The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1867-03-27

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: EVERLASTING principles of the Constitution and
the Declaration Of Independence and also
to devise plan whereby convention might
be called in accordance with the act of Con-
gress, and through its fundamentally the
last vestige of slavery and treason forever
effaced from our law-books and the minds Of
our people.
POLITICAL CONSIDERATIONS.
The palpable deadlock existing between
the suffrage provisions of the Congressional
act and the present State Constitution, which
the members Of the legislature are sworn to
support, has been referred to above, and ought
perhaps, to be explained more fully. The
present Constitution provides that all free
men. resident twelve months, who have paid
taxes, may vote, except free negroes, free mus
lattoes or free persons OF mixed blood, de-
scended from negro ancestors, to the fourth
generation, inclusive. The act of Congress
DISTINGUISHES certain persons permitted to
vote under the above provision Of the social
eel State constitution, while it enfranshise
Others not permitted to vote. By what ho-
cus-pocus can the legislature Of this state,
therefore, elected upon white basis, and
one disloyal, too, at that, call : convention
upon black and white or a mixed basis,
without violating their oaths to support said
constitution, and also their favorite theory
of state rights Besides, there are disqualif-
cations of certain classes from voting and
holding Office under the Congressional act,
not recognised in the fundamental law of
this state. How about that Should a leg
islator-and there are many in the present
body disqualified under the said act-be al
lowed to vote tor the call of convention
when he is not entitled to go to the ballot
box and vote for delegates, or hold seat in
the honorable body ifelected thereto? Is not
this deadlock palpable to every oneG
But, as have intimated above, time might
obviate these difficulties; old members of
the legislature would resign or be forced out
by their own partisans; amendments to the
Constitution rushed through, and in the
course of twelve months the rebels, by steady
working, if let alone, could thus replace
themselves in commanding position, call
convention, and teaze Congress for admission
Plainly it was not our duty to let them alone
but to go to work at once, and call conven-
ton OF the people by the people, as contem-
plated in the act itself
WHAT THE NoRTH-CARoLINA REPUBLICANS
INTEND.
Since these conclusions were arrived at the
Fortieth Congress has evinced willingness
to pass supplemental act, providing the
machinery of reconstruction or reorganiza-
ton. Our purpose, however, in calling a
preliminary council in this State was two
fold.
list. To organize Union party, without
regard to race or color, founded on princi-
pie; and,
I'd To devise the machinery of recon-
struction or reorganization
Ii the supplemental act be passed, it will |
relieve us of the latter weight, and leave us
tree to do many things towards perfecting
our first object, which might otherwise have
been neglected or overlooked.
The only danger which threatens us from
this supplemental act, is the provision allow
ing the commanding general to delegate the
powers and duty Of reconstruction to the
present Governors of the rebel States. 1t is
a serious danger. Every rebel in the South
ern States will manage to crawl through
smaller loophole than that, If Congress hap
pens to leave one cannot believe, how
ever, that it will be so blinded and hood
winked as not to see the inevitable tendency
OF such useless provision towards restoring
to power a set OF men which it has just
knocked off their legs as unworthy of con-
fdence.
Regrets have already been expressed
among leading secessionists that they have
not paid more attention to the federal COM
manders in the Southern States Should the
least discretion be allowed the general to
delegate his powers, he will be overwhelmed
with attentions and flattery, until he yields,
and then--we then down goes the Con-
greSsional policy into the same pit into
which Andrew Johnson's so suddenly disap-
peared. .as
The first election which will be held in
this State under the Congressional policy
shortly occurs in Newbern for municipal Of
fcers. l am assured upon the best authority
that active measures are being taken to poll
the entire colored vote, which, together with
The white northerners, now citizens, will be
sufficient to rout the cohorts of secession |.
If our friends are successful it will send
thrill of joy throughout the State. They can
scarcely fail, and in that belief we are already
rejoicing.
POLITICAL LEAGUES
The Union party of this State among the
blacks is being more closely compacted by
means of leagues. The loyal whites have
,wo secret organizations at work, both pow
'rfnl and daily increasing. One of them is
native to the soil, yclept, in terms of derision,
~ its opponents, "red strings" 1t was in
rogue during the rebellion, and did much
good in conveying loyalists safely through
The lines, protecting deserters from the rebel
Irmies and escaped federal prisoners, and in
conveying important information.
The Knights of the Golden Circle, organ
zed among the secessionists North and South
before the war, is still in existence, but un- ,
Ter an assumed name. The other organiza-
ion, known as Regulators" extending .
throughout the Southern States is composed {
If the rif-raff of the white population, un-
Ter the management of rebel leaders, who
for the purpose of expressing the
negroes and plundering them. This is an
organization that should be looked into
t has managed to commit every species of
rhine in Eastern Carolina for a year past,
md continually, too, without molestation, j
detection, or punishment !
Under the Congressional law of recon-
truction from hencefortl no person disqual- !
fed from holding Office by the constitution !
Il amendment can vote at any election. Are
UGH persons who are now In State offices {
'ver us-and they are largely in the MAORI
y-to be retained in authority until their
ocular terms expire, or are they cast out of ,
,fice already de jurs ipso? These are prac-
ical questions. Wehold that not being
itizens of the United States. and being de- Y
barred of the right of suffrage, they cease to
,e officeholders, and that no citizen of the ! 9
United States who is a voter is bound to re-
pect their authority or obey their commands
70 this class belong our Governor so-called '