Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1866-12-20
that the steadfast Union men were overawed and

that The steadfast Union men were overawed and
silenced. Thus it appeared that there was some
thing like unanimity in support Of the Rebel Gov
eminent. "a 58{ IS
''But, after the lapse of two years energetic ac-
ton had dispelled the delusion that the United
States meant to permit the separation of the
States. The loyal men of the South were thereby
encouraged to speak and act with ii tie more
freedom and confidence. The first impulse o.
popular excitement had died out and some OF the
errlng We're returning to reason and loyalty
Still the diabolical designs attributed to the
United States Government, and the uncertainty Of
the consequences Of submitting to its authority
prevented an important mani estation Of Union
ism. At this juncture President Lincoln on the
Sth day of December 1868, issued proclamation
setting forth the real purposes OF tie Government
and offering amnesty and pardon to all such as
would avail themselves of its provisions. The eff
feet was most encouraging, and many accepted
the terms, while thousands were anxiousy seek
ing an opportunity to do go But the tyrannical
evergy of the rebel despotism aroused
Threats and violence were resorted to in every
locality. Whoever was known to have accepted
the amnesty OF President Lincoln and placed him
self under the protection Of the Uni ed States
escaped death or perpetual imprisonment only b.
fight from the Confederacy.. But the procama-
ton Quoted the public mind as to the designs of
the Government, and brought back to loyal feel
ing and sentiment thousands who had been misled.
cautious yet decided movement was commenced
looking to the embarrassment OF the rebellion and
the ultimate restoration OF the Union. In North
Carolina, especially. peace meetings were system
aticaily planned and held in the several counties,
until they were suppressed at the instance of hir.
Davis. by proclamation OF the Governor. This
movement continued 10 gain such strength and
boldnes that the Rebel Government had to sus-
pend the writ of habeas corpus Hundreds Of
Union men were imprisoned or murdered, the pro-
perry OF others destroyed and their families
outraged.
"Party lines were never more distinctly drawn
than they were between those who advocated peace
the best attainab!e terms and those who de-
nounced as traitors all who dared even whisper
anything but total separation and independence
between the Unionists and Secessionists and
these lines often drawn in blood.
Such was the effect Of the proclamation of De-
celnber 1869. Those who wished to comply with
its terma but We're prevented by surrounding cir
cumstances, were the prosecuted UniOnists, en-
bracing the repentant as we'll as those who had
never wayerod.
'I4iberaIity and Justice require that the
will be taken for the deed that those who de-
sire to comply with the terms of the proclamation
but could not, should be placed on the same foot
ing with those who did. II the work of reconstuc-
ton is to be committed to the unmistakably 10y
al, and treason made odus, let the line of dis
tincton be now drawn where it i'll 1864165.
1t is the only just and practical line of distin-
ton that can be drawn between the lOyalists and
the dslOyalSts; between the UniOnist at heart and
the conscious persistent traitor. It distinctly sep
arates the Union men Of 1S64-'65 from the seces-
SiOniStS of that day, who prosecuted and Outra ge
them because of their suspected attachment to
the Union, and their disatfection to the Confcder
acy.,
place the Government Of The Southern States III
the hands OF the U2iOn men, and csciIdes every
SccessiOnist; and no other test can do without
excluding thousands who We're at first misled, but
who repentad and afterwards perilc:l their lives
and estates in support OF the Union. There need
be no apprehension that this oath would be false
~ taken. The status OF every man at that time
distinctly known to his neighbours The line
clearly drawn upon this test, and upon it hun
dreds were imprisoned. outraged and murdered.
by the same measure let the prosecuted Union
lists have their reward.
"4hey are now discouraged and paralized be-
cause, while the President would boldly deliver
them over to degradation incurred on account of
THEN adherence to the Union in the dark days of
treason and blood, the Congress seeIns to make
definite distinction between tie and their late
and present prosecutors and enemies. But, should
Congress recognize and uphold them by some just
and discriminating action, they would take cOur-
age, and boldly and successfully work for the in
forests Of the Union. Thus would the true ele-
ment Of the South stand prominently forward, and
make secession and treason bow its head. Now,
traitors bold and arrogant, while the true 10y
ast is mortified and senU ; the peace oftho cOuu-
try is still disturbed, and the Union still unques
tiOnably in danger.
g Let this be the test
O. a. b., do solemnly swear, On the Holy Evan
CYCLISTS of Almighty God, that on the 4th day OF
March, 1864, and at all times thereafter, l would
willingly have complied with the requirements OF
the proclamation Of the President Of the United
States, issued on the Sth day OF December, 1868,
had Il safe opportunity of doing been allowed
me that the said 4th Of March, 1861, aild at all
times thereafter, was opposed to the cOntinu-
Of the rebellion, and to the establishment OF
the eo-called Confederate Government and Volun-
ta .1ly gave aid or encouragement thereto, but
earnestly desired the success OF the Union, and
the suppression Of al armed resistance to the
Government of the United States and that will
henceforth faithfully support the Constitution of
the United States, and the Union of the States
Hereunder"
We have neither time nor space for COM
ment on this disgraceful attempt to procure
perjurers enough in North Carolina to form
''loyal government by offering them
political office for lying
But we do not intend that Holden shall
avail himself of this villainy. The theory
of this precious document is, that good
Union men were, "in the early part of the
rebellion" drawn "into it by the tardy &C
ton of the United States Government, and
by the wild excitement of the time Such
tcas not Holden's case.
Two months before North Carolina left
the Union, w. w. Holden, who had long
passed the age when the hot blood OF
youth pleads in some extenuation of I'M
reasonable action, said that "The Union
could not be maintained by force, and
would fall to pieces at the first touch Of
aggressive or coercive power, end if Lin
| coin should EVEN THREATEN (Fy, MIR. Hol
| den , the Southern States, we should defy
and resist him." Our authority for this
statement IS MI uOlue1 ulLuSell, WHO IL
| the Standard Of December 25th, 1861
Christmas day, when, if on any in the
year, he might be suspected of scrupulous
| truth-declares that he wrote the above
| - IN FEBRUARY LAST"
This swift rebel certainly deserves nc
consideration at the hands of the best gov
eminent the world ever saw.
We have but two comments to make or
this paper.
First, we congratulate the gallant people
of North Carolina, that all efforts to attain
the integrity of her people for the three
first years OF the war, have been abandoned
by her enemies and ours, as idle. We con
| gratulate them on this admission of theil
foes, that they cannot find Williams enough
in all the State, to fill their Offices, under
the test that for any time in three years O
the revolution, they were unfaithful to theil
brethren and their VOWS. We congratulate
them that these foes find it necessary tc
come down to the year of desertion, O
cowardice, of starvation, of unparalleled
suffering, of agony, of despair, to hun
amid the graves of the peoples hopes fo1
food for their loyal feast. Thrice honoret
North Carolina
Andsecondly, we congratulate those mucl
| / l. l..