The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1866-02-07
SPEECH FROM SENATOR HARLAN.
HIS VIEWS ON RECONSTRUCTION.

.TT7 H
On Friday night last, a largenumber ofthe !.
citizens Of Iowa repaired to the residence of
Secretary Harlan. in Washingtonand compli- J
mented him with serenade. In his response
Mr.. Harlan expressed his views on the !ques-
ton of the re-admissiOn Of the Southern II
States into the Union, which, coming as they
do, from the lips of a member of the Cabi-
net, aSenator elect, and prominent repre-
sentative of the Republican party, may not !,
be considered uhimportant We make, the
following extracts: h; ,s.s.,,h,i,s,fi .lss.j m
You will scarcely expect of me on this occa-
sion to address you on the general subject of /
national affairs, but there is one, great ;ques-.
ton to which I will briefly allude, now ;agi-
tating the pubic mind and moving the pub
lie heart, and that is the terms on which our
brothers who reside in the districts recently,
in rebellion shall be permitted to affiliate :
with their brothers of the other States. 4 Z
The rebellion has been substantially crush.
: ed, and the fact is admitted by ALL; and the
terms on which they shall be admitted to
full fellowship with the Representatives of
the other States of the Union is the only j,
great question which occupies the mind Of
the American people st..'.s....-'' ~. =
In some States the question is ATTENDED"
with difficulty in consequence of the great in
congruity of the population, one half of them
having been in bondage and abject slavery
while some doubt the possibility of their as
suming and wisely discharging the duties Of ?
: American citizens. II apprehend' that none
will doubt that they Unjust forever remain !,
q free .[Applause1E There, are none who sup l-
pose they can be shifted from this country to-
! other clmes. If this four millions must for
ever be free, and they and their posterity re-
4 main in this country, suppose no wise Z
statesman thinks that, for long time, they
i can-be deprived of citizenship. The time at
!, which they should he admitted is q question
A., to beidecided by the Senators and Represen-
. tatives of the United States. ,5iliilsso. il;a8
Al partial reorganization of the States has .
; taken irpiace. The leaders in the rebellion
i have given up the struggle as worse than fu-.
tile and they cannot hope in, the future To-
severthe Uniona land must, therefore, remain.
!, in it, and, as citizens, render obedience 70
!, the laws. ;3L i u fgl
q We had no right to expect they would at
!; once acauiesce. and admit those who were
once slaves to equal rights Of citizenship,
But the safety Of the Republic ,l is more I'M, I'M
Many Of fotl,s,i our w,isest sat nasnccers doubt Very
much, whether it would be safe to admmit m
Z them in their present. condition, with neafiy
! cne half the population excluded from ca
] zenships and that half the most loyal paft o.
the population They fear that under the
present, organization, With the local govern.
/, ments in; the hands Of those who have recent
ly Eeenin rebellion, the. Union men Will pc n
i a very lean minority, and think 1t, no more
than right that those who recently hadtheh
! hands red with the blood of the loyal people
.of the cnnnfry should not fully manage thl