The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1866-11-07
Thus Saith the Sentinel.

The Sentinel, of this City, speaking for
Gov. Worth and the great body of the NAL
contents and disloyalists of this State, says ::
"The proposed constitutional amendment
has been so fully discussed that but little
time we Judge, will be consumed in its con
slderation. Before the official announcement
of peace, and while under the acknowledged
force and presence of military rule, amend
ments to the Constitution, and other condi-
tions of peace and reconciliation, were pro-
pounded to the people of this State, as terms
of surrender necessary to peace, accompanied
by the tacit pledges of the government that
our compliance with these would secure to
us all the privileges and rights of States un
der the Constitution and the protection of
the government. These were promptly ac-
cepted and complied with.
Recognized by the forms of law and by all
the departments of the government as con-
stituents parts of the Union, as members of
the great family of States, yet denied, in the
persons of our Senators and Representatives,
the sacred right of representation, and, above
all, any voice in changing vitality the organic
law of the land in which we are most deeply
concerned the National Congress now pro-
pounds to the several State Legislat, res an
amendment to the Constitution,-no as a
further condition of peace and full settle
ment of the controversy, but such terms as it
has deemed proper to propose to all the
States upon their naked merits. such as must
most deeply degrade and humiliate the for
mer slave States of this Union, and which
are designed as a punishment and a lasting
incubus upon them, after Peace has been de-
clared!
The bare starement of the proposition
should be enough to determine at once the
unanimous action of the General Assembly.
This question has, however, been by design,
and for purposes of deception, so persistently
pressed upon US, as a probable if not a GER
tain means of speedy reconciliation, that,
yielding to the pressure of "hope deferred, v
some have seemed ready to abandon their
manhood and the sacred rights of freedom
altogether, and to crouch low enough to bear
any burden, however ignominious, for the
sake of quiet from the turmoils and agita-
tions of the times. Alasl such have not even
the poor pledge of quiet, when they hase
despicably shouldered so ruinous burden
But, thank Heaven, tile General Assembly OF
North-C Carolina, in 1866, is not made of such
stuff"
1t is very strange that these Hannibals
who talk about being called upon to
"abandon their manhood" did not die in
battle. What 10 they here, in this land Of
the living, after so much hectoring, threaten.
ing, and casing, when, as they say, they are
degraded and dishonored by submitting to
lawful authority? They lie when they say
the Union men of this State are disposed to
"crouchr and beg. Ofall the miserable beg.
gars the world ever saw, they were the
most miserable when the rebellion col
lapsed, and they stood face to face with
the federal armies and the people of the
South, whom they had ruined. But now
since their lives and their estates have been
spared, they put on airs, and declare they
are permitted to hold all the offices and lord
it indefinitely over our people. The strong
hand of the national pouer pilI crush ont Mei,
treason. They promised to submit uncondi-
tionally in 1865, and they have broken theil
promise. Yet they talk about their "man
hood" and "honor," and all that sort o.
thing
We tell the Congress and the people of the
North, that the radical mistake they have
made was in supposing that disloyal organi
cations would accept loyal propositions
There is not, this day, a single State organi
zation in the South that regards the Union
as the paramount good, or that is thorough
ly or devotedly attached to the national
Union. Those Northern public men who
expect the ten recently insurgent States tc
accept the proposed amendment, are essen
TALLY and superlatively verdant.
But the Richmond Enquirer regards tn,
Union as already permanently dissolved
Hear that very loyal paper:
For four years terrible war was waget
to prevent the dissolution of the Union. Mer
have pronounced the effort successful /; bu
tins day it stands failure, for this day i.
tne Union dissolved It is dissolved in tn,
disregard and supersedure of the Constitu
uon, which was the bond and covenant o.
Union. 10 quote that instrument now, istt
@ De openly Jeered at, as one who Dreams
Inc Union is dissolved not only by the dis
solution OF the articles of alliance, but by ac
tual dissolution of the association ITSELF