The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1866-03-28

i
lance of many years, | have ever main
tanned the .hindest and most respectful
personal relations. But it is obvious
that, from inadvertance, or different
view Of the subject on the part Of the
committee, or from misrepresentation on
my part, | have been disappointed in the
expectation of being allowed to hear
what was imputed to my State as de-
merit, and of counteracting it, if could
Ia mistake from which some injustice
has resulted. My inference, from the
correspondence, certainly was that the
committee, when they should reach the
matters touching North-C Carolina, would
notify us of the points on which evil
dence was desired, and would afford an
opportunity to apply to adverse testl-
mony' the ordinary tests OF truth, as
well as of combating it, if in our judg-
ment proper to be done, by witnesses
called by ourselves.
l was, therefore, surprised, a few days
since, to learn that the committee had
made report of the evidence taken by
| them, and obtained an order for its pub
lication-a proceeding which, in leg
islative body, as in a court of chancery,
presume, implies that all the evidence
has been taken that it is designed to re-
ceive. This inference is confirmed by
the application for and adoption Of the
additional order to print 10000 extra
copies. 1t imports that the case, as to
the facts, is fully made up, and that
upon these it is to be submitted to the
| Judgment of the two Houses of Con-
gress, and the still higher arbitrament
of public opinion. Now, / most re-
specially protest, that if, upon anything
contained in all this evidence, the peo-
pie of the State OF North-Carolina shall
be condemned, or kept in state Of con
domination, it will be condemnation
without hearing, when she was emit
tied TO be heard.
Of all the testimony received by the
committee, there is not single affida-
Wit having any specific referenceto her;
aud there is room for hope that, from
the absence of other evidence, she was
net considered involved in any great
degree of demerit or criminality, and it
was not deemed necessary to prosecute
! the investigation any further on that
account. But it cannot escape observa-
ton, that in a State of million of in
habitants, the only witness called to
speak Of her condition, the sentiments
and ruling motives of her people, should
be Lieut.. Col. Dexter Fl. Clapp, from
one OF the Eastern States, an officer OF
the Freedmen's Bureau at Raleigh, who
states that he is conversant with the
people in some twenty counties out OF
eighty-seven-a soiourner filling an Of
flee for which there will be no necessity
in short time TO come, unless upont the
theory that the government of the State
will not do justice to its negro popula
ton in their condition of freedom.
do not design to impeach the integrity
of this gentleman. He is spoken of il
terms Of high respect by persons of ou
common acquaintance. 1t has so hap
pened that have not met him.
But surely his opinions, loosely ex
4 pressed, as they are in his affidavit
(aad nothing nyorc fully ILLUSTRATES th'
impol lance of cross-eXamiDati6n thai
the want of precision in the Language
ofhis statement, formed by intercourse
rs he admits, among less than one
fourth of the people of the State; hi
vague statement Of design to repudi
ATE the rebel debt, (what is meant b,
this l do not comprehend J his sweep
ing assertion that "Union men an,
freedmen stand a poor chance for jus
tice in the State courts" ian dispersion
upon the judicial officers OF the Stat
recently chosen by a Legislature cleo
ted under the restricted system of sui
fiage ordained by the proclamation
of the President aud Provisional Gov
ernor, as well an injustice to the genel
al sentiment of the people, are all to
indefinite and unsupported to serve a
the foundation for any action or cours
of policy on the part of the Govern
ment towards the people Of the entir
State. Had [ been so fortunate as t
have had the attention Of the commit
tee, even after this affidavit was taker
| think | could at once have more tina
realized all the disparaging testimon
of Col. Clapp, by requesting that thel
might be summoned another officer {
the Freedmen's Bureau, some time o
duty at Fayetteville, North-C arolin;
who had equal opportunities of obse
yation, and judge as much capacit
for improving them. This is Majc
Lawrence, of Illinois, q am told
brother of the chief justice of thu
;tate,) whose letter recently publishe
iii these topics hope to append t
these remarks, as well as the statemer
Of Col. Clapp.
l had no design or wish to be exam
ined as witness myself should ha,
considered myself rather as occupyin
the place of counsel or advocate Of tt
State. And if the committee had int
mated wish for such information
would have taken pleasure in furnis
ing them the address of gentlemen
every section of the State whose a
quaintance, whose integrity, whose i
telligence, whose loyalty and interest
and Identification with the COUNT
I qualified them to speak of the cond
lion of affairs and the state of feeliu
and opinion towards the Governmel
Of the United States with full -kno,
ledge; men whose ambition has bee
chastened by the fires Of adversit
whose affections and sacrifices wou
+ satiate generous fee, whose desi
is to re-establish the constitutional I
) lations of all the States with the Fe
eral Union, and. as preparatory to thi