The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1866-03-20
RALEIGII, n. @.
= MARCH 20, 1866.

We copied recently from the Wash
ington Star statement that seventy
five persons belonging to the Society of
Friends, had passed through Washing
ton from Randolph County, North-Car-
Dina, on their way to Indiana. The
cause of their emigration they stated to
be the persistent persecution they were
compelled to endure in this State
Since the election on the 9th of Novenl-
Der, some six or seven families have left
this community for Illinois; and we
hear, from various quarters, that many
of our best Union people are leaving the
State.
This unfortunate condition of things
may be traced to several causes. One
cause is the fertility of the lands in the
Northwest compared to ours; another
is, the poverty of our State generally,
with the want of money, which cannot
be abundant until crops can be raised
and sold; another is, the destruction Of
our common school system by the lead
ers in the rebellion, thus cutting off the
children of the great body of the people
from the hope even of an education;
another is, the presence Of the military
and Freedmens' Bureau, and the disap-
pointment Of the hopes Of many in not
seeing the State restored to the Union;
but the great moving cause more or
less with all, is the performance in the
State government Of the secession feel
ing, and the apprehension that this feel
ing will increase and spread until a res
idence here by unconditional Union
people will become not merely unpleas-
ant, but intolerable.
The members of the Society of Friends
are among our best people. Those of
them who truly follow the Prince of
Peace are of the salt of the earth. D
They are, indeed, Christians. Meek
and lowly, they quietly perform all
their duties as citizens, and never OBJ
trude themselves into the concerns of
others, or engage in party broils. To
a man they opposed the rebellion, and
while they submitted to the de. tiacto gov
eminent, they eXerted themselves within
becoming bounds for peace. They were
prosecuted for their peace principles, and
their names were "cast out as evil"
They were harrassed and scourged by
home guards and Confederate troops,
by orders from Richmond and Raleigh
They suffered and longed for the old
flag, and when it came they thought
they would have peace and protection
under its folds, and that they would not
have to endure the sting ofthe reproach
that by advocating peace they had
shown themselves unfaithfll and degra-
ded sons Of their native State. But
alas! alas! In the very hour of the
triumph of the old flag just as the
dove-like wing of peace is spreading
over them, they are constrained to de-
part for distant country, and to cast
their lot among strangers, for there is no
peace for them here. We have report
that many more of them contemplate
leaving the State.
1t is a significant fact that Randolph
is Gov. Worth's County, and that this
exodus of these good people is taking
place under has administration and
yet, in the late campaign for Governor,
Jonathan Worth was held up to the
people as sympathizer with the
Friends, and they were asked to vote
for him because of his Quaker descent!
If the Presidents plan of restoration
had been carried out in good faith, and
if, as the President desired and inten-
ded, the affairs of the State had remain
ed in the hands of "at,anaistaka6ly''
loyal men, it is more than probable that
these Friends would have continued
with us, for they would have had some
assurance that persecution would not
overtake them, and that they would be
respected for their peace principles
We regret that they feel constrained to
leave us. We would gladly induce
them to remain; but present Or absent,
we wish them all that prosperity and
good fortune, under Providence, which
flows from the honest and consistent
practice off "1ss'ps' principles.