The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1866-03-28
Wednesday, March Is. 1866,
rl1ustice to southern Uoion;.,.. :

article on Constitutional amendments. saws
"The constitutional amendment apportionmo
representation to population and excluding from
,ne oasls those to whom the franchise is denied
mas been defeated in the Senate There were oh
Jections 10 the proposition which we stated at the
LIME put we should, under all the circumstances,
nave regretted its defeat as serious blow to the
prospects OF speedy organization if we were not
se1y sure that the amendment was to obviate
diinculty In the situation which is sure to be rem
edieo. The emancipation amendment, upon the
assumption OF four million freedmen and a basis
Oh hundred thousand persons for a representa-
NV ADDS sixteen members to the representation
OF the late slave States. Yet the POPULATION
which increased the representation, and which
upon TINS basis would give forty members, is
excluded from the polls, and is, moreover, the
only thoroughly loyal class in the States con-
cerned
This is an absurdity which must be adjusted:
and as the Committees amendment has failed,
Senator Doolttle has introduced substitute as
follows:
'.After the census to be taken in the year 1870
and each succeeding census representatives shall
be apportioned among the several States which
NAV be included within this Union according tn
the number in each State of male electors over
twenty-one years of age, qualified by the laws
,thereQf to choose members Of the most numerous
'of'"r.h OF sd Legislature; and direct taxes shall
De apportloned,s-nesg the several States accord
ing to the valu of the real and personal taxable
property situated in each State, not belonging to
tuS otalc Ut tue OnlteQ States"
This is virtually the amendment which the
President has always favored, and which he sur
gested IN the conversation with Senator Dixon
It's spirit is the same that of the defeated promo
sltlon 1t aims 10 enlarge the suffrage and it
offers strong inducement for its ENLARGEMENT :
1t appeals to the love of political power. and ex
poets to effect that enfianchisement of the color
ed population which is the key of the situation.
Senator Wilson, whose political saeacity and
ndelity to freedom are proverhial is of opinion
onnn,, 1r..ar
duced equal suffrage inf the late slave States with
In five years. Doubtless he and all his friends
are, as Senator Fessenden said in favor of abolish
ing all caste distinctions Immediately But they
are very sure that the result can be better accom-
plished indirectly and by degrees. The feeling
OF the Senate is shown by the fate of Senator
Henderson's proposed amendment, which for
babe any State TO discriminate against any person
on account of color or race. A radical Senate
gave ten yeas for the proposition and thrty-seven
nays. Senators Yates, Sumner, and Clark made
the same Effort with a still worse result The
Senate has plainly pronounced for leaving the
regulation OF the suffrage TO the States"
There are several points in the above that
might be noticed, but we have made this ex-
tract with the view of protesting, as we do
in the most earnest terms against the state
ment of Harper that the freedmen are the
only Thoroughly loyal class" in the insurgent
States. This is an unfounded unjust, illibe-
ral, mischievous statement 1t not only ig-
nores hundreds of thousands of white Union
lists in the South, but it puts the freedmen
above them in respect to loyalty, and would
leave the impression that the only solid hope
of the restoration of the States on safe ba-
sis is to be found in negro suffrage. If this
be true, then the white Union men here not
being thoroughly loyal" might as well
cease to take an interest in public affairs
But it is not true. 1t is libel upon the
Union men of the South. We declare that,
in our opinion, the true Union men of the
insurgent States are entitled to more sympa-
thy and consideration than Northern Union
men, for the reason that the former had more
to endure on account of their principles than
the latter. There are at least twenty-five
thousand Unionists in North Carolina who
are as true as the same number of Unionists
in New York or Massachusetts,.
The Unionists of the South have had
double portion of suffering to endure. For
long years they were prosecuted and dis
tressed by the so-called Confederate govern
ment and the State governments; they were
plundered and robbed by Confederate troops,
and then "bummeredn by federal troops; hun
dreds of them were shot and hanged because
they would not fight in the insurgent armies;
they were hunted like wild beasts among
the caves and mountains; they were de
nounced as traitors to their native soil, and
prescribed socially as well as in politics and
business; and they were taught to believe
that if the Confederacy succeeded they would
be driven out to find home among their
friends, the Yankees" while their names
would be handed down to posterity with in
fanny But they believed, and they had
right to believe, that the rule of their enemies
would cease with the rebellion, and that the
great body of the Northern people would do
Justice to their integrity and their motives as
Union men. What has been the result
They look around at home and find nearly
all the offices occupied by men who were
their enemies and oppressors during the re-
bellion, and who have been chosen to those
Offices on their merits as "good Confeder-
ates." They find that the original secession
ISIS. the immediate authors of all our woes.
have allied themselves with renegade Union
men. and that this combination is surely and
rapidly obtaining supreme control In society
and government, in the various corporations,
and in all the ramifications of business. The
fact that they are decided, ultra, uncoDdi-
+;onal Union men is badge OF disgrace.
When they summon sufficient confidence to
proclaim themselves Union men latter the
stra;test Sect and-to claim as such the re-
.snect of society and popular suffrage, they
are called hypocrites and towards bythe con-
fdential organ of Gov. Worth, and are told
they must stand back and give place TO the
20 t,.us men nwho fought it out against the ted
.eral flag And when they look abroad LOT
encouragement and succor, they are met with
tho false and chilling declaration that all
co,tbern citizens were rebels, and respect
allie and highly influential journal like Har-
,,or,s Wee1Iy. tells them that the emanclpated
slaves of the South are better Unionists than
they are! e
Now. gentlemen of the North, none OF
those things move us, except TO mingled in
dipnation and sorrow. We tell you If you
lie. out tbe Union men of the South you
ill have none left here, except the COL
.ored race to respect or esteem YOU
If YOU ignore the Union men, and gov
hore without their aid, it will be an iron