The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1866-12-15

are we Cu0nOC yet DtileVc IHuL they lHtcHu
to adopt n plan for which they have not a
shadow of constitutional warrant. The Con-
gress will never bring itself in direct conflict
with both the Executive and Judicial de-
partments of the government, unless they
first ascertain that the Supreme Court has
surrendered its dependence.-,Sentinel
Is that all the consolation you can give
your dcuded followers, now that they find
themselves on the brink of the precipice?
Apologies for the " radicals" eh2 Will that
suffice to quiet their guilty fears? Where
did you learn that alphabet 1t is not to be
found in the secession primer.
We thought that you held that all the
radicals" were most INSCRIPTIONS pol
iticians that Congress was an unconstitu
tional body and all its acts illegal and void;
that it had already defied all Constitutional
precedent by rejecting Southern representa-
tive and passing the Howard amendment
But it seems that in the hour of extremity,
upon your political dcath-bed. that the work
of repentance is begun. 1t is too late, thou
'pitiful- hearted Tiuan,' the scheme eoW he
carried out!
"Violent as some of the radicals are" you
say, that you do not believe & that they in
tend to adopt plan for which they have
not the shadow of constitutional warrant"
Therein thou teacllest THAT bitter is sweet,
and that black is white" And yet when
calmly weighed, what are these but the vain
opinions of frightened MANI
However, let lis look at them little furth
er. You admit that some of the radicals are
''violent," to use your own Ambiguous c>-
preston. How many, pray tell 2 Two-tLirIs
of Congress Where is your proof to the
contrary? viii you refer to the Howard
amendment. the Civil Rights Bill, the refusal
TO admit Southern representatives and the
rejection of the Presidents policy Are these
your proofs that two-thirds of Congress are
not violent radicals 2" You hold that they
violated the Constitution in all these particu-
lars, and yet attempt to draw consolation
from the fact that having done SO several
times they will not do so again
We, however, do not admit that the radi-
calls are violent, but only brave and deter
mined to demand guarantees for the perpe-
tuity and harmony of the American Union
Nor have they violated the Constitution
We appeal from your assertions to Chief
Justice Chase and his associates.
These alleged violations Of the Constitu-
ton, which have so much bothered your brain
in the past, have not yet thrown the President
or the judiciary in conflict with Congress.
and there is no danger that they ever will.
1t is very edifyiny to read your exposit ons
OF Constitutional law; but when you are
prone to indulge in such abstract questions.
remember that Mr.. Chase and Mr.. Stevens
are nearer together in opinion on that 9ues-
ton, than you and Mr.. Chase are and that
he looks at the Presidents policy as the
experiment of one department of gov
ernment-the expressed will of one man;
the result of his labors merely. True it is
law unto you and all of us South, but
where else does it extend in the Union p
The Presidents policy may govern otrr
Southern Legislatures, but it is not the Con-
Stitution, or the recognized law of the whole
land. Congress, which is the zam-m0kspg
Ero.rer Of tile chole Iand. may wipe it cut
tomorrow, and the judiciary will sustain
them.
The people of the Northern States ezra,-
paticaily declared i'll the late election for the
Howard amendment. Hoping that ysu
would yield gracefully in the unequal com
test they have calmly awaited your acton
Now the amendment is reiected.-i; is deadi
and nobody wanted it. Do you suppose:
that Congress their constituents will stand;
still for wears, and allow you to dictate.
terms Where would the Republican party
he at the end of that time Why dissolv--
ed. disorganized and utterly ruined The
Northern people would send men to Con
srs'sS they sent armies South. with orders:
ringing in their ears to bring them back
dead or alive" And thus we see that the:
very instinct of self preservation. will imper
Congress to reorganze the dsloyal State
governments of the South
One reason also why much favor the
plan is because the Secessionists are so much
opposed to it. If they were to take hold of
it. we should drop it like hot lead. 1t is the
best sign that we have seen. 1t is very thing
to bring them to reason and loyalty. We,
are grateful for your opposition, gentlemen.
Do please continue it. You killed the Pres
ident's plan by your support. Do not pol
Lutte this with your unhallowed hands.
We see an insinuation in the Sentinel that
Messrs. Jenkins, of CASTOR. and Harris, of
made the impression when they
left this City for Washington that they were
going home. The gentlemen left openly, and
pronounce the statement of the:
Sentinel false.
They paid their expenses thither and back
and if necessity arises for their return will
go again. They might have extended their
visit to New York City. But wherever they
went or intended to go, who has anything to
do with it, except these gentlemen
The statement that the North Carolina
delegation prepared the section of the bill
for reorganization admitting qualified ne
gro suffrage, is untrue. MIR. Stevens incor-
porated it into the bill himself.