The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1867-05-15
Eloquent Tribute to the Union Men of
ita the South.

Eloquent Tribute to the Union Men of
h the South.
On Monday night last, 9th inst, Hon.
Schuyler Colfax in the course of an eloquent
address, paid the following glowing tribute
to the faithful men of the South. We copy
from the N. Y. Tribune:
I regret, indeed, that Mr.. Summers amend
ment requiring provisions in the new Con-
,stitution for universal education as con-
dition of reconstruction, did not prevail;
hut hope the good sense of the Southern
people will establish it voluntarily, insuring
them warmer welcome as they return tn
the council board. But cannot omit to
state that one of the essentials to the recon-
struction policy is the election of Congress-
men who can honestly and truthfully take
the oath required by law. We would have
moving finger of scorn," if this essential had
not been insisted upon infexibly. When the
waves of treason swept over all that region
there were a faithful few who refused to bow
the knee to Baal. Branded as traitors
to the Confederacy because they would not
surrender their birthright, they never swerv
ed from their allegiance. Punished by con-
fscation and robbery, threatened with out
rage and death, they never faltered and
when they could no longer live peacefully
at their homes. they fed to the mountains,
the caves, and the swamps, and, "Welcome
contiscation, robbery, exile or death but we
stand by the stars and stripes to the last
drop of our blood and the last beat of our
hearts," (Appiause) God bless these faith
full Union men. They are to lead back these
States, clad in new robes of liberty and JUS
tice; and we should have had "Anarthema
Maranthema" written on our doorsils if we
had abandoned them in our hour of victory.
cannot doubt the future of the great party
which has won these triumphs and established
these principles. 1t has been so brilliantly
successful, because it recognized liberty and
justice as its cardinal principles; and be-
cause, scorning all prejudices and defying
all opprobrium, it allied herself to the cause
of the humble and the oppressed 1t sought
to enfranchise, not to enchain; to elevate,
not to tread down; to protect, never to abuse
1t cared for the humblest rather than for the
mightiest-for the weakest rather than the
strongest. 1t recognizes that the glory of
States and nations was justice to the poor
cSt ANU lctUltSt. Anu duOtHtT ScCIcG VI us
wondrous strength was that it fully adopted
the striking injunction of our murdered
chief: "With malice toward none, with
charity for all, but with firmness for the
right, as God gives US to see the right
(Applause) Only last month the British
Chancellor of the Exchequer, in defending
his reform bill, which holds the word of pro-
mise to the ear to break it to the hope ex-
claimed This is nation of classes, and
must remain So" IfI may be pardoned for
replying, would say: "This isa nation
of freemen, and it must remain son (Ap-
plause) Faithful to the traditions of our ia
theirs in smpathizing with all who long for
the maintenance and advancement of liberty
in Mexico or England, in Ireland or Crete,
and yet carefully avoiding all entangling al
liances or violations of the law, with re
cognition from ocean to ocean, North and
South alike, of the right of all citizens bound
by the law to share in the choice of the law
maker, and thus to have voice in the coun-
try their hearts blood must defend.