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

will reject it, and we cannot expect it's
legal ratification by any of the lately
insurrectionary States. If there were
no other reason why the Southern
States will reject it, it is enough that it
proposes to disfranchise nearly all the
men in the South, who have influence
over the masses of the people. If none
were to be DISTINGUISHED except officers
of the rebel army, we still could not ex-
pect the South to adopt it, for large 4
majority of the men in the late III
surrectionary States, through compul-
sion or choice, served in the rebel ar
mics, and their votes alone would over
whelmingly defeat it. Would Union
soldiers, to recover political privileges,
disfranchise theft leaders, whom they
love and revere for their heroic virtues?
How, then, can we expect Southern
soldiers to degrade their old comman-
ders?
As there is no probability that the
amendment will be ratified by three
fourths of the States, the plan ofrestora-
ton which Congress appears to have
determined on is at best impracticable.
That proposed by the President, and
approved by the National Union Con-
vention, is feasible, and we believe safe.
We have no fear that the South can ev-
er overthrow the Federal Government,
or ever disturb its career of power and
glory. They will be the last of the
States to rebel and if they shall again
rise in instruction, the loyal people
can and will subdue, and, if need be, de-
stroy them. The Government has as.
serted its power of selfpreservation !;
and the devastation and misery of the
South proclaim, to this generation at
least, the crime and the terrible penal
ties of treason. Beholding their woes,
and contrasting their weakness and our
strength, we could afford to show the
confidence and courage of magnanimity.
We might well let our vanquished op-
ponents arise, and, like James Fitz-
James at Coilantogle Ford, staunch
their wounds and forgive their treason.
But we are not asked to be magnani-
nous, but only consistent and just.
This we cannot refuse to be, without
a violation of the Constitution of our
country and risk of its overthrow.
We seek, and will have, no association
in political action with men, North or
South, who are not avowedly, and. IN
our opinion, sincerely faithful to the con-
stitutional principles for which we
fought. Bnt if men who have taught
OF practised treason now openly re-
neunce their errors, and maintain with
us the true principles of our Govern
menr, we shall not reject their coopera.
ton. When the restoration of the
Union and the preservation of our form
of government are in issue-however
much weiregret to sever cherished polit-
ical associations and to cooperate with
former enemies-we must prefer to act
with those who haze been wrong and are
now right, rather than those who were
right and now are wrong.
Believing that our government is
again in peril, we appeal to yon who
have fought to save it, and who hold it
dearer and more sacred than all party
ties, to come TO the rescne. Jet the
soldiers and sailors agreeing with us in
sentiment, but who cannot in person at
tend, send delegates through the action
of their societies, or oflocal conventions.
Let us meet in force at Cleveland on
the 18th of September-the anniversa-
ryof the day when the Constitution
was proclaimed by our forefathers-and
let us aid in restoring the Union it Gre
ated, and the liberties it was ordained
to secure.
G. A. CUSTER, Major Gen. q. S. A.
A. Med. McCooK, Major Gen. U. S.A.
L. HI Rousseau, Major General,
GEORGE Crook, Major General,
S. MEREDITH, Bvt. Major General,
THOMAS EWING, Bvt. Major Genera,
Committee on Address.
Washington, august 10, 1856.
We cordially approve the call for the
Convention. and recomend the holding
of local Conventions to cooperate in the
movement /:
Major Generals John A. Dix, James
B. Steedman, Frank P. Blair, HI. w.
Slocum, Daniel E. Sickles, Gordon Gran
ger, John A McClernand, D. N. Couch,
W. W. Averell, Fl. E. Davies, Jr., Or
lando B. Wilcox, Alpheus s. Williams,
Fitz Henry Warren, John S. Clark,
Hugh Ewing, Theodore Runyon, Thos.
Kilby Smith, VIM. B. Franklin, Thos.
L. Crittenden, Marsena r. Patrick, Al
win G. Gillem, J. j. Bartlett, G: K.
Warren, JEFF. C. Davis, Joseph F.
Knipe, John Lane, G. G. Walcott.
A. II. MARYLAND, Supt. U. S. A.
Mail.
Bvt. Maj. Generals NJ T. Mcmahon,
II. II. Heath, John M. Oliver, VIM. T..
Ward, Henry A. Morrow.
Brig. Generals George P. Taste, G..
G. Maxwell, Arson G: McCook, Geo.
Spalding, ]. B. Sweitzer, w. w. 81 Da-
vies, Walter G Whitaker, John L. Crox-
ton, E. B. Brown, J. G. Parkhurst,
Geo, HI. Hail, n: A. Vaughn, James
Craig, Morgan L. Smith, James G.
McFerran, Joseph w. Frizell, VIM.
McCandless, A. b. McCalmont, Samuel
Beatty, VIM. Hartzhorn, J. S. Fullerton,
Thos. H. Benton, Ferd. Van Derveer,
Lewis c. Hunt, James H. Ford, Thorn
as Curley, E. S. Bragg, Charles Ewing.
Bvt. BIZ. Generals Chas. G. Halpine,
Henry S. Commager, H. G. Hobart,
H. G. Dunlap, G. O. LOOMS, Cassius
Fairchild, Henry Bertran, Chas. W.
Blair, James X. Mills, Chas. Black,
Durbin Ward.
Colonels John Leverance, Quinn Nor