The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1867-12-24


The question IS whether man il capable q
fselfgovernment. I hold with Jefferson tina
government was made for the conveniencel
man, and not man for government. TIL
laws and constitutions were designed as in
fstruments to promote his welfare AM
hence from this principle 1 conclude tina
governments can and ought to be changed
and amended to conform to the wants, tt
the requirements, and progress of the people
and the enlightened spirit of the age
Loud applause. Now. if any of you Sc
cessionists have lost faith in mans capacity
for selfgovernment, and feel unfit for the ex
ercise of this great right, 60 straight to reb-
eldom, take jeff. Davis, Beauregard, and
Bragg for your masters, and put their collars
on your necks. "e--,
And let me say that now is the time to Sc
cure these fundamental principles, white the
land is rent with anarchy and upheaves with
the throes of a mighty revolution. While
society is in this disordered state and we are
seeking security, let US fix the foundations
! of the Government on principles of eternal
justice which shall endure for all time
But in calling a convention to restore the
State, who shall restore and re-establish it
Shall the man who gave his influence and
his means to destroy the Government Shall
he who brought this misery upon the State
be permitted to control its destinies? If
this be so, then all this precious blood of our
brave soldiers and officers SO freely poured
out will have been wantonly spilled All
the victories won by our noble armies will
go for naught, and all the battle-felds which
have been sown with dead heroes during
the rebellion will have been made memora-
BILE in vain.
Why all this carnage and devastation z. 1t
was that treason might be put down and
traitors punished Therefore say that trail
tors should take back seat in the work of
restoration. II there be but five thousand
men in Tennessee loyal to the Constitution,
loyal to freedom, loyal to justice, these true
and faithful men should control the work of
reorganization and reformation absolutely
Loud and prolonged applause.l Isay that
the traitor has ceased to be citizen, and in |
joining the rebellion has become a public |
enemy. He forfeited his right to vote 18th
loyal men when he renounced Ills citizenship
and sought to destroy our Government
Treason must be made odious and trail
tors must be punished and Impoverished
Their great plantations must be seized and
divided into small FARMS and sold to honest,
industrious men. The day for protecting
the lands and negroes of these authors of re-
bellion is past. 1t is high time it was 1
have been most deeply panied at some things
which nave come under my observation We
get men in command who, under the infiu-
ence of flattery, tawning, and caressing,
grant protection to the rich traitor while the
poor Union man stands out in the cold of
ten unable to get receipt or voucher for
his losses. Cries of That's sol
ANDREW JOHNSON.
When Andrew Johnson spoke these de-
lberate words he went beyond the platform
OF the convention that nominated Lincoln
and himself-beyond Grant, and beyond
Congress but not beyond the American
people; and now that he has abandoned
his broad and nearly oath bound covenant,
and stands unsupported save by the rebels
md Copperheads he sn terribly chastised.
Grant, Congress- the Republicans, and the
American people at large rally around his
emedy in 1865 as the only remedy for per- ;
nanent restoration in 1867. Every State re-
constructed amid the fire and ashes, the
Hood and tears. the youthful graves, broken
lomes and shattered hearts of the rebellion,
$ reconstructed upon the lines and accord I
ng to the plan he laid down. And although ,
he architect new despises his own splendid +
conception, yet there are brave mechanics ,
Who: convinced ofthe strength and symmetry +
# his design, are resolutey and conscien- 7
iously building in accordance with it, !
Wash. CAron