The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1867-09-10
Tho CnnypntIOn.

recty and Others by proxy. Inc colo,ea
elemented predominated largely. The plat
form was adopted without dlssentlng
voice. 1t is simply re-affirmatton OF that
promulgated in March, by the meeting IN
the House of Commons 1t meets the cor
dial appreciation of all Republicans IN the
State, and about it there is no ground OF
dissatisfaction in any quarter.
After the adoption OF the platform; now
ever. truth compels US to state that discus
sion arose on certain resolutions winch de-
veloped radical differences OF principle and
feeling.
The first of these resolutions declares
against the policy and necessity OF contlsca-
ton. The second is declaration IN favor
of universal suffrage. The third is In the
nature of a petition to Congress to remove
political sfranchisement from the thousands
of loval men who are put under the ban by
the pending constitutional or Howard amend
ment as we'll as by the Reconstruction Acts;
and the fourth authorizes the appointment
of committee to wait on Congress and lay
the petition before that body.
The rejection of these Resolutions, and
the spirit manifested by the speakers, have
awakened feeling OF profound dlstrust IN
the minds Of loyal white men, and there Is
reason to believe that it will ALLEVIATE them
entirely from an organization when mas
given such strong indications OF indifference,
if not hostility to their rights and interests.
How can it be expected that men will CO.
operate with a party which threatens them
with confscation and perpetual distranchise-
ment? The Republican party in this State
cannot and ought not to carry the day with
out the active support OF large proportion
of the white people. Reconstruction cannot
take place on a basis which allenates ma
jority of the white people from the Govern
ment. Congress was fully aware OF this
truth; and hence, while several thousands
are barred from all participation in the
choice of delegates to the Convention, uni
versal suffrage is Immediately to follow re-
construction, in all elections State and ma
tional. Any one who will be at the trouble
to read the Constitutional, or Howard
Amendment. will see that the prescription
contained in the third section extends only
to office-holding, while all ale to enjoy the
right of voting.
Coniscation was a war measure, to be en-
forced against men actually engaged IN re-
belion. But when the rebellion was quelled,
it was the policy of the Government to
waive the enforcement of the law. 1t is
only despotisms like those of Russia, Aus
tria, and Turkey, which depopulate their
provinces for the sin of rebellion. In liberal
Governments amnesty always follows the re-
storation of authority. The leaders may be
punished. but not the people. In this coun-
thy neither the leaders nor the people have |
been punished. There is no ground for the
complaint that the Government has been too
severe There are severe laws on the Statute |
books, but with the consent of the Presi- |
dent and Congress they have been permitted |
to lie dormant and Congress has called on
the people who were themselves engaged in
the rebellion to reconstruct their State Gov
ernments. The call is also addressed to |
classes which were not engaged in the rebel |
lion,-to the colored people, and to Northern
men who have settled in the State. If there
is to be true restoration and peace, there
should he a good understanding between
these classes They should stand by each
others rights White men are called upon
to acknowledge the equal civil and political
rights of their late slaves. If they fail to
respond in good faith to the call. they are no
true friends of their country. They are nei-
ther Republicans nor good citizens. On the
other hand colored men are called upon in
the names of peace, and the public welfare,
to stand by the equal rights of white men,
and to forgive and forget the past Slavery
both races. 1t is now forever destroyed, and
its unhappy circumstances should be forgot
ten as soon as possible. We could never for
a moment sanction the monstrous suggestion
that black men have no rights which white
men are bound to respect :" and now that
the prophecy of Mr.. Jefferson is fulfilled
the tables are turned" and the "change
of situations" which he anticipated as
among possible events" has happened, we
repel with equal scorn the idea that white
men have no rights which black men are
bound to respect.
The action of the Convention is calculated
to ALLEVIATE the races. We profoundly regret
the result. 1t will be worse for both, and
especially for the blacks. They are in mi
nority. There are nearly two whites to one
colored man in North Carolina at this time:
and the whites will increase by immigration
from the North, and from Europe, while
there is no corner of the earth from which
accessions will be made to the number of
the colored people. In the election of dele
gates to the Convention the colored voters
may out number the white, or come so near
it that a few thousand whites voting with
the colored, may constitute majority; but
in the elections which are to follow all
white men will be voters, and they will
sweep the State.
We will never consent to belong to a
white mans party, nor to black mans
party. We stand on broad principles of
liberty and equality before the law. If all
the black men in the State should arrav
themselves against us, we will stand by their
rights; and if all the white men in the
State oppose us we will still vindicate their
rights. We warn the people against any at
tempt to form white mans party. 1t is
dangerous, and can only result in collision
OF races We will have nothing to do with
1t; and fparties become thus arrayed against
each other on grounds of race or color. we
prefer to stand alone. We accept the Plat
form adopted, and the resolutions which were
rejected as the true Republican platform.
we are happy in the belief that thousands
OF black men i'll the State, with James n
Harris, J. w. Hood, T. Schenck, and others
at their head, will stand with u.s. We know.
too, that we shall have the sympathy and
support OF the leading native born Republi.
cans In the State-such as B. F. Moore
Lewis thompson, Judge Brooks, Robert P
DICK, Thomas Settle, David Carter. John
FOOL, Judge Warren, Judge Fowle, Gen. Ru-
1us B3arrlnger, Dr. Eugene Grissom, and in
word, large majority of those who are
known as the leading Union men of the
state state. We trust, also, that we NAV count ON
the sympathy OF many Northern men who
nave settled among us, and who have come
here with no purposes hostile to the hest in
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