The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1867-04-09
No. z.

perpetual round of ridiculous tournaments,
attended by rebel leaders most distinguished
in field and counsel, who would have
been ashamed of the puerility of being seen
at such places but for the well understood
object in view. Thus they succeeded in
again deceiving and exciting the masses of
our people to such an extent that they car
rled the Fall elections in this State, and re-
turned to the Legislature large majority
OF their friends and sympathisers During
those mad proceedings every remonstrancc
from the more cOnsiderate Union men of the
State was spurned with contemptuous de-
rison and abuse. Those who warned the
people of the danger and sought to save
their State from the consequences of the
hardihood and reckless ambition of men
who were about perpetuating the ruin they
had already wrought, were denounced as
enemies of their State and DETAINED with
epithets so degrading and vulgar that COM
mon propriety would be shocked by repeat
ing them.
The Legislature elected under these appli-
ances was swift to show it's readiness to
cooperate in the general plan, by honoring
the true Contedcrates" on the one hand,
and on the other, passing undignitied and
derisive resolutions of censure against those,
whom loyalty to the Union and love of their
native State induced to venture IN effort in
opposition to the crime and folly of fur
ther disturbance of the public peace and
prosperity of the country. And this signi-
ticant exhibition of legislative prediction
was followed by the more substantial favor
OF an act of general amnesty and pardon"
by which it hoped to consi On to oblivion
multitude of disgraceful crimes from the
dark intamy of which it would save the rep
utation of its friends. But in drafting this
act, it was not unmindful of its duty to" Con-
federate" memories
The Unionists of the State are ingenious
ly excluded from the benefit Of its provis-
ions. Every Union citizen of the State who
resisted an outrage from Confederate author
ity. or defended himself and his household
from the authorized violence of rebel despo-
tism or who in the excitement of outraged
feelings transcribed the nicely balanced
law of selt-defcnce, is left to be turned over
to iuries summoned by Sheriffs holding their
election from those who once loved treason,
and now revere and honor its memory.
No one unblinded by the fanaticism of se-
cession could fail to see what must necessa-
rily hc the effect of these things upon the
prospects ofthe State in its federal relations.
1t was evident, that the Congress about to
assemble in December last would not be
blind to these indications of dangerous
public sentiment in the insurgent States. 1t
could not be supposed that it would look
with much charity upon such defiant rep
etition of the leading features of those
scenes of preparation which eliminated in a
gigantic and bloody rebellion, from the
dangers of which the nation had not yet
fully recovered but rather that it would be
painfully anxious as to the consequences,
and, perhaps, indiscreet and over severe in its
measures to protect the future peace and in
e IL,
danger.
In this condition of our affairs, deemed
it duty of my position. as a Senator elect
from North Carolina, to 90 to Washington
City and endcavor to get for my own State,
at least, the best terms yet possible; and
under them to seek its earliest practicable
restoration to its rights and privileges as one
of the recognized States of the Union. I
was fully aware that any effort contrary to
or outside of the plans and purposes of the
instigators and leaders of the rebellion, would
bring upon me the usual denunciation AMI
abuse. and expose me to their increased ami
mostly. But SO much ruin came upon US
because our public men shrunk from facing
this unmanly warfare in 1861, and again in
1964-'Gj, that it seemed criminally unpatri-
otic to heed it any longer.
In Washington, | went to those only who
sci with those members of Congress whose
names have been designedly made most
odious in my own section, and upon whom
have been unsparingly heaped every epithet
of opprobious and degrading import.
met only courtesy and kindness from them.
There was no expression of unkindness to-
wards the Southern people-not even to-
wards the most guilty leaders in the rebell-
ion. They seemed to regret that the con-
duct of these leaders had necessitated a
watchful delay on the part of Congress,
and that later developments of Southern
sentiment and the present attitude of lead
ing men, had made the safety of the
nation dependent on more severe and harsh
er measures against them, than the most ul-
ira radicals had, at first, contemplated. But
there was one thing unmistakable. 1t was
determination. firmly set, to adopt and to
have executed such measures as the contin-
ued contumacy and rebellious bearing of
the insurgent leaders might make necessary
for the public safety, however harsh and Sc
we're those measures might require to be. 1t
was announced on all hands as already de-
termined-1st. That the experimental or
CARNATIONS set up in the insurgent States by
the President, under martial law, would not
be legaiZcd by Congress, but superseded by
governments based upon the civil authority
of the nation. 2nd. That those who volun-
tarily engaged and persisted in the rebellion
would be disqualified from holding Office
under the new governments to be estab-
lished 3rd. That there must be impartial
suffrage, irrespective of race or color. In
addition to these three points, considered as
settled, it seemed to be the general opinion,
1st. That territorial or military governments,
of indefinite duration, would be set over the
insurgent States. 2nd. That there would be
universal colored suffrage, and the exclusion
from the Dallot-box of those who had vol
unfairly engaged in the rebellion. Confis-
cation of the estates of the instigators and
leading participators in the rebellion, and
other action still more extreme, were refer
red to and advocated. 1t was urged that
the preparatory policy of the President, con-
ceived in leniency and mercy and well meant,
at the time, had been seized upon by the still
rebellious leaders as means of again rising
to power. and thus early setting up a dis
tinct political organization of sectionalism,
threatening to the peace and integrity of the
Union-tbat it had become evident they
could be put down only by disfranchise-
-I-