The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1866-12-05

pronosed amendment, and the people OF the
South under the influence Of their leaders,
have refused to accept that But the Chief
Justic, ssys if these leaders have any plan Of
their own be thinks they ought to present it,
and if they will do 50 the government will
hear them patiently and kindly. The Chief
Justice will wait long time for this plan
These leaders are doing remarkably well at
this time. They are in complete control OF
all the State governments in all their ramifi-
cations; they are protected by the govern
ment of the United States against internal
wars and from foreign aggression or inter-
meddling they know that, as soon as these
States are restored to the Union, the fountain
of national honors and Office which will be
opened will not flow towards them and con-
sequently, they are not disposed to return to
Union which is hateful to them, and which
they would regard, under the most favorable
circumstances, as consolidated empire hold
ing absolute sway over States, which they
would fafn believe are yet sovereign in their
attributes and powers.
The only remedy for the present disorder
ed state of the country, and the only mode
which will surely and satisfactorily readjust
the Union and establish it on lasting founda-
lions, will be found in enabling acts by Con-
gress to ne organize the Southern States. The
existing civil governments in the South are
merely experiments the result of the militia
~ power of the President as commander-in-
chief of the army and navy. This military
power could initiate, but it could not make
permanent these civil governments They
are still suspended and kept in motion by
the military arm. If the law-making power
should recognize and confirm them, they
would at once commence permanent exist
ence; but as loyal governments they are fail
ures, and we have no idea that Congress will
impart vitality to them. We most earnestly
pray that body not to do it. Let Congress
commence de nooo. Let the new govern
ments be founded on the rock of loyalty, and
not, as the existing experiments are, on the
shifting sands Of secession and treason. We
think the loyal people of North Carolina are
competent to govern themselves They feel
that they, at least, have not forfeited the
right to govern themselves. They are tired
Of experiments. They are depressed and af-
ficted by the rule of malcontents and trait
ors, who have at length worked their way to
the head of these experiments. They desire
permanent cfui1 governments on Thoroughly
1oyal basis, and they look to Congress to eff
feet this result. Let it be done at once. We
can hope for no peace and no prosperity IN
til it is done. Some of the malcontents are
already saying, Congress dare not do such
a thing" We shall see what Congress will
dare to do. It was said that Grant would
not dare to meet Lee, and that Sherman
would not dare march from Atlanta to the
sea, but all this and much more was dared
and done. Let Congress grid itself to this
work and do 1t, and it will win the great glo-
ry of having restored the Union on loyal
basis, and of having thus so consolidated our
liberties and our nationality as to render
them impregnable to any assaults that may
hereafter be made upon them.