The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1867-01-08
Tri-aVeeklp STANDARD.
TUESDAY, JANUARY 8, 1867.
RALEIGH. N. G.

We alluded, few days since, to the fact
that Memorials, under the auspices of Hol-
den, were in circulation among the negroes
of the State, praying Congress to enfranchise
them, and to disfranchise fve-sixths of the
'chite voters of the State of North Carolina.
So far from this most atrocious proceeding
being concealed, Holden, himself, in person,
outrages public sentiment by appearing in a
negro meeting and offering a resolution look
ing to the same infamous design.-Sentinel.
Our neighbors are giving way to their feel
ings. They ought to keep their temper, and
act at least with some show of reason.
The rebels of the South have been offered
the right of suffrage for nearly two years, if
they would so exercise it as to restore the
Union and promote sound national senti-
ments. They have refused to accept suffrage
on these conditions, but have abused the
right by voting for traitors in preference to
loyal men, and by doing all they could to
prevent the restoration of the Union They
were offered in the Howard amendment the
privilege of deciding, under the shield of the
Constitution, that a colored person should
never vote; but they refused this privilege
with scorn and contempt. We solemnly
warned them of what the result of that re-
fusal would be. That result is now well
nigh upon them. 1t certainly soiU be upon
them as soon as Congress can act. If negro
suffrage is distasteful to them, they may
blame themselves for it {; for we tell them the
Union must be restored, and we must have
one great, common, national government, in
preference to anarchy and Mexicanization,
no matter what the basis of that government
may be.
But Holden is abused because he has at
tended "a negro meeting" If we are not
mistaken, Andrew johnson has repeatedly
set him the example in this respect. He at
tended many negro meetings in Tennessee,
and told the colored people he would be
their Moses, to lead them out of bondage
into land of liberty. He boosted that he
would free the slaves, and give them can
equal start in the race of life with the white
man." by bestowing on them all their rights.
In his speeches from the portico of the White
House, addressed to the colored people of the
District of Columbia, he has told them time
and again that he was their best friend that
he would, and could do more for them than
even Mr. Stevens and MIR. Sumner. He is,
himself, the author of qualified negro suf-
frage, as shown by his letter of August, 1865,
to Gov. Sharkey. Why not assail him for
addressing negro meetings9'
The colored people of this State voted in
all our elections up to 1886. The Conven-
ton of that year deprived them of this right
by majority of only out of a vote of 1877.
On that occasion the great William CASTOR
said, that /" a person of this class, who pos
sessed a freehold, was an honest man, and
perhaps Christian, he did think should not
be politically communicated, and have an
additional mark of degradation fixed upon
him, solely on account of his color" The
late Gov. Morehead took the same view,
and earnestly advocated the right of the
colored man to vote. On test vote such
men as William CASTOR, John M. Morehead,
Alfred Dockery, Asa Biggs, William Dob
son, Kimbrough Jones, Kenneth Rayner, Da-
vid L. Swain, John D. Toomer, DIR. James s.
Smith, and Henry Seawell, voted in favor of
negro suffrage. If our conduct is "infa-
NOUS" we are certainly in good company.
And now, what are you going to do with
a man who thus outrages public sentiment"
and who is guilty, as you say he is, Of Z" in
cendiary" conduct9 Why not have him in
dicted under one of your old slave laws for
stirring up instruction among "the ne
groes 2" Why not indict him for treason
Why not excite mobs against him. as you
did from July, 1858, to the close of the re-
belliona He admits that he is not true to
the Confederacy. Can you submit to that
Indict him, mob him he is guilty of the
"infamous" conduct of appearing in negro
meetings r'-he tells " the negroes''-that is,
your negroes, as they used to be-that they