The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1867-04-10

bring upon me the usual denunciation AMI |
abuse, and expose me to their increased ami |
mostly. But SO much ruin came upon rs |
because our public men shrunk from facing |
this unmanly warfare in 1861, aud again in |
64-65, that it seemed criminally unpotri- |
otto to heed it any longer.
In Washington, went to those only who
had power over the subject, and held coun-
sci with those members Of Congress whose
names have been designedly made most
odious in my own section, and upon whom
have been unsparingly heaped every epithet
of opprobious and degrading import. l
met only-courtesy and kindness from them.
wards the Southern people-not even to-
ion. They seemed to regret that the con-
watchful delay on the part Of Congress,
and that later developments of Southern
sentiment and the present attitude of lead
ing men, had made the safety Of the
nation dependent on more severe and harsh
er measures against them, than the most ul-
ira radicals had, at first, contemplated. But
there was one thing unmistakable. It was
determination, firmly set, to adopt and to
have executed such measures as the contin.
ued contnmacy and rebellieus bearing of
the insurgent leaders might make necessary
for tile public safety, however harsh and Sc
we're those measures might require to be. It
was announced on all hands as already de-
termined-1st. That the experimental or
carnations set up in the insurgent States by
the President, under martial law, would not
be legalized by Congress, but superseded by
governments based upon the civil authority
Of the nation. End. That those who volun-
tarily engaged and persisted in the rebellion
would be disqualified from holding Office
under the new governments to be estab-
lished. 3rd. That there must be impartial
suffrage, irrespective OF race or color. In
addition to these three points, considered as
settled, it seemed to be the general opinion,
LIST. That territorial or military governments,
of indefinite duration, would be set over the
insurgent States. 2nd. That there would he
universal eoIoreti suffrage, and the exclusion
from the ballot-box of those who had vol
unfairly engaged in the rebellion. Confis-
cation of the estates of the instigators and
leading partieipators IN the rebellion, and
other action still more extreme, were refer
red toand advocated. 1t was urged that
the preparatory policy of the President, con-
ceived in leniency and mercy and well meant,
at the time, had been seized upon by the still
rebellious leaders as means of again rising
to power. and thus early setting up a dis
tinct political organization of sectionalism,
threatening to the peace and integrity of the
Union-that it had become evident they
| could be put down only by disfranchise-
ment and other measures calculated to make
! treason odious and dishonorable- the
admission of negroes to the ballot-box was
| the ONLY effective means of silencing the re-
| newesi appeals to old prejudices and pas
| sions, dangerous alike to the freedmen and
| to the public peace,-and that only by their
acknowledgements could the whole people be
! natisnaized. The anarchy and confusion
incident to breaking up the present estab-
lishment, and the shock to the public senti-
ment resulting from the exclusion of a large
part Of the whites from the polls, and the
Immediate reimbursement OF the whole OF
the blacks, were thought by many to be
1 evils, but were considered as less deplorable,
/ because the necessity for such measures had
been forced on a reluctant government by the
persistent INSTRUMENTATION and insurgent
l spirit still manifested by those whose interests
/ they would principally affect.
$500
1 of North Carolina, alone. Mr.. Stevens of
b PENNSYLVANIA, consented to introduce, on the
B 18th day of December, into the House of
D Representatives, "a bill to establish civil
I government in North Carolina, and to ena
!; BE it to resume its former relations as one
h of the constituent States of the American
Unionn This bill avoided most of the
1 hsrsher features of the proposed measures,
toll 20 nj n anpf
| Efth single State. 1t provided for Con-
| yention, on the basis of the House of Com,
\ zaols, to- I've assembled as early as the Goth
1 Of May, 1867, to frame State Constitution
\ and organize permanent government. All
/, whites who have heretofore exercised the
I; right of suffrage were admitted to the ballot
T box, and only such blacks as could read and
write, or owned real estate of the assessed
1 value of one hundred dollars. The present
\ government was to continue in the exercise
4 Of its functions until such time as the Con-
4 vsntion should fix for the commencement OF
h the permanent government, and the admis-
h SION of the State into the Union-thus avoid
d ing the anarchy and confusion incident to
II sndden termination of the present order OF
u things. The disabling provision extended
II only to eligibility to seats in the particular
q Constitution provided for in the bill, and
b was confined to those who voluntarily per-
Il sisted in the rebellion after the 4th day of
n March, 1864 It would have been fortunate
1 for the secession leaders had this bill been
Il enacted into law; and had the proper spir-
\ it been manifested by them in regard to it,
d Congress would, in all probability, have
4 promptly tried that experiment with North
/ Carolina But it was Immediately assailed
| by them with the most violent denunciations,
|! as is everything else which runs counter to
/ their purposes.
NV supposed connection with this bill
/; brought down upon ME much vulgar and
d shameless defamation, especially in the sour
Il rilous secession newspapers But self-respect
y forbifis any answer to scurrility except to
\ characterize it. The time has fortunately
b come, when a Union man in North-Carolina
may depise the aspersions ola hireling press
(; whose editors, having little character OF
ability, are dependent on the favor of theiI
/ employers for daily bread This defamation
of those who attempt to restore the State tc
n peace and prosperity, and dare expose the
4 Vaccinations of baffied but struggling trea
I son, is meant to intimidate and deter, as wa.
so effectually done in the dark days of tn,
rebellion. Men generally hesitate to en-
counter violent existing prejudices, and t.
1 stanl against those who fall in with and en-
deavor to infiame them. But there are times
i when it becomes the highest duty of citi
zen to disregard all personal consideration
and to speak boldly the naked truth, how
| ever distasteful 1t may be, and however re
pugnant to settled notions. He is not pei
mitted to be deferred by the clamor of thos
,yhuoo ox;l doo;rno opd rur,,ocoo dov,ard ~