The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1866-08-08
The afeeklp staudara,
WEDNESDAY, = AUGUST 9. 1866.
IT, Vote on the New Constitution
RALEIGH, N. g.


d.v Friday and Saturday last on the new
Constitution We have received thus far but
f,w returns, but those received indicate that
tho East has voted almost en- masse against it,
the West almost en- maasse for it, while the
middle region of the State is divided For
example, Newbern in the East, gives one
hundred and seventy majority against the
Constitution, while Rutherfordton in the
West gives one hundred and twenty-seyen
for it and one against it. Hillshorough, I'M
der the advice of Judge Ruffin and Gov.
Graham, gives fifteen to one against it;
Greensborough gives two hundred for, and
seventy against it; Durhams', in Orange,
gives seventy for, and forty against Raleigh
the seat of government, gives one hundred
and seventy-four for, and seventy-two against
it: and Goldsborough, the hotbead of seces-
sion and disloyalty, gives one hundred and
twenty-five against, and five for it. The vote
polled in the State will be small, and will
probably not exceed one-third of the entire
vote. The opponents of the new Constitu-
ton, stimulated by the letter of Judge Ruff
fin and their aversion to President John
son and the national authority, under which
the Constitution was formed, were very &C
tive, while the loyalists were for the most
part quiet, and polled hut small vote.
1t is reported that Gov. Worth voted for
the new Constitution. This may be so, and
If so, it was done to hide appearances. Near
" all his leading friends and newspaper or
gans were against it. and the Counties that
gave him the largest votes last November
have puled the heaviest votes against the
Constitution. His organ in this City has
stated by authority that his opinions in re-
gard to the power of the Convention to make
tbis Constitution are not kn0acn; and he has
certainly taken no steps as the professed
friend of the instrument. to have them known.
This statement of itself threw doubt on the
power of the Convention to make Consti
tuition. and this was no doubt intended as
hint to his friends to vote to reject, while he,
to hide appearances, and to perpetuate the
false impression that he is friend to the
= President, voted to ratify.
Many votes were NO doubt cast against the
Constitution on other grounds, but the main
grounds of opposition to it were, first, be-
cause it was the work of loyal body of men
who were chosen and who acted under the
SC +Lo U,;tad Ctatac apd cacond-
lv because it did not count the negroes in
the basis of the House of Commons, but only
the whites. The great body of the colored
people are in the Eastern part of the State,
where the secessionists have large majority ;
and their object in counting the colored peo-
ple in the Commons basis is to retain their
power in the Legislature, as against the loyal
white men of the West. And yet these same
men, who on the three-ffths principle seek
to count three negIoes against five white
men, would regard as gross insult the pro-
position that these negroes, thus counted,
should be allowed to vote. To sum up,
therefore. if the new Constitution has been
rvjvrso,l, the result is to be attributed to hos
tility to the national goceransent, and to the
pertinacity with which the secession leaders
cling to tile dead forms Of At>ican slacery. AS
long as these leaders are permitted directly
to control affairs in this State, or indirectly
to control them through instruments like
Gov. Worth, just so long will North Carolina
he unfit to be restored to the Union.
A friend writing us from middle North
Carolina, says:
Il have little doubt the Constitution VIII
be rejected by the popular vote OF the State
A great many took no interest IN the matter,
not enough even to vote. The reason Tor us
rejection by the people of this section, may
be attributed to the simple fact that they
have been led to believe, that every move
tending to restoration under President
Johnson's plan, if acquiesced In 10y Them
strengthens his policy, and the influence OF
those who adhere to it, in restoring to power
again the old Democratic party. the worth
faction, composed of the opposite animation,
do not wish to be instrumental IN aiding
such policy. They would rather remain
out of the Union, believing they will In due
time effect change in the next Presidential
election that will overturn such restoration
policy, when they can commence the work
of restoration under the auspices of federal
lead, (Whig,) upon such basis as will ena-
BILE them to obtain their cherished object,
the payment of the rebel State debt, and at
forwards continue in power, by ostracising
every tory. traitor, whacker and Union
man who did not shout for JEFF. Davis and
his reign of terror The friends of this fac
ton do not hesitate to avow their hatred to
President Johnson's democracy. They open
ly charge him with the design of restoring
to power his old party, (democratic,) and
give as a reason that he began with appoint
ing you. and Others of former Democratic
proclivities, Provisional Governors, pardoned
Rhett, and Others and refuses to pardon
W. A Graham, Vance, and Others, old-line
Wings. This they urge as conclusive, dem
onstratiye and positive evidence OF the fact.
They are, therefore, opposed to such policy
under the plea of restoration to the Union;
and hence, they are for defeating tiff in no
other way, by staying out OF the Union until
they can, if possible, effect change In tue
administration at Washington. Judge Ruff
fms opinion has confirmed very many IN
their pre-conceived notions regarding the
policy of the President. To sum it up: The
government must be under the patronage
and control of men who believe in the fed
eral Or Wing policy, and then they are ready
to acquiesce in such measures as will carry
the State back to the Union-whicb policy
is to tax the people to pay the rebel State
bonds, and exclude from place and position
every man of the "straitest sect !" order
with payment for slaves, the Indictment of
every Union man who withheld his tithes
under the Confederacy, and trial for treason
Of every Union man who escaped through
the Confederate lines lie President Inhn-