The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1867-06-18

tempt to ALLEVIATE, one portion of our country
from the rest or to enfeeble the sacred ties
which now link together the various parts. !"
To the colored people of the State would
say, you are no,o free. Providence has will
ed that the very means adopted to render
your servitude perpetual, should be His in
struments for releasing you from bondage. 1t
now remains for you, aided as you will be
by the superior intelligence of the white
race, and cheered by the sympathies of all
, good people, to decide whether the freedom
thus suddenly bestowed upon you, will be
blessing to you or source of injury. Your
race has been depressed by your condition
of slavery, and by the legislation of your
former masters, for two hundred years. 1t
is not to be expected that you can compre-
bend and appreciate, as they should be com
pretended and appreciated by self
governing people, the wise provisions and
limitations of Constitutions and laws or
that you can n0w have that knowledge OF
public affairs which is necessary to qualify
you to discharge all the duties of the citizen.
No people has ever yet bounded at once into
the full enjoyment of the right of self-govern-
ment But you are free, in common with all
our people, and you have the same right, reg
ulated by law, that Others have to enter
upon the pursuit of prosperity and happi-
ness. You should henceforth sacredly OBJ
serve the marriage relation, and you should
provide for your offspring. You can now not
only learn to read yourselves, as some of you
have been able to do heret fore, but you can
instruct others, and procure instruction from
Others for yourselves and your children, with
out fear of punishment. But to be prosper
GUS and happy you must labor, not merely
when you feel like it, or for scanty support,
but industriously and steadily, with view
to making and laying up something for your
selves and your families. II you are ilde
you will become vicious and worthless If
vicious and worthless you will have no
friends, and will at last perish. In the
sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread all the
days of thy life.' The same Providence that
has bestowed freedom upon you, has told
you that diligence in business is required OF
all his creatures and you cannot expect that
your race will escape ultimate extinction IT
you wifully violate or disregard this, one of
His great commands. Freedom does not
mean that one may do as he pleases, but that
every one may, by industry, frugality, and
| temperance, improve his condition and enjoy
the fruits ofhis own labors, so long as he obeys
the laws. 1 have no prejudice against you.
On the contrary, while am white man, and
| while my lot is with my own color, yet
sympathize with YOU as the weaker race;
and cannot forget that during the rebellion
many of you fought for the preservation of
the Union. and that those of you who re-
manned at home in the then slavcholding
States were for the most part docile and
faithful, and made no attempt by force of
arms to gain even your own freedom. l
will see to it, as far as 1 can, that you have
your liberty; that you are protected in your
property and persons ; and that you are paid
your wages. But, on the other hand, l will
set my face against those of you who are idle
and dissipated and prompt punishment will
be inflicted for any breach OF the peace or
violation of law. In fine, l will be your
friend as long as you are true to yourselves,
and obedient to the laws, and rs long as you
shall labor, no matter how teebly, if honest
ly and earnestly, to improve your condition.
1t is my duty as far as l may, to render the
government "a terror to evil doors, and
praise to them that do we'll and this 1
will endeavor to do in relation to the whole
people of North Carolina, without fear, IA
vor, or affection, reward, or the hope of re-
ward"
And now, "with charity for all, with ma
lice towards none," enter upon the dis
charge of the duties assigned me by the Pres
ident, earnestly and solemnly invoking the
good people of the State to aid me in the
in restoring the State to the protection, ben
etits, and blessings of the Union"
We have re-published the above for the
purpose of showing the feeling ofthe Union
lists of this State at the close of the REBEL
ion, when, for the first time in four years.
they were permitted to utter their sentiments
freely; and also to remind our readers of all
shades ofopinon that these sentiments met at
that time no opposition or objection. They
were admitted even by the secessionists to be
just and true; and they were universally ac-
quiesced in, as indicating the view which
should be taken Of the rebellion and the
line of policy by which our people should
be governed for the future.
The writer has not changed. He is the
same unconditional Union man now he was
then. Step by step the colored race has
been enfranchised, and admitted to all the
rights of citizenship The writer ant;cipa-
ted these steps, and was ready for them
when they were made They were made at
the right time, and they will never be re-
traced.
But it is charged that we have been gov
erned by selfish, revengeful feelings. Where
is the proof of this? Did we take VEN
geance ON any one while Provisional Gov
ernor, armed as we were with more power than
Gen. Sickles yields No one will say we did.
If we had been ambitious and selfish, we
would have conciliated the secessionists,
would have gone with the majority, and
thus secured our election by the people. If
we had preferred self to country, we should
have opposed the Howard amendment, forit
excluded US from Office. But we were one
of the first public men in the State to de-
clare for it.
It is also charged that we are not
in good faith for the Sherman act-that we
want sterner and harsher measure The
answer is, we were first for the Presidents
plan That failed We were next for the