The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1867-05-25
therefore. that we should not ioin them We

therefore, that we should not join them. W.
answer that even if that were true, they Ger
tainly never protested to hate us, and the
opposition party has always been denounc
ing the "d-rn niger and Abolitionists'
with equal feryor. When we, had no votes
to give, the opposition placed US and the
Republicans in the same boat, and now we
reckon wen stay in it.. 1t may be ard pro
baply is true that some men acting will
the Republican party have cared nothing fol-
the principles of that party; but it is also
certainly true that ninety-nine hundredths o
all those who were conscientiously in favor
of our rights were and are in the Republic
party, and that the great mass of those who
hated; slandered, and abused us were in TIT
opposition party:
"Men do not gather grapes of tl1orns, mol
figs of thistles. A tree is known by its
fruits" The Republican tree has brought
forth good fruit, while the opposition tree
has been worse than barrch; it has been a
very Upas tree to us politically. But, Say
some of the members of the opposition
party, 1--WE intend to turn over new leaf
and will hereafter give you all your rights
Perhaps they would, but we prefer not to
put the new wine of political equality into
the old bottle of " sectional animosity" and
"caste feeling" We are somewhat fearful
that those who have always opposed the ex-
tension of rights are not sincere in their neoo
professions. We want to wait until we see
some fruits. When sinner processes con-
version, it is expected that he will join the
church-not that the church will join him
and so if these men are honestly converted
to the doctrine of 1.-THE equality of all men
before the law" it seems to US they ought
to join the Republican church-the one
which breaches that doctrine, and is trying
to induce the whole world to embrace it.
Another fact should be borne in mind
While few Conservatives are making guard
ed promises to us, the masses of that party
are cursing US, and doing all they Can to
"make the id niggers stay in their place.
If we were, therefore, to join that party it
would be simply as servants, and not as
equals Some leaders. who needed our votes,
might treat US decently, but the great major
ity would expect US to stay at home until
election day, and then vote as our employers
dictated. This we respectfully decline do
ing. 1t seems to us safest to have as little as
possible to do with those members of the
community who delight to abuse us, and
they are nearly ifnot quite all to be found in
the ranks of the opposition party.
Another principal reason why we insist
upon being Republicans is that we love the
Union, the stars and stripes, the national
colors, and the whole country, North as well
as South. Now it is too we'll known to be
denied that the mass of the opposition party
in this State hate the flag, the General Gov
eminent, and the North They do not even
try to cultivate different feeling, and for
US to join them would be to become respon-
sible for the sectional strife they are trying
to perpetuate.
But although we have planted ourselves
immovably upon the Republican platform,
it is our earnest desire to remain upon good
terms with our political opponents. It is
our intention to use the power we may OBJ
tain for the benefit of the entire community;
to give justice to others as well as to exact
it for ourselves. We know of no reason
why those who differ with us and vote for
different men should insist upon warning
against US for acting according to the die
tates of our Judgment, and we are certain
that there will be no difficulty in the COM
munity unless our opponents begin it. To
live peaceably with all men is our earnest
desire, and we pledge ourselves to use no
improper means to carry our points. Will
the opposition meet us in the same spirit
If they do, all will be well; the asperities of
the past will be softened, and peace and
prosperity prevade the land.
1t cannot be disguised, however, that
many men calling themselves Conservatives
are disposed to use unfair means to carry
their points. The press of Mobile and other
parts of the State contain numerous threats
that those colored people who do not vote
as their employers command will be dis
charged; that the property holders will
combine, import white laborers, and dis
charge their colored hands, &C. Numerous
instances have come to our knowledge of
persons who have already been discharged
because they attended Republican meetings.
and great numbers more have been threaten
ed. "Vote as we command or starve" is
the argument these men propose to make
use of, and with it they expect to succeed.
and we warn them before it is prosecuted
any further that their game is a dangerous
one for themselves. The property which
they hold was nearly all earned by the sweat
of our brows-not theirs. 1t has been for
feited to the Government by the treason of
its owners. and is liable to be coniscated
whenever the Republican party demands it.
The great majority of that party is now OPP
posed to contiscation, but if the owners of
property use the power which it gives them
to make political slaves of the poor, cry
will 90 up to Congress which will make the
party unit for confscation.
Conservatives of Alabama, do you propose
to rush upon certain destruction? Are you
mad, that you threaten to pursue policy
which could only result in causing thousands
of men to cry out to their leaders, 'Our
wives and little ones are starving because we
stood by you; because we would not be
slaves?" When the nation abolished slavery
you used your local governments to neutra-
lie and defeat its action, and the nation an
swered by abolishing your government and
enfranehising US. If you now use your pro-
ptrty to neutralize or defeat this Its last act,
it will answer by taking away the property
YOU are only allowed to retain through its
unparalleled mercy, and which you will
have proved yourselves so unworthy of re-
tanning.
We are aware of the widespread evils
which would follow general confscation,
and consequently earnestly desire to avoid
them; but, great as they are we would en-
aure them in preference to remaining in
political slavery. We are willing that our
employers should vote as they please, but
we demand the same privilege for ourselves.
Win they accord ite
We desire to congratulate the white Re-
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