The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1866-10-10

gress revoke every Presidential pardon con-
fscate property and force universal suffsge
upon u.s. Let us be wise in time and avert
these calamities by submitting to theequirs-
ments of the law-makikng power:
j. T. LEACH.
Leachburg, Johnston County, Oct. 1st. 'es.
-
The Political Situation.
The election for members of Con-
gressand State officers takes place to-day
in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana and sew
eral other Northern States. If, in these
elections, the friends of President John
sons policy do not gain enough MEM
bers of Congress to prevent what is
called the Radical party from having
two-thirds in the next Congress and
overriding the Presidents vetoes, we
may expect trouble in the country, and
probably anarchy and war, unless the
difficulty can be ayerted by the South
ern States accepting what II known ~
the Howard amendment, and thus get
ting their Representatives and Senators
in their seats. After the result of these
elections are known, the Southern peo-
pie can decide as to the course they
ought to pursue.
Parties at the North are divided into
three classes. lst. the friends Of Presi-
dent Johnson's policy, which is to ad-
NIT into Congress Immediately South
ern representatives who can take the
test oath. I'd, the moderate RepubG-
cans who contend that the South shall
adopt the proposed Howard amend
ment to the Constitution OF the United
States before her Representatives are
admitted. Sd, the Radicals, headed by
such men as Thaddeus Stevens, who ia
vor abolishing the present Southern
State Governments, putting us back
under Provisional Governors, and COM
pelling us to. re-organize and per-
init the negroes to vote, and also
to pay the whole expense of the late
war or have all our property eonfs-
Gated.
At the last session of Congress law
was passed providing that as soon as
any of the Southern States adopt the
Howard amendment, they shall be enti-
tied to representation in Congress. The
provisions of this amendment are as fol-
lows:
l. That all persons born or natural
lied in the United States are citizens
thereof and Of the States in which they
reside, and on footing of equality in
regard to their civil rights.
2. That the enumeration of the peo-
pie for representation in Congress shall
be abridged in proportion to the abridge-
ment of the right of suffrage in any
State on account of race or color. The
question as to whether the negro shall
vote is left with each State, but if the
negro is not allowed to vote, the repre-
sentation in Congress for such State
shall be based on white population or
actual voters. ~
8. Every man who ever took an oath
las an officer of the Federal or State
gooermnae,ats) to support the Constitu-
ton of the United States, and who af-
terwards aided the South in the late
war shall not be eligible to any office,
unless relieved Of such disability by Q
two-thirds vote of Congress. [Such per-
sons are not deprived of their vote, but
of the privilege of holding offices unless
Congress relieves them or repeals the
law. This clause does not prescribe
lawyers, for, although they took an oath
to support the Constitution of the United
States. They are not officers.
A. That the national war debt shall
be held sacred, and that all Confederate
debts and obligations shall be- utterly
repudiated and held illegal and void.
5. That Congress shall have power
to enforce the provisions of this article.
We have tried to state the provisions
of this amendment SO that the people
may understand them, for we feel as
sured that if the Radicals get the same
power in the next Congress they had in
the last, we shall have to decide, ,wheth-
er we will adopt the amendment, or run
the risk of living Mr. Stevens plan of
provisional government, confscation,
&C., forced upon us.
We fear that the day is not far dis
tant when the Southern people must
make their choice. We have all along
contended for the Presidents policy be-
cause we think it more just and fair
than any other; but if the President
fails to obtain power sufficient to enforce
his scheme, the. question is what ought
we, as people, to doP It win remain
for our people to decide, for what will
be the fate of one will be the fate Of all.
For our own part we can say that
rather than have our State governments
abolished, negro suffrage forced upon us,
the property Of our people confscated
or deprecated on by squads of soldiers,
and the women and children starved to
death or rendered houseless and home
less, we would prefer the adoption oi
the proposed amendment. We are aa
deeply interested in the welfare Of the
country as any man, our heart ID
with the South, and here in North Car
olina we expect to live and die.
In view Of the uncertain condition c1
4 public affairs, and the difficulties which
threaten us, we advise that no candidate
for the Legislature pledge himself 4
any particular course, but that he bt
J free to act as the exigencies Of the time
may demand after the Legislature a.
sembles. Let us send good men TO tn,
Legislature, but we resectfully sugges
that it would be the best policy 70
them to go unpledged. Above al, le
us be cautious and prudent, and pre-
serve peace among ourselves. II Char
| Loffo DnynncSnf