The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1867-03-12
Tri-av}eeklv gtamamd.
TUESDAY. MARCH 18th, 1867.
The Record,

leigh in September last, at which Gen. Dock
cry was nominated for Governor, together
with some extracts from the address of the
Chairman of the meeting. which was issued
at the time under the sanction of the meet
ing as embodying the views of the Union
party of the State.
Those citizens who took part in that meet
ing have right to feel proud of their re-
cord. They were traduced and villified be-
yond measure at the time. and their names
cast out as evil" But time and events have
indicated their honesty and forecaste The,
now appeal to their misguided fellow citi-
zens in tones more earnest, if possible than
they uttered then, to ground the weapons of
rebellion and accept in good faith the Sher
man reconstruction act; and if they will not
do that, to retire from the contest, and per-
NIT the loyal people of the two races to go
| forward without molesation or obstruction
in the work of reconstruction. 1t has so
happened that for the last seven years every
prediction we have made in relation to pub
lie affairs has been verified and we now
tell the rebel leaders and rebel people of this
State that if they do not get out of the way,
and permit the loyal people to reconstruct
the government in accordance with the
Sherman act, confscation of property and
executions for treason will certainly take
place. Woe unto those who disregard this
warningl
Wecan not better conclude these observa-
lions than by the following extracts from the
message of Gov. Oliver p. Morton, in Janua-
ry last, to the Legislature of Indiana. Gov.
Morton is now one of the Senators in Con-
gross from that State, elected under the most
tiattering circumstances and he will in
tlcxibly maintain in his new position the
views he uttered when Governor, as one of
the honored opponents of the loyal millions
of the North and West Gov Morton said,
in january last:
The people of the North have not been
animated by a spirit Of resentment and re-
vcnge in their dealings with the South since
the conclusion of the rebellion. On the con-
trary, they have earnestly hoped that the
people of the South would kindly and sin
ccrely accept the situation, and co operate
with them in the settlement of our national
difficulties upon permanent basis; and had
the Southern people met them III this spirit,
adjusted their Constitutions and laws to the
new order Of things, rendered justice and
given equal protection to all her citizens,
coniiscation, distranchiscmcnt and punish
ment would scarcely have been demanded
When, upon the surrender of Lees army,
Gen. Grant gave absolution to the Confeder-
ate officers and soldiers, upon the sole con-
diton of not again bearing arms against the
Republic, the nation acquiesccd in his con-
duct almost without a murmur and when
all the rebel forces laid down their arms, and
the war was at an end, the misfortunes of the
South, the fallen and PROSTATE condition of
the people inspired in the North feelings
amounting almost to compassion and for
givcncss. At the time the South declared
full submission, asked for lenient terms, but
claimed no rights and dictated no condi-
tons. But since then the temper of her peo-
pie seems to have undergone radical
change. They have passed from submission
to defiance, and the mercy which was extern
ded to them has been requited in bloody per-
secutions upon the Union men and negro
population in their midst. Their course has
had its natural and inevitable effect upon the
public mind of the North which is rapidly
passing from mercy and forgiveness to the
stern demands of justice, and the eNaction
of the penalties for treason. The logic of
events against which the arguments of the
statesman weigh not, moulds the public
mind and sweeps it on rapidly from conclu-
sion to conclusion. The impossible of yes
tcrclay is the possible of to-day, and the
radicalism of to-day becomes the conserva-
tism of tomorrow.
But what if the Southern people reject the
amendments But what if they continue
this reign of terror, this fragrant disregard of
liberty and life ? Do they imagine that the
North will recede. or that affairs will be al
lowed to remain as they are9 These things
are impossible A quarter of i million OF
lives have been lost, billions of money
wasted, the tears of the widow and orphan
are flowing, the shrieks of the murdered
freedmen are heard, Union men are flying
for their lives, and now the blood Of the ma
ton is up, and the cry for vengeance is
abroad in the land. Let the people of the
South flee from the wrath to come. Let
them put away the perjured traitors who
hurried them into rebellion, and now dar-
ken their counsels. and make haste to ADAM
don their sins, and accept the proffered terms
The Constitutional provision declaring
that the United States shall guarantee to
each State republican form of government,
was not intended to furnish merely paper
guaranty, but authorized the Government of
the United States to Interfere in certain
contingency, with the government of State
The guaranty is to be made by the United
States, that is, by the Government of the
United States. which is not the President or
Congress, but both together, and must, there
fore, he Il Legislative act.
The President could not establish State
Government and accept it finally as loyal and
republican in its form, and legal and COM
plete in its structure without assuming that
he is the Government of the United States,
which would manifestly be absurd.
What the extent of this power is has new
er been settled by any precedent; and has
not been defined by Kent, Story, or any of
our writers on Constitutional law. 1t is
vast underlined power, given to the United
States to guard the States against revolution,
anarchy or change to monarchical or aristo-
cratic government. If q State government
has been destroyed by rebellion, the United
States must set up or re-establish republic
can form of government. If State govern
ment should be converted into an aristocra-
CIV the United States must restore it to re-
publican form. How, or in what manner
this shall be done is not marked out by the
Constitution, and must, therefore, as far as
we can Judge, depend upon the circumstan-
ces of each case.