The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1866-08-29

In the peroration of Gen. Dixb speech b.
fore the Randall Convention b uttered, with
the most melancholy effect, thatmoan over
the glories Of the past which octogr3arian
stage-drives unbosom when they rec steam
engine. There are many descendants d Mn.
Lot who, like Gen. Dix, look back In soTrow-
full regret and forward with fear and trem-
bling. To such people, who arc the salt Il
the earth in very unfortunate sense Gen.
Dix's admiration Of the old Republic will be
more acceptable than the faitl of better re-
formers in the future Union. His sorrow for
the dead is wasted, as there i no hope that
tears will effect resurrection, but Is what
he says many people are weak enough 10 &C.
cept without examining, we have desire to
see what reason exists far this longing for
the good old times" He called upon the
delegates to bring back the Republic,
purified and strengthened BY the 6ery ordeal
through which it has passed, to its ancient
prosperity and power; to present to tho
world an example worthy Of imitation-no
Utopian vision of good government, but the
grand old reality IF the better times, bring
ing up the memory Of our fathers and the
recollections Of the past, with the past and
the future inseparably entwined-0ne coun-
try, one flag, one Union of equal States.n--
Which we call very good indeed.
There is very little analogy between the
circumstances Of the country just after the
Revolution and our condition ct the present
time. But suppose, for the sake Of illustra-
ton, that Connecticut or Massachusetts, had
remained loyal to George the Third, and i'm
mediately after the recognition of our indie
pendence had sent delegates to assiE N
framing Const1sution. We Fancy thak4Asy
might have knocked some time before GAIN
ing admission; and our fathers sages and
philosophers as they were, would hardly
have kept their tempers if these same dsls-
gates had assumed to dictate the terms ID
on which they were to be accorded entrance.
It would have been found, we suspect, that
the dictation, if any, was to come from the
other side IF men OF. States put themselves
into dubious political position, they must
submit to be distrusted until they have given
plenary evidence of repentance, and sufficient
surety of good conduct for the future. If the
late Rebel States persist in keeping all poll
teal power in the hands of those who arc
VIGOROUSLY hostile to the Constitution and
the Union, they are no more entitled to ~
presentation now than they were when their
swords were drawn, their Confederate ban
ners Haunting, and their Rebel ranks in bat
tie array. Admission of illegality and wick
edness of the Rebellion on the part of the
Rebels are not so numerous as to be tiresome
by any manner of means. To sneak into
Congress with patriot blood still dripping
from their skirts, with the old slaveholding
oligarchy still retaining its pristine power,
and still DISTINGUISHING nine-tenths of the
population, with the leaders of the Rebellion
still eligible to Offices of authority and trust
this seems to be the chief ambition of trail
tors retired from active business-these arc
the immunities which they do not SO much
ask for as demand, with Gen. Dix for back
er! And should they carry their point, be-
come once more power in the General Coy
eminent, and dominate once more in the Be-
nate and the House, then, we suppose, Gen.
Dix will elevate his voice, and proclaim TO
all the four points of the compass that the
Republic is purified and strengthened y.
that the grand old reality Of better times"
is restored-that we have at last tone coun-
try, one flag, one Union of Equal States!"
A country just escaped from mortal peril
and still with much bard, practical work be-
fore it, if it would live and prosper, will not
suffer itself to be misled by the most charm
ing exertions of rhetoricians. The people
understand these matters as well now as they
did during the last Presidential election, and
the issues are much the same.-Neso Yoyk
Yt1Z1fna as--.