Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1867-02-15
Reconstruction--The New Plan of Adj
justment.

of adjustment of the National difficulties,
which is said to have been agreed upon by
certain citizens of the South and leading
Northern politicians of both parties, which
appears to be creating hopes of an early
and honorable settlement of the troubles
now distracting the country. Its friends
already claim for it the support Of several
cabinet officers, many leading Republicans
in Congress, and it is limited that the
President has sanctioned it. The firm and
powerful opposition of Hon. j. A. Bing-
ham to the radical plans of Stevens, and
the mysterious illusions and conservative
tendencies of Mr. Banks, Ill hisrecent speech
in Congress, are claimed as produced by
the influence of this late plan.
1t seems that North Carolina, through
her Legislature, is expected to take the in
itiative in this matter, and propose to Con-
gress this new scheme of adjustment; and,
if we are to Judge from the conservative
Northern press, it would appear as if they
regarded the State as somewhat pledged,
through certain representative men lately
in Washington, to declare for this PLAN
That the people of North Carolina are anx-
ious to adjust the National difficulties and
re-establish the Union, has been evidenced
by their every act, some of which, causing
radical changes in their laws and entaillng
q surrender of principle and property with
out parallel in the history of the world, are
recorded in the Constitution of the State.
What they there pledged they will honestly
abide by.
Nor are they less anxious to-day than
they then were to restore their State to its
former relations with the States OF the
Union, and will do much to accomplish, in
an honorable and equitable way, the de-
sirable result. BY an almost unanimous
rejection of the Howard amendment, how
ever. in the face of terrible uncertainties
and threats, North Carolina has spurned an
offer to purchase amnesty and restoration
at the expense of honor.
AS to the new plan, did it come from any
official source, or were it properly offered to
the people of the State, We are not pre-
pared to think that 1t would be accepted.
But coming as it does III such question
able shape" it hardly deserves a thought
full consideration. And, until some legiti-
mate paternity is acknowledgements
the olive branch at least is known to &C
company its propositions, certainly the
people of this or any other excluded State
should not be expected to give it serious
entertainment.
70 ICnO
this matter had it not been brought formal
ly to the attention of the General Assem-
bly,. On Monday last, DR.. Speed, the Sen
ator from Pasquotank and Perquimans, in
troduced the following resolution, accom-
panied with a preamble in which was en-
braced declaration of the earnest desire
of North Carolina for restoration of the
Union, and the hopes now held out that
this object could be accomplished honor
ably, reciting also the plan Of adjustment
recently made public
ResoIUed That the State of North Carolina, de-
string final settlement of the troubles existing
between the two great sections of the Union Will,
looking to that end, adopt the aforesaid PROPOSE
tons by Convention OF the people
The preamble and resolution were or
dered to be printed and referred to the
committee Oh Federal Relations.
If this matter is forced to a vote, beyond
doubt the resolution will and should be re-
jected. There is hardly member of the
Legislature who would feel himself author
lied to vote for such propositions. They
come to that body endorsed by Hons. Bed
ford Brown, Nathaniel Boyden, James NJ.
Leach and Lewis Hanes, four very honor
able and intelligent citizens of North Car
DINA, who were in Washington by the APP
pointment of Governor Worth, to look
after the interests of the State in q matter
entirely different, but of much importance.
They, or at least some of them, are thought
to be responsible, in connection with other
distinguished Northern and Southern gen
tlemen, for their origin.
AS the Commissioners, having accom-
plished their legitimate business, endeav-
ored to do something looking to an honor
able adjustment OF our political difficulties,
and for which they certainly deserve the
thanks of the people of theT State, it is
probably unfortunate that their political
status should have all been the same. We
have high opinion of the integrity and
honesty of these gentlemen, with three Of
whom we have the most pleasant personal
relations, and we are satisfied they are &C
tuated by the most patriotic and unselfsl
motives, but because they unite upon Ger
tain propositions and see in our refusal the
most direful consequences, cannot have
that influence upon our Judgment, which
such advice would have coming from 9th
ers. We know their opportunities of judg
ing, by actual intercourse and conversation
with representative men of all parties, have
been very great, but we are not satisfied
that were the same opportunities enjoyed
by others, as deeply interested as they ano
as patriotic, would have brought them
to theisame conclusion. In other words, tc
express doubt in their political judg
ments is but natural after SO long and sc
wide difference in the past.
We are however now satisfied that the