The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1867-04-09

lenueTS were IuuuIScI iS PCifCioo GIN IN. .
strong children; but when they abused tli
indulgence to purposes OF treason and tn
shedding of blood, they became guilty Grim
inals, and may yet compel reluctant nation
to punish them as SUCH
There is another subject having much bear
ing upon the settlement of our troubles. II
regard to which the public mind should no
be misled. The colored population having
been made free citizens of the Republic, mus
be protected as such. The popular preludl
ces in regard to them are the growth
years, in which they were not only undlspu
ted but encouraged 1t would be wonderful
indeed for them to die out at once. Bu
however natural their existence, the fac
that they do exist must be recognized ant
provided against by the national govern
ment. This much is due to that class OF ou
citizens as matter of right and Justice
The prejudices in regard to them were, IL
the recent past, made the means OF melting
a most disastrous rebellion, by those who
hoped thus to crafty their ambition tol
place and power. As this population had
no voice in political affairs, appeals based up
on charges that an effort was being made III
their behalf, could be safely resorted to.
repetition of such appeals might again en-
danger the public safety. But should the
|
box, this danger would be avoided, for am
bilious politicians would not dare to assall
such large class of voters. The question
of securing protection and suffrage to the
| freedmen has thus become connected with
the national question of providing against
repetition of the rebellion. This Is the view
taken by the general government. Hence
one of the earliest acts of the President, III
his preparatory proceedings for RECONSTRUCT
! ton, was to recommend, in unequlVocal IAN
guage. qualified suffrage for the freedmen-
| But this recommendation was rejected IN
dignantly even by those who protested TO DE
| the especial supporters of his policy, as was
that part of his fundamental assumption
that the State governments had been de-
stroyed, and needed reorganization lney
reject with facility, every principle OF his
policy which may seem to initiate against
their own restitution to power. Quail
fed colored suffrage has been the position
of the President. Universal colored suffrage
is the remedy deemed necessary by Congress
Men DESTROYS of avoiding the one or the
other could not fail to see that the only
means of doing was to remove the neces-
sitv for it, by subduing such former preJudl-
ces as seemed to threaten the safety OF the
colored citizen. The folly of renewing APP
peals calculated to inflame such preiudices
cannot be too severely characterized. For,
however much the policy of admitting freed
men at present, to the ballot-box, may be
questioned yet. as they have become free
citizens of republic, what can be said
against its justice and rightfulness! If by
any means it be made consistent with good
policy or requisite thereto, it instantly be
comes understandable to withhold it. But,
notwithstanding this plain position of the
question, the same blind fatality which has
continually inspired the councils of the in
stigators and leaders of the rebellion. from
the beginning, seems still to hold its sway.
While protesting disposition of justice and
fairness to the freedmen. they have steadily
contested every step for their advancement,
and have again sought to arouse old preiu-
dices in regard to them by denouncing Con-
gress as egro-worShippers.' and Union
men. who approve the measures Of Congress.
as mean whites" and no better than ne
grocs." They have thus rendered necessary
and certain what they profess to be most
anxious to avoid. BY their insubordnate
and contumaciOus conduct they are about
to bring disfranchiSemcnt upon themselves
and by conduct. still more reprehensible, have
q measure which they pro-
nOunce the most oclious of all. Is it surpri-
sing that such garing hardhood raises the
suspicion that it is not so much the result of
recklessness, as of a settled
purpose to keep alive the spirit and passions
ot the rebellion preparatory to the accom-
plishment Of still cherished hopes While
such proceedings are unrehuked by our poo
pie, what can we expect but Il continuance
Of our present unfortunate and ruinous con-
htlon! We who have been involved in n
.(,rl IL,
ruits OF its continuance. must, nevertheless,
acknowledge the wisdom and prudence of
congress in awaiting these de, relopments be-
ore rellnqulsllng its power to check their
endcncy. We cannot expect it: to be so far
lnmindful of its duty to the country and to
'osterlty as not to provide su CHI measures
md enforce such regulations AZ the public
atety demands. The evils that we must vet
ndure, and the hard conditions to which
We may yet have to submit, are chargeable
o those who have created the nee essity, aud
lot to those whose painful duty it has be-
ONE to apply the remedy
Had the leading actors in the rebellion
TODD out OF the way. as became IL ,em. until
he State was restored to its former relations
n the Union, such restoration won Id have
zen long since accomplished. When
hey ndlscreetly thrust themselves for
'ard as arrogant aspirants for an. i'm
1edlate restitution to power, hah the
eople manifested practical repudia ton of
he spirit and princi piles of the rebeIlI OH, by
romptly rebuking them at the ballo box,
he State would have been immediate ,.v re-
'ored to all its rights and privileges, !, and
re influx OF capital and enterprise from
broad would be now swiftly mt wo rk in
rengthening, by social intercourse and com
unity OF interest, the bonds of an end, lring
'tionaiity: Magnanimity and gratituo e TO
leir ruined followers require these lea 6ers
loose the chains of deception, and to ST and
longer in the way of a restoration of the
ghts and prosperity which have been for
tied In their service. But their mad an
ton seems to smother all worthier con. sd
ations. They still attempt to hold, W ith
'ath,like tenacity, their ill-gotten infuel zee
er the minds of better men, and to invol We
all in the fate that justly belongs only tcs
by slandercusly representing tn e
esent attitude of our people as a spontane-
IS popular impulse. 1t, therefore, becomes
e duty OF the people to correct this mis-
and to separate themselves
I'M these conscious and intentional arch
cts of general ruin. Congress believes
at the masses can be won back to loyalty,
d to their Old veneration for the Union,
ly by removing the balcful influence of the
'tlgators and leaders in the rebelion-that