The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1866-08-23


1.cepted the destruction Of slavery, aboiished
Eit by their State constit utions, and concurred
with the States and people of the whole
Union in prohibiting it's existence forever
upon the soil or within the jurisdic tion of
! the United States They indicate and evinee
their purpose, just so fast as may be posi- BILE
and safe, TO adapt their domestic laws 10 the
changed condition of their society, and to
secure by the law and it's tribunals equal and
impartial justice to all classes of their in
habitants. : They admit the invalidity of all
acts of resistance to the national authority,
and of all debts incurred in attempting its
overthrow. They avow their willingness to
share the burdens and discharge all the duties
and obligations which rest upon them, IN
common with other States and other sections
of the Union and they renew through their
representatives in this Convention, by all
their public conduct, in every way and by
the most solemn acts by which States and
societies can pledge their faith, their engage
ment to bear true faith and allegiance,
through all time to come, to the Constltu-
ton of the United States, and to all laws
that may be made in pursuance thereof
Fellow oUNTRYMEN We call upon you,
your patriotism, to accept, with generous
and ungrudging confidence, this full sur
render on the part of those lately in arms
against your authority and to share with
them the honor and renown that await those
who bring back peace and concord to Jarrlng
States. The war just closed, with all its
sorrows and disasters, has opened new
career OF glory to the nation it has saved. 1t
has swept away the hostilities of sentiment
and of interest which were standing menace
to its peace. 1t has destroyed the institu
ton of Slavery, always a cause of sectional
agitation and strife, and has opened for our
country the way to unity of interest," of prln
ciple and of action through all time to come.
1t has developed in both sections a military
capacity-an aptitude for achievements of
war, both by sea and land, before unknown
even to ourselves, and destined to exercise
hereafter, under united councils, an impor-
tant influence upon the character and destiny
of the continent and the world. And while
it has thus revealed, disciplined and COM
pacted our power, it has proved to us beyond
controversy or doubt, by the course pursued
toward both contending sections by foreign
Powers, that we must be the guardians of
our own independence, and that the prin-
ciples of republican freedmom we represent
can find among the nations of the earth no
friends or defenders but ourselves.
We call upon you, therefore, by every con-
sideration of your own dignity and safety,
and in the name of liberty throughout the
world, to complete the work of restoration
and peace which the President of the Uni
ted States has well begun, and which the
policy adopted and the principles asserted
by the present Congress alone obstruct. The
time is close at hand when members of
new Congress are to be elected. If that Con-
gress shall perpetuate this policy, and, by
excluding loyal States and people from rep
resentation in its halls, shall continue the
usurpation by which the legislative powers
OF the Government are now exercised COM
mon prudence compels us to anticipate aug
mented discomfort, a sullen withdrawal from
the duties and obligations of the Federal
Government, internal dissension, and gen.
eral collision of sentiments and pretensions
which may renew, in still more fearful
shape, the civil war from which we have
just emerged. We call upon you to inter-
pose your power to prevent the recurrence
of so transcendant calamity. We call upon
you an ecery Congressional district Of ecery
State, to secure tile election Of members, qchO,
ohGteCer other differences may characterize
their political action, aoiW mite in recognizing
the RIGHT OF EVERY STATE OF THE UNION
TO REPRESENTATION IN CONGRESS, AND WHO
WILL ADMIT TO SEATS IN EITHER BRANCH,
EVERY LOYAL Representative FROM EVERY
STATE in allegiance to the Government, aoh0 aoiU
be found by each House, an the exercise Of tie
poocer conferred upon it By the Constitution, to
haUe been duly elected returned and qualified
for q seat therein.
When this shall have been done the Gov
eminent will have been restored to its in
tegrity, the Constitution of the United States
will have been re-established in its full su-
premacy, and the American Union will have
again become what it was designed to be by
those who formed it, a sovereign nation,
composed of seperate States, each like ITSELF |
moving in a distinct and Independent sphere,
exercising powers defined and reserved by
common Constitution, and resting upon the |
assent, the confidence and cooperation of all
the States and all the people subject to its
authority. Thus recognized and restored
to their constitutional relations, the States |
and the General Government can enter in a |
spirit, with common purpose and |
a common interest, upon whatever reforms
the security of personal rights, the enlarge |
ment of popular liberty and the perfection |
of our Republican institutions may demand |