The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1867-12-10

PAID.
The insurgent leaders having been voted
down in this State by the signal majority OF
sixty thousand. are again organizing for the
purpose of opposing reconstruction. The
same order of public men attempted to force
this State out of the Union in February
1861, Immediately after the attempted seces
sion of South Carolina, but the people voted
them down by forty thousand majority
They refused then to submit, and called a
Convention at Goldsborough, at which il
was determined that on the ensuing fourth
day of July they would raise the standard
of revolt at Charlotte, and plunge the people
into civil war. They were repeatedly ap.
pealed to during the rebellion to hearken to
the popular will, call a State Convention
and adopt the necessary steps to restore the
State to the Union, but they refused to obey
twenty-five thousand of our people, and
pressed ON through fire and blood to the bit
ter end. When Governors Graham and
Swain, by authority of Gov. Vance, advanc-
of Raleigh, to treat for peace, they virtually
acknowledged that they were wrong in OPP
posing the peace movement of 1S63-64, and
the whole world saw that all the blood that
was shed between July, 1868, and April,
1865, was streaming from their skirts.
At the close of the rebellion these insur-
gent leaders appeared to submit in good
faith. They made a feeble effort to retain
power by urging the President to recognize
and continue the former rebel State govern
ments; but he very promptly and properly
refused to to this, and they seemed to acqui-
esce in his decision. The nation had tri-
umphed-the whole people had spoken
the hand of God, as it was confessed on all
sides, was visible in the result, and these
leaders, therefore, whatever their convictions
may have been, were compelled for the time
being to j,'in in the expression of the gen.
eral desire to restore the State to the Union.
Mr.. Johnson went to work to establish
new government for the State 1t was to
be loyal as he understood loyalty. 1t exclu-
ded not more than one in thousand from
the right to vote and hold Office, and it pla-
ced all power in the hands of the whites. A
large majority of our people were in favor of
this "plan, as it was called but these lead
ers by false logic and infammatory appeals,
persuaded the people to reject it. This was
g tl
These leaders still felt that it was not
wrong to go out of the Union, and not
wrong to STAY out unless they could return
on their own terms.
Congress then took the matter in hand,
the whole people speaking through that
body. 1t offered terms known as the How
ard amendment This amendment proposed
that all persons in this country should en-
joy equal civil rights; that the national
debt shall ever be held sacred; that repre-
sentation in Congress shall be based on tax
alton, every citizen counted in the basis of
representation being privileged to vote, and
those not counted not to vote; and that
few persons shall not be allowed to
hold office until specially permitted to do SO
by two-thirds of the Congress 1t was still
provided that the State government should
remain in the hands of the white people, if
the white people should so decide. These
insurgent leaders also rejected this plan,
thus continuing their disunion policy, and
declaring by their conduct that they will
not return to the Union save on their own
terms.
Congress next passed the present recon-
struction acts. 1t concluded at last, and
wisely, that the new Southern governments
should be formed by all the loyal people of
the State without regard to color or former
condition. In forming this government pre-
paratory to the admission of the State into
the Union, it is necessary that a Convention
shall be called. This is the purpose OF
| Congress speaking for the American people,
and it is the wish of large majority of our
| people. Yet these insurgent leaders oppos-
| ed a Convention and did all they could to
defeat it. The Convention having been or
| dered, they now declare it to be their pur-
! pose to exert themselves to the utmost to de-
feat the Constitution which the Convention
will form, as they defeated the Constitution
formed under Mr.. Johnson's plan in 1865
Thus step by step, and year by year. these
insurgent leaders are throwing themselves in
the way of the peace and prosperity of the
country and they are now as much engaged
! in the work of internal strife and disunior
as when they levied war against the Union
and taxed. conscripted and impoverished
our citizens to carry on that war. They are
disunionists i'agrained, and they will no doub
remain so. They are. therefore, enemies tc
the government, and enemies to the people
of North Carolina, whose highest good con
sists in restoring their relations to the Unior
, at the very earliest practicable moment.
! 1t is assumed by these insurgent Leaders