Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1867-10-18


unfortunate counsels.
The Union Republican party of the
nation must be relied upon to settle our
present troubles and to restore the lately
insurgent States to complete harmony Win
the General Government ; and to fender
such restoration permanent-to pfeNenU
speedy renewal of recent strife, anu 10
guarantee the future safety and integrity
of the Union, that party has assumed as
basis of reconstruction, certain tundamen-
tai principles, the establishment OF which,
as the popular sentiment of the voting
masses in the lately rebellious States, Is
held as a condition precedent to their belng
admitted to the exercise of political powers
in the nation.
IT, must be borne in mind that these
States are to be restored not merely TO
being governed themselves, but TO the
exercise of equal powers IN governing the
whole country. They rebelled against the
Union, and waged war for the estaollsh-
ment of certain principles OF their own
until they were subdued by those In whose
government they now seek to be made
! participators and equals. Before beng
raised from the condition of the vanquished
| and restored TO the rights and powers OF
| governors, it il not unreasonable that they
! be required to renounce the principles Tor
which they waged the unsuccessful war,
and accept such as are now prescribed as
essential to the general peace and welfare.
But, inasmuch as the people themselves,
and not the States are the real repository
of political power, it is required that they
give evidence of popular remuneration
! ana acceptance, in good faith, and not
merely temporary acquiescence from eX-
! pediency, in order to recover the power to
| renew the late strife and revive the lost
cause Reconstruction has been delayed
| only because Of their failure, so Tar, to
manifest such disposition and for the es-
adjustment among them of a prevailing
! sentiment in accordance thei eWlth. The
preparatory policy of Congress has been
conducted step by step with this view Its
first step was to wait for a voluntary mani
Hesitation in the elections ordered by the
President. But adverse counsels having
prevailed in these elections the I" cOnstitu-
tional amendment was proposed for their
voluntary acceptance, by which certain
principles were to be incorporated in the
u Constitution itself, and sufficient number
of individual citizens supposed to entertain
| hostile purposes were to be excluded from the
exercise of political powers, to give to the
we'll disposed the ascendancy and control
in puolic affairs This proposition was re-
= jected by such majorities and in such a
spirit that it was considered to have be-
come necessary to create new political
element in the rebellious States, by confer
ring the elective franchise upon the colored
population and to establish military govern
ments for the M aintenance of obedience
and order while the spirit and disposition
of our people were being again tested. In
this condition of affairs we are now called
upon to act
The principles sought to be established
upon the sound basis of popular sentiment
as preliminary to reconstruction, may be
fully summed up in two propositions, VIZ
l. A faithful and willing adherence tc
, and support of the Union and of the gov
l eminent of the United States and a quiet
submission to it's authority under the Con
stitutiOn.
Q. Civil and political equality among all
citizens, irrespective of race or color and
! the protection of white and cOlored alike
in all the rights, privileges and immunities
of citizenship.
] These are the principles of the UNION
REPUBLICAN PARTY, and are the only test O
! q true, national Republican. Our restora
ton to the rights and powers appertainine
' to a recognized State in the Union, awaits
and is dependent on the establishment Of
these principles as the prevailing sentiment
3 of the people.
The government has refrained from exc
y cutions for treason, from baDishments and
, from confScation. 1t does not now suspend
5 any threats over us but appeals to vol
> untary sense of returning loyalty and duty
t The masses of our people who have beer
Il so long excited anG misled, seem now dis
d posed to yield to reason and justice. 1t il
= the duty, and should be the purpose O
every true republican in the state to en-
l. courage and advance this disposition Of thu
y people, not only by intoxicating the grea
3 principles of ''Union and equality" bu
= by rem0uing erery obstacle to ats progress. =
y Our adversaries have retarded it in Nortl
r Carolina not so much by reason and argu
< ment, as by appeals to sectional prejudice
i and misrepresentation of the purpose
and designs of the republican party upol
,e distinct and collateral points.
= They have charged that party with tn
t. design, LIST. To confscate the lands O
!. those compromised in the rebellion to b.
g. parceled out among the colored citizens
"a ID To perpetuate the disfranchisement O
" the whites from the ballot-boX, while th
~ whole of the colored men are enfranchised
= and thus secure the political supremacy O
the coored race in the Southern States
~ 3D. To continue the official disabilitie
, now imposed on native citizens of the State
. and thus, in effect, place our governmen
/ in the hands of strangers who have Iatel
settled among us for the purpose OF becom
vt ing our rulers. These uni ust charges hav
re had much effect upon the uniformed mass
es of the people and have raised up ap
f. prehensiors and hesitancy even among tn
ID most steadfast friends of the Union. TIL
a. fear exists that the colored vote can be con
I'd trolled against all native citizens in favo
j. of those who can parade military service /
re destroying slavery, and having themselve
N no interest to be endangered by contisca
if ton, may the more easily delude the illit
1e crate and credulous with vain hopes of hay
,e ing the lands of their neighbors parcele
r out among them. Such appeals to the co
l. ored population would inevitably produc
. alienation and prejudice between the races
! fatal to the establishment Of a safe an
" wholesome public sentiment and danger
-, Gus to the peace and good order of society
:" That these apprehensions might be gu
d eted by having the position of the part
O. upon these and other points distinctly an
unequivocally set forth and promulgate
C. in North Carolina, it was deemed exped
k, ent and proper that a convention of reput
licans should be called to meet in the cit