The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1867-03-27
From New York Evening Postl
Reconstruction in ROTth-Carolina,
LETTER FROM i NotrH-clRoLIEIAs.

u0vutlOuubuuH III ftuI I'll Ooi usiit
LETTER FROM i sosrn-clRoLIsIAs.
WHAT Is DONE AND INTENDED
The following letter, from prominen
Republican Of North Caroline, gives yer,
interesting and detailed account of the move
ment for reconstruction which has been be
gun in that State; and tells not only wha
has been done, but what is intended in thu
immediate future
RALEIGH, N. C., March Is, 1867
A call has been issued by the uncondition
al Union members of the legislature of NORTH
Carolina, which adjourned on the 4th inst.
for the assembling at the City of Raleigh, on
the 9th inst. of preliminary council OF re-
construction, to be composed of loyal del
| egates fresh from the people without regard
to race or color, to take into consideration
the act passed by the Thirty ninth Congress
for the more efficient government of the
rebel States" and to mature some practical
plan of operations whereby all its contem-
plated benefits may be best secured to them=
selves and their posterity.
THE PRELIMINARY REORGANIZATION.
meeting of the Union members of the
legislature was held previous to its adjourn
ment, Mr. G. L. Harris, Senator from Ruth
erford, being in the chair The following is a
report gifts proceedings:
1t was unanimously recommended that
the people of the State promptly accept the
act of the Congress of the United States en-
titled An act to provide for the more eff
cient government of the rebel States
/ " 1t was unanimously resolved that the
chairman Of the meeting designate not less
| than one hundred citizens of the State, and
! that the citizens thus named be respectfully
and earnestly requested to assemble in the
| City of Raleigh on Wednesday, the 9th
day of March, 1867, to consult together and
mature plan to call Convention of the
people of North Carolina, to frame Consti-
tuition preparatory to the admission of the
State to representation in Congress in accor
dance with the terms prescribed in said act
of Congress
SIT was also unanimously resolved that
the chairman of the meeting confer with
the colored people of the State, and ascer-
tain their views and wishes, with view to
a prompt and harmonious cooperation of
all the loyal people of the State in the work
of reconstruction"
OF one hundred and seventy members of
the Legislature only thirty, or thereabouts,
were and are Union men. The remainder
are violent rebels. But will speak further
of that hereafter.
In pursuance of the foregoing resolutions
one hundred and forty white delegates have
been notified to attend at Raleigh on the
the 9th, and Mr. G. L. Harris has consulted
In public meeting with the colored people of
this City, who have given their hearty as
sent to the movement, and have nominated
and notified their delegates to the number
of one hundred and fifty. So that on the
day appointed we expect large and intelli-
gent representation of both races of loyalists
among us to meet in the Commons Hall in
our Capitol building, and consulttogether on
public affairs on footing of perfect equal
ity. For the first time in the history of our
State the colored man will then and there
be admitted to seat in our political con-
ventions or councils, side by side with the
white, man as his equal at the ballot-box,
under the Contribution and before the law.
1t has not been three years since our statute
books read that no negro or person of color
should enter the rooms of the Legislature of
North Carolina upon any prctence whatso-
ever! Now they may come in as the peers
of the proudest.
MEETING OF coLoRED CITIZENS.
In order to hear what Mr.. G. L. Harris |
had to say to them in behalf of the Union |
members of the General Assembly, the color |
ed people of Raleigh called meeting on the |
night of the Sth inst, which was largely at
tended. Col. Harris said he was appointed
by the members of the Legislature to consult
with the colored people of the State, and to
request their cooperation in the work of re-
construction under the late act of Congress.
The whites had called preliminary coun-
Gil of reconstruction to meet in Raleigh on
the 9th inst, and they desired that the col
ored people should do the same thing in or
der that their delegates might meet ours
here, and all the loyal men of the State be
thus enabled to cooperate in recognizing
the present State government
Other addresses were delivered by both
white and black gentlemen present, when
the committee, through the chairman, s.
Ellison, presented the following resolutions:
ResolUea, list. We rejoice that the Thir-
'y-ninth Congress has passed law remov-
ng former distinctions ofrace and color; we
'ejoice in the day that gave us liberty, and
we will ever cherish andsupport the cause of
The Union.
Resolred, I'd. We will stand by the loyal
whites of the state of North Carolina. and
heartily accept their offer of cooperation.
Resotred Sd. We call upon the colored
people of the state to form themselves into
eagues and organize for the work before
hem.
The resolutions were unanimously adopt
ID.
A committee of five was then appointed
% wait on Colonel Harris, and confer with
lin on his return to Raleigh, consisting of
heSsrs. Friday Jones, w. II. Matthvs, A
3. Williams, W. H. Durham, Handy Lock-
it,
REASONS FOR THE MOVEMENT.
You have here the method of reconstruc-
ion adopted by the loyal people of North
Carolina, without dissenting voice thus
ar, and the greater part of the State has al
eady been heard from by letter and word
If mouth. There must be powerful reasons
o account for this harmony in the ranks of
'ur ne,o party-a party brought suddenly
INTO being by an act of Congress, admitting
ONE sixty-thousand persons to the right of
uffrage and upsetting the governments that
,e. Should we not rather have reasonably
expected confusion and turmoil for a time
It least But all have stepped off like veter-
ms to the music of the Union. May the
march,. so happily begun, continue forever
inward
Of the reasons which have promoted this
harmony it is my purpose now to speak.
let me state them briefly: Il
First-The overpowering necessity of im-