The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1867-04-10

warning, and recall the Southern mind to the
just appreciation of the condition of the in
surgent States, and of what the peace and
safety of the nation required as security
against future repetition of the dangerous
disturbances from which it had just es-
capped at such immense and distressing cost.
But this warning, too, was unheeded. Not
only so; it was made the basis of a moro
thorough organization of the secession
element in the southern States There was
Immediately a repetition of the means and
appliances by which the rebellion was first
inaugurated and then upheld, as far as the
movers dare 60 in the presence of military
supervision and under the threatening aspect
of the government. The passions and Sec
tional prejudices of the people were again
most vehemently appealed to. The Con-
gress was denounced as an unlawful assem-
blage of tyrants and fanatics and the gull
ty leaders of treason dared even parade the
epithet of traitor as applicable to those in
the blood of whose sons and brethren they
had so recently stained their hands, and un-
der whose cOunsels of mercy they had just
escaped. unrepentant and ungrateful, trait
ors DOOM
Congress, with dignifed inactivity, re-
manned earnest spectators of passing events.
But in charity, setting down much to
wounded pride and chatting restlessness. the
Constitutional amendment was finally offered
as the least that was consistent with the
safety and future peace of the republic
This.too, was spurned as an insult to Southern
honor, and was seized upon, as was the Gus
tom previous to the rebellion in regard to
acts of Congress, to increase the violence of
sectional appeals, and the shameless abuse
of all men who raised a voice in defence of
nationality. The rebel leaders pretended to
found great hopes upon the pending elec-
lions in the Northern States last Fall but
instead of strengthening the hands of their
supposed friends by silence, or by propriety
and moderation of conduct, they unbccom-
ingly thrust themselves covered with unfor-
gotten treason, into the affairs of people
with the blood of whose SONS and comrades
they were freshly dripping. In1aming the
unfortunate difference between Congress and
the President, and magnifying its impor-
tance they arrogantly smothercd his infu-
ence and popularity by the odium of their
support. Through their presses, and in har-
argues before the Southern people who had
no power and could exert no influence in the
elections, they ostentatiously coupled their
denunciations of Congress with praises of
the President and with claims that he was.
their especial champion and upholdcr.-
Such conduct, at that time, was either the
extreme of most unaccountable folly, or it.
was for the well considered purpose of pro-
voking among the Northern people serious.
civil discussions suspicious to concealed de-
signs. The previous character and conduct
of the movers favored the latter construc-.
| ton. The result of the elections was such
an overwhelming rebuke to every one, con-
| taminated with their touch, as to amount;
to instructions to Congress that could not.
| he disregarded. But, not at all abashed by
this result, they eagerly seized upon it and
| increased their efforts again to fire the
| Southern heart--to make past treason test
of honor, and brand past and continued
| loyalty in the South as stain of social and
| political disgrace. Sounding the same hol-
low professions loyalty with which they
inaugrated the rebellion, they scoffed at ev-
cry sentiment of nationality, covered with
bitter contumely and reproach-every stead
fast supporter of the national authority, and
amid all permissible preparation, but lily
concealed their future hopes and purposes.
| An irresponsible press was made to use the
weapon of public defamation, found so p0-
| tent preparatory to and during the re-
bellion. to deter the timid and cause the mod
est and sensitive to shrink from the coarse
and wanton vulgarity of its attacks The
thoughtless ardor of youth was imposed up
on by appeals to sectional pride, by con-
slant parade of the glory achieved by Con-
federate heroes, and by fulsome demonstra-
| tons of fattery to the most notorious actors.
in the rebellion. Even the boyish admira-
ton for Knight Errantry was invoked By a
perpetual round of ridiculous tournaments,
attended by rebel leaders most distinguished
in field and counsel, who would have
been ashamed of the puerifity of being seen
| at such places but for the well understood
object in view. Thus they succeeded in
again deceiving and exciting the masses of
our people to such an extent that they car
ried the Fall elections IN this State, and re-
turned to the Legislature large majority
of their friends and sympathisers. During
those mad proceedings every remonstrsnce
from the more considerable Union men of the
State was spurned with contemptuOus de-
rison and abuse. Those who warned the
people of the danger and sought to save
their State from the consequences of the
hardihood and reckless ambition of men
who were about perpetuating the ruin they
had already wrought, were denounced as
enemies of their State, and DETAINED with
| epithets so degrading and vulgar that COM
mon propriety would be shocked by repeat
ing them.
The Legislature elected under these appli-
ances was swift to show its readiness to
cooperate in the general plan, by hoDoring
the " true Confederates" on the one hand,
and on the other, passing undigni6ed and
derisive resolutions of censure against those,
whom loyalty to the Union and love Of their
native State induced to venture an effort in
opposition to the crime and folly of fur
thcr disturbance of the public peace and
prosperity of the country. And this signi-
ficant exhibition of legislative predilection
was followed by the more substantial favor
of an act of general amnesty and pardon"
by which it hoped to consign to oblivion
multitude of disgraceful crimes, from the
dark infamy of which it would save the rep
utation of its friends But in drafting this
act, it was not unmindful of its duty to " Con-
federate" memories.
The Unionists of the State are ingenious
ly excluded from the benefit of its provis-
ions. Every Union citizen of the State who
resisted an outrage from Confederate author
ity, or defended himself and his household
from the authorized violence of rebel despo-
tism, or who in the excitement of outraged
feelings transcribed the nicely balanced
| law of selfdefence, is left to be turned over
to juries summoned by Sherifs holding their
election from those who once loved treason,
and now revere and honor its memory.
No one unblinded by the fanaticism of Sc
,or11A foil RI 1ok