The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1867-02-23
from the Right Way.l
.4ter from a North.Carolinian,


If nublic interest, 1 address to you the fol
lowing letter for publication. s
The most important question which no"
,-o.ents itself is, "What shall be the terms
IF reconstruction 2" Considered in the ao-
tract. the interest of North-Carollna, as
State requires her admission into the Union
at the earliest possible period; on the other
hand. as citizens of a great nation, we can
only admit of reconstruction upon those
terms which will secure national tranquility
and national Justice. These essential condi-
IONS will not be realized unless the delegates
frame constitution which guarantees the
rioht of suffrage to the Freedmen.
Il is not at all surprising that the propo-
s;tioa should excite wonder and alarm at its
first announcement. This is the result of our
mast habits of prejudice. The abolition OF
slavery would have sounded no less strange
" five years ago But, to assist in exposing
this prejudice, let US sec how the Fathers
looked upon it.
In the Congress which framed the Articles
of Confederation, there were only two States
which objected to allowing the free colored
inhabitants of one State to enjoy all the priv
ileres of free citizens in the several States
and one Of the two States referred to was
South Carolina. AT the time of the adop-
tion of the Federal Constitution, there was
lint one State which denied suffrage to the
free colored inhabitants in its organic law;
and that State was-South Carolina. In the
organization of a dozen Territories, down to
1912 this right was recognized by Congress.
1t was recognized in solemn treaties with
France and with Spain. Free negroes voted,
rs we all know, in North Carolina, down to
the amendment of the Constitution in 1885.
The thing was done In the days of Wash
inuton. Jefferson, Franklin, Madison, Hamil-
ton, and Adams; what objection applies in
principle nov that was not applicable then2
OBJECTIONS URGED.
But it is urged on the other side that the
African race is inferior, and, again, that the
freedmen are too ignorant to enjoy this priv
iege.
In reply to the FIRST / would merely remark
that the fact is assumed. The temporary
predomnance of ruliEg race is no index of
any virtual superiority. So might Persia
have thought once, so Greece, SO Rome, so
the Arabians and the Turks ; yet their power
has been broken, and the descendants of the
slaves that teiled in irons have given laws to
the conquered provinces of their former mas
tiers; inaWaneique L0nqobardOrum legs acceptB.
But the blood of the white man already
courses through the veins of nearly forty per
cent of the colored race (think Of Judge
Gasten's expression - 1t poisons morals at the
fountain -headT) The black man has had no
opportunity for development. He has been
kept down, as we have been told, by two cen
turies of oppressive legislation.
The rcfutation of the second objection
that they are too ignorant, lies in nutshell.
The argument proves too much, and is there
tore vaiueless. r the principle it assumes be
correct, we are incapable of self government;
for where is the AiRe to be drawn? If none
be permitted to vote but those who are IA
miliar with ali our constitutions and the
workings of the Government, 1 fear the list
will he sadly diminished. Jefferson laid
down the republican doctrine on this point,
and it is, "He who fights or pays should
vote" There are other objections in the ma
ture of rose water sentimentalism, and a GER
tain clinging to "haliowed associations )"
but these are too trivial to require notice.
REASONS FOR EXTENDING SUFFRAGE TO THE
FREEDMEN.
Iassigned for a general reason why suf-
frage should be extended to the freedmen,
that national tranquility and national justice
could not be secured without it. But more
in detail
The agitation ct the question sciU be contin-
ued The party which has been laboring so
long for the abolition of slavery will never
yield the point. And then this party, which
has already taken such deep root, will grow
and expand with vigor and luXuriance
which could net have been hoped for before :;
and this for very obvious reasons. You
must hear it sounded in your ears upon
every occasion; at every turn you must meet
with papers advocating its claims you must
hear it from the stump; and, if you go there
you must hear the freedmen, in council as
sembled, demanding why they are denied
the only means OF maintaining their freed
ON. 1t will haunt the councils of the State
and nation until AT last the decisions shall be
in favor of human liberty and then you will
not only be subjected to the modification of
<iefeat, but this by those whom YOU now at
feet to despise.
Fit Be not granted. the cozOred race aoiU
became a Dissatisfied and dangerous class
amongst us. So hong as the negro was in Gas
he thought a state of hopeless slavery, his
thoughts rose no higher than TO enjoy his
hours of rest after hard and unrequited toll
as best he might, or, at most, to make his es-
cape to some happier cline But when his
letters have been Knocked off, and he stands
upon the earth ia the dignity of his man
hood, he has other aspirations He opens
his farm or his workshop, or. by other means
with habits of industry, sobriety, and econo-
my, he acquires Il competency. He sends his
children to school. They read the New
Testament, and tindquite other truths taught
there than those they were trained to believe
1t contained. The farther they advance, the
more indelibly do they see the mark of infit-
my impressed upon them They become
FESTIVE. They have no love for the Govern
ment. They are ready to grasp any hand
which will help them up to real freedom.-
They take counsel with their ellow-unfortu-
mates: and upon this fusion of chatting spir-
its you blow to make the heat more intense
There wiN be danger Of internal acsr Nth
the colored race. am aware that there are
those who will not allow that any q priOri
reasoning upon the nature of mankind in
general applies to the negro, who ridicuie the
idea that he has either sensibility or inteli-
gcncc. Such view is very unjust. So far
as circumstances have permitted their devel-
opment, the negro has exhibited every ca
paeity and every virtue that we ascribe to
man. See his fidelity to his fellow, his 81
lent endurance, his fortitude. Look at the
care with which hesaves his scanty earnings,
that he may have something for his wife and
children; and look at these in the dusky
twilight of Saturday evening, how an1-
lously they listen to catch the distant sound
ings of the horn which announces to them
his coming. And yet, what law requires
the negro to provide for his family? The
law of affection alone, for the State has ig-
Need we be surprised if there is Satanic
al 1,,t I,or 81, 4 -