The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1866-03-21
IN THIS OUR GREAT EXTREMITY,
WHAT SHALL WE DO?

IN THIS OUR GREAT EXTREMITY,
WHAT SHALL WE DO?
Everybody appears to be satisfied that
President johnson is doing all he can to re-
ieve the Southern people from their distres-
SEES and embarrassments, and all Southern
men now acknowledge that it is their duty
to aid the President by whatever means may
be within their power. Now, the question
is, how can we aid the President
In what we are about to say we do not
mean censure or reflection on any mans
course in the late elections, but we merely
want to call attention to facts as they exist,
ard inquire if the people are willing to do
what seems to be necessary to strengthen our
real friends in Washington and at the North.
It will be remembered that President
johnson (who has now certainly proven him
self to be our friendD declared through tele-
graphic dispatch, that "the results of the re-
cent elections in North Carolina have greatly
damaged the prospect of the State in the res
toration of its governmental relations" We
suppose the President meant that one aoay in
which we had damaged our prospects was
by clecting delegation to Congress who
could not take the test oath, and some of
whom were unpardoned For our own part,
if it were possible, we should be pleased to
see the gentlemen who have been elected to
the House of Representatives with one ex-
ception) admitted to their seats some of
them are our personal friends, anda of them
with one exception would, no doubt, make
conscientious Representatives and do what
they could to restore peace. But it is evil
dent that these gentlemen can never take
their seats as our Representatives, because
they cannot take the test oath. The Presi-
dent has always said that Congress has the
power to Judge of the qualifications of its
members, but he insists that when Represen-
tatives present themselves from the Southern
States who can qualify, they should be adj
mitted. At no time has he commended that a
member should lie admitted who cannot
comply with the rules or test prescribed by
Congress flour representatives could take
the oath, the President would insist on their
being admitted and the radicals cannot long
prevent the admission of such persons.
This being the condition of things, what
ought we to do-what can we do to aid the
President in his contest with the radicals
lead by such men as Stevens and Sumner2-
Would it not be prudent for the present
North Carolina delegation to resign and per-
nit others to be elected in their places p
Would not such course materially strength
en- the President, and would it not go far to-
wards connecting of falsehood those who are
continually accusing us of being disloyal to
the Government We think so, and there
fore we do not hesitate to suggest it.
We are not prompted in these suggestions
by any man or set of men-neither do we
make them for the benefit of any particular
man or favorite. God knows our only mo-
tive, as public journalist, is to promote the
interests of the great mass of the people, and
do what we can to restore peace, quiet and
prosperity to our own people. We make no
claim to having been Union man during
| the war-we did all we could for the Con-
federacy, and so declared in public article
| on the first day U. S. troops marched into
| this town. We never expect to live to see
! the day when we will deny our position or
eat our own words" But times and cir
cumstances have changed, and all OF us, as
wise men, must conform our conduct to
changes which have actually taken place,
| over which we had no control. We all now.
| profess to be loyal citizens of the United
| States. and as such we demand the rights and
privileges accorded to citizens. Especially
at this time should we be moderate and care
ful-throwing off old prejudices-so that
our conduct may sustain President. johnson
and not embarrass him. We can do this
without sacrificing honA in the least.
We have said that we would be pleased to
see all our Representatives elect admitted to
their seats, with one exception That excep-
/ ton is Mr.. Josiah Turner of the Raleigh dis
| L.. 80, f,,n r. rfxy 1,ofro hat
do not believe he would make a fair or fitting
representative. He became candidate in
defiance Of the provisions Of the Presidents
amnesty proclamation. He secured his cleo
ton by arousing old party prejudices, and
while in Washington claiming his seat he
tried to ingratiate himself into favor with the
radicals by cursing and abusing democrats
and the democratic party; thus condemning
the President and all the democrats Of the
North who have stood up for the rights Of
the South. Even the radicals have no conf
! dence in man of that sort, ard of course he
failed to make a favorable impression on
them. They measured "the gentleman from
Orange" and found him too short. Mr..
Josiah Turner is one of the. dead ducks."-
/ Charlotte Democrat.
1 RuMoRED ATTEMPT TO AssAssNATE MAX
nf1LLIAN.-A letter from the city Of Mex.
leo Of the 18th ult, says:
/ Rumors of important events have beer
put in circulation Mr.. Saiiliard, French
diplomatist, has arrived here, and also the
Archduke Etienne, brother of the Emperor
Macmillan, on board of the French steamer
from St. Na..aire. The arrival of the latte
was kept carefully secret as far as possible
He is accompanied by the Count dc Bonn
4 beliz, an Austrian, a great favorite Of Maxi
MILAN Whether the Archduke has COM
to Mexico in order to advise his royal broth
!, er or whether he has been sent out as thu
agent of Napoleon, is at present matter o
conjecture.
There is another circumstance which ha
also been st,ldiously concealed from publ
knowledge. Here it is One day durin.
Maximillian's last sojourn at Cuernavaca
:, while walking about, followed at shor
distance by one of his staff officers, the at
tention of tile latter was excited by the sus
picious NOV sments of man who appears
to be DIGGING the Emperor, stopping whe
he stopped, and gradually approachin
closer and closer to him. Finally, when til
individual got close to his Majesty, til
staff officer rushed forward and seized hin
Upon searching him loaded revolver wa
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