The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1867-03-07
JOHN B. doom, of Northampton.
e. B. LYON, Of Granville.
JOEL ASHWORTH, OF Randolph
B. r. HINNANT, of Johnston

I 1t will be seen from the above that a.
loyal people of the State are determined -
take prompt action under the reconstr,,o
ton act of Congress. The mode suguestod
seems to US the best that could be adon+.,
One hundred and forty of our most Ior,I
citizens have been designated and reoucstoa
to meet in Raleigh on the 9th ofthis mopt,
to consider and mature a plan to call 4 Con
ventlon to take the necessary steps to r.
store the State to the Union. We have A.
pleasure of Knowing personally nearly eroru
gentleman named. AT least one-haIf of tbon,
can take the iron-clad :" test-oarh. and Oh
of them can take the test-oath in Mr. Sta
vens' bill. In word, they are loyal nm
conditional Union men, who have lone, u
bored and looked for this auspicious d,v
and who, it not prevented by the hand of
power, will soon see to it that our beloroa
State is placed in such condition as will CO
cure its return to the Union.
1t will be observed that the Chairman b,.
designated three natives of the State, resi-
dents of Washington City. This is = 4.
served compliment, and, under the eircum-
stances, is eminently proper. Mr. GoodIoe
and MIR. Hedrick have lived to see tbeir
cherished views On the subject of slavor,,
carried out and as they are natives oftbe
State and devotedly attached to our people
it is peculiarly proper, it seems to lis, that
they should be here, to advise and consu,t
in beginning anew the work Of selfgovern-
ment for this ne'c people. DR.. Powell, with
Mr.. Goodloe and Mr.. Hedrick, adhered nm
finchingly to the United States duriur the
rebellion. He is well known as the faithful
efficient and obliging State Agent during
the provisional government and he Inns
many friends in the State We are sure orr
loyal people will be glad to see him here at
the time indicated, with the other devoted
sons Of the State resident in Washington.
above named.
1t is obvious from the act itself that it i,
for the people in their primary capacity to
perform this work, without regard to the
existing rebel organizations. Congress ex-
pressly omitted machinery, in order that the
people might do the work in their own way.
| With people schooled and skilled as ours
are in the work ofself government, there can
be no difficulty in complying with the terms
laid down by Congress. All we ask is that
| the military commander who may be as
signed to this State, will extend protection
to our loyal people while engaged in this
work and that those rebels who are not
disposed to accept the act of Congress and
submit in good faith to the will of the ma
ton, will not come forward to distract and
embarrass the people.
We happen to know that the authors of
the act of Congress, with all the leading Re-
publicans OF that body, entertain the views
we have given above. They hold that the
people should act in this matter for them
selves, and we have no doubt they will see
to it, if necessary, that the fullest protection
is extended to the people while engaged in
this work.
1t will be seen that the Chairman of the
meeting was requested to confer with the
colored people, with a view to a cordial CO.
operation of the whole loyal people in this
important work. The colored people are
the only reliable political allies and friends
the white Unionists of the South have here
and, on the other hand, the latter are the
only real friends which the colored people
have in this quarter. This fact is felt and
realized by both races. If Union principles
shall prevail, and be firmly established in
the organic law of the State, every interest
and every right of the colored race will be
protected and cared for but if the princi-
pies which led to the rebellion shall prevail,
or obtain a foothold in the organic law, the
colored people will be again reduced to
state Of slavery. Under secession rule in
these States, the colored people would be, at
best, only nominally free. They are fully
aware of this fact. They are, therefore, de-
termined to act en- masse with the white
Unionists. They will do this not only from
the impulse of patriotism, but from the die
tates of self-interest and self protection
We trust that every one of the gentlemen
named by the Chairman will attend. 1t is
the most important crisis in the history of
the State since the Congress at Halifax, in
1776. Come up, friends, fresh from the peo-
pie, prepared to act promptly and judici-
ously for the good of the State, and for the
restoration and perpetuation of the Union.
The eyes of the country are upon us. Let US
omit nothing which may be deemed neces-
sary to restore our State to the unreasonable
benefits and blessings which were lost by the
rebellion.
The Presidents Message.
We publish to-day the extraordinary Veto