The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1867-03-02
,,...s..,.-.s ..---. For the Standard.
Radical Meeting in Concord.

| was uclo IN concord on Saturday, the SoO
ult. The day was fine and full notice hav
ing been given, the "rads" rallied in force
and the Courthouse was literally jammed
Dr. John Fink was called to the Chair and
Aaron Yost, Esq, was appointed Secretary
MIR: VIM. NJ. Coleman explained the object
of the meeting to be, the organization of the
radical Union men of the County upon the
national platform for the purpose of co op
Grating more efficiently with their friends
throughout the whole United States.
The following committee on resolutions
was appointed, consisting of gentlemen from
the different sections of the County, viz
John McCarty, VIM. T. Blume, Andrew Bos
tian, Robert Daywalt, A. NJ. Cook, jacob
Pless and Daniel Beaver. and Mr.. Yost the
Secretary, was also added. The committee
reported in substance the "Hieman resolu
tons which have already appeared in the
Standard. 1t will not be necessary, there
fore, to do more than to present a brief alb
stract
The preamble sets forth in full the causes
of complaint against Andrew johnson and
assigns the following, viz: That he has be
trayed his trust in opposing the will of the
nation expressed by the Congress; that by
endeavoring to prevent the Congress from
excluding disloyal men from Offices of trust
and responsibility, he has given aid and en-
enlargement to rebels; that he IS response
bic for the continued subsection of the loyal
men amongst US to the rule of their former
oppressors.
The resolutions declare that the rebel dis
tricts have ceased to exist as constitutional
! States; that the power to re-create the States
is vested exclusively in the Congress; that
the rejection of the Howard amendment was
prompted by spirit of bitterness towards
the Union that the future peace of the
country and the protection of loyal men in
| life, liberty and property imperatively de
mands that the disloyal bedisfranchsed and
that the control of the government, both
State and National, be entrusted to loyal
men only; that the welfare of North Caro-
lima requires her speedy organization on a
loyal basis.
1t was suggested that Convention of the
uncompromising Union men representing all
the Counties meet in Raleigh, some time in
the Spring, for the purpose of petitioning
Congress to re-organiZe the State govern
ment 1t was thought that plan could be
devised by this Convention, which would
guarantee protection to the loyal inhabitants
and at the same time meet the views of the
radical majority in Congress, and secure the
immediate re-admisson of the State. AS
this question, however. had not been gener-
ally agitated, the following resolution was
agreed upon:
Resolred, THAT tits the duty of the Union
men to agitate the question of reconstruc-
ton upon loyal basis and we recommend
that meetings be held and club. be organ
lied in all the Counties for this purpose"
The resolution which follows, recommends
the North Carolina Standard, as the fearless
and able exponent of true Union principles
A resolution for publication in the Standard
closes the series.
VIM. NJ. Coleman, Esq, addressed the
meeting upon invitation for about two hours
in a speech of much ability We do not
purpose to present any extended report of
his remarks, but simply to note the leading
points.
He urged that the States had forfeited
their lights as constitutional States. Before
the rebellion the relation of the ten rebel
States, as well as all the others, towards the
Union was thoroughly constitutional. Now,
said Mr.. Coleman, in the view of some per-
sons. the effect of the rebellion upon this re-
lation were just absolutely nothing at all-in
in other words, the relation of these rebel
States towards the Union continued consti
tutionally as if there had been no war; or if
the States of peace between them and the
Union had remained unbroken. They
claimed to stand in the Union with all their
rights intact as the loyal States. The bare
statement of the proposition. he believed,
carried its refutation. Had not these States,
rs Status, as organized political commune
ties, attempted acts of secession Had they
not sought by arms to destroy the Union
Had they not levied war upon it? Had they
not ignored and set aside the authority of
the United States in every department of
their governments. and made it treason for
their citi2eDS to 1orofaCs al1euiapoo tn bo
United States? Did not these States CON-
mand the obedience of all their citizens, and
seek to give an authoritative existence and
force to the rebellion: All this they did or
attempted to do as States; and it was an in
suit to our understandings to tell us that all
these acts of war and resistance did not for
a moment or in any manner interrupt their |
relations to the general GOV
eminent. The legitimate and inevitable |
of the rebellion, in his opinion,
did not extend to individuals alone, and stop |
with them 1t went further and involved |
States and the rights of States in their con-
stitutional relations to the government
These had been forfeited and annuled, and |
would remain so until they were restored by |
authority.
MIR. Coleman next argued that the power
to re-organiZe the States was vested in Con-
yress, and not in the President. 1t was a
legislative power, and all legislative powers,
whether expressly granted or derived by i'm
incontestably belonged to Con-
gress. Not a single legislative power by the !
constitution appertained to the President,
who was the mere executor of the legisla-
i've will as embodied in law. He did not
see how this position could be shaken. Any
other view of the provinces of the execu-
tive and legislative departments would be
Is unsound constitutionally as it would be
dangerous in practice. 1t would end, if suf-
ered to be successfully carried out, in con-
upon the President the whole
mass of legislative powers; and he would no
onger be, rs the constitution makes him,
he servant of the popular will reflected in
chosen representatives of the people-but its
ord and master.
Mr.. Coleman then commended, that as the
light to reorganize was vested in Congress-
% it was the plain duty of that body to re-
luire guarantees for future security from
hose States, before they could be re-admit-
ed, which had brought upon the country
he horrors of civil war. This only was so
imperative that Congress itself would be
raitorous to the interests and hopes of the ma
ion, if it did not exact guarantees. These
guarantees were as needful to the South as to
he North. 1t was of the first importance
o both sections that the peace between
hem, when concluded, should be enduring
and, upon every principle of human ex-