nor deny any person
within its Jurisdiction the equal protection
of its laws"
4th. That representation shall be appor-
toned among the several states, according
to their respective numbers, counting the
whole number of persons in each state, eX
Guiding Indians not taxed. But when the
right to vote at any election for the choice
of electors for president and vice president
of the United States. representatives in con-
gress. the executive and judicial officers of
the state, or the members ofthe Legislature
thereof. is denied to any of the male inhahi-
tants of such state, being twenty-one years
of age and citizens OF the United >tates or
in any way abridged, except for participa-
tion in rebellion or other crime, the basis of
representation therein shall be reduced in
the proportion which the number of such
male citizens shall bear to the whole num-
her of male citizens twenty-one years of age
in such state"
5th. That "no person shall he a senator or
representative in congress, or elector of pres
i,ient or vice president or hold any office,
civil or military, under the United States, or
under any state, who, having previously
taken oath, as member of congress. or as
an Officer of the United States, or member
OF any state legislature, executive
or Judicial officer ot any state, to support the
constitution of the United States, shall have
engaged IN inSurrecton or rebellion against
the same, or q ven aid and. comfort to the
enemies thereof: :: hut congress may, by
vote OF two-thirds of each house. remove