The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1867-08-28

3 49, - oE=s.s4 <4ss<S tntre was ~
Pontalcat q2est loa qec!qeSt instead of pure
~ persona one tinted as they now are
against fecnnyf T!!ctlon u is wise to ascertain
how tar their influence can prevail with the
people; the dlstranc hising clauses of the
acts q Congrese pul ny put OF the power of
these men TO De candldates for office. One
great element OF their strength is thus de-
stroyed; and the people, left to choose 9TH
er leaders and vote for other candidates,
have really freedom which they never
had before, and find themselves under ne
cessity for thinking which they have not
heretofore felt. Congress has given them
this privilege, and imposed upon them this
salutary necessity. II remains to be seen
how they will use them. If they can win
the battle against their former leaders. after
an open fight, all may be we'll in the future.
If not, then not b s.i
do not at all agree in the on;n;on that
there are not enough Competent men in this
district to hold the civil Offices who are not
disfranchised. l have i think. reason ID
know otherwise. But even admitting that
r ia 80. Il il better 70 have an incomnetent
Int loval man in Office than to have q Rebel
If whatever ability. in fact the greater the
ob;l;tv tba yreater The dancer ofs NAL. admin.
;strot;on The nneat;ons', a. ;ssne nnder
thass ects 81 Gon1r..ss aretbe moot moms,,t.s
ono ever nyresented 70 . neonie The result
fsr,Snod nr evil will affect iii ,,.arts n fba
on,,,t,-s ,,;th moro ~ loss 5;,rca ond t.;J1l
lao 10 ~ ;,onres. mon onr ;n.t;t,t; ; rb;ch
Ill, 49,, ra,,, T. i aos, ,,rdar av;s+;na
circnmstances to win the first victory and
reconstruct these states under the acts of
CONGRESS- Rnt this victory Is onlv file he.
Ginning Of the contest and miles, r ne !
Victory onenlv and fairly won and very de-
cisive IN its results. It NAV prove not only
fruitless. but absolutely destructive. The
problem is to perpetuate reconstruction in
the spirit and on the principles which can
alone secure free Government. Should we
effect reconstruction even after silencing the
open opposition of the old political leaders
we stand committed TO admit tberecoustruct.
! ed States into the Union. Once admitted
into the Union. the power of Congress over
them is reduced practically to the general
power which that body has over all States
in the Union. By admitting these Southern
States after silencine the old political lead
ers, and neutralizing for the moment old po-
litical influences, Congress and the people
disarm themselves The moment admission
into the Union is accomplished the military
power is suspended, and when all restric-
.tions are removed at once, these old political
leaders and the old political and personal in
fluences will resume their activity. and we
may find too late that such reconstruction as
we have made is not only not what is needed
and expected. but what will simply result in
reproduction of the same condition of at.
e
necessary at all. Freedom of speech and of
the press, education. equality before the law
and in political rights and privileges are the
essentials of any satisfactory reconstruction
in the South. Without securing these we
have secured nothing. How. can we know
that reconstruction win accomplish these re-
suits unless we know in advance the strength
and the power Of those who oppose it T.
Reaction is certain unless the reconstruction
marty can win the battle by decisive maiori-
ties over all the elements which onnose n
left to deyelone themselves and appy their
full force TO the contest IF the reacfion;sts
Tins left free can defeat sucb reconstruct;onl
as this. we then know what to do-wbat in
fact we ,nust do If we desire 70 nern etnate
free institutions n 10 hest r. know iii tbaee
tb;ngo hafora roodrn;ss;on ;nto tho TTn;on il
granied II viii ba foo lats 70 Loo ~ Thor, !,
seiferward Now i tbo t;n,o ana tl,;s 10 t1,a
sonnortnn;tv - con,leto tb;s frarL - .hat -
n stsnd Enor d;at.ta e ~ sA.. :.
,'otr;nt;sn, da-,ond. Ills ,,o,i, ~ L.a aS
ff L.st;lu ~ nart;all,, Jono
In r'9y "Gne, e.oIS.. uo' i.
VIII IlaS MIN ~ .lain " esiis 70 TINS coun-
$500, ~ mn,Ua eau nese .h ~ euieu us n:'
necessaly ~ gay .llat however we restrain raj
sue oppos.tion parry now .ne nlolllent recon e.,
s.iao:ion - accon Piisleu tnis party VIII re-
gam us acIylsy, anu we ought 10 know IN
au1ance Wneener y POSSESSES the power TO
unuo wnat we Inought we nag zone. l GO
nu' mean 70 intimate .nat ~ woud De posi-
~ " lees.aollsn 3,avery perhaps ~ wouia
~. esen ce plac'.plr " 'ane ilom Tue ,reea-
:.,e,l .ne signt OF suffrage, .nougn TINS iatter
- uoep'l Ut inese Poii''clans are WHY anu
saggaciou Jus ihey VIII make no laws wnlch
are noe equai on tneir lace 70 al men; 1t is
~ ,ne execution OF tlese laws, Wnch seem
lJons and oon,, NJ Az o .@ III, ong VII. ~
,rb;cb hsars ros ~ e. p' ,s's,
n,an+ avna, o !, na,aa Ga ~ SDs:'n
WITH drsrnaf - h,,a;aa0. .o,s.;n eAS.a0r ~
b;b;t;ans of hast;,;., ~ ;nno oPen . "a
hostile oot. ;ntsrr,,,,t;nn ~ :, ;nt.ssasar"a
Nth az pnJ ashas sohno,s
ta;neS hs cbar;ta,,a aI notr;hnt;ons fro, ~
NorthLtbese win he the, weanons need
aoairst fJn;on men and the coIored race ss-.-
Acts az WRONG and violence will mect M
snf1;c;ent rtdrsesss-.;t ;ndeed anv reSrsss -
aIl-;n; The conrts These ara acts ,sS,ct,
cannot be reached ,by the General Govern,
ment, and vet which quietly and silently
render justice impossible, and establish dis
y - =