The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1867-01-09
Public Sentiment.

: {
zeal which the people are manifesting in
signing the Memorials to Congress for civil
government in North Carolina on a thorough
ly loyal basis. We have already forwarded
a number of Memorials, and we think it
probable that by the 20th of this month we
shall have forwarded ten thousand to fifteen
thousand names.
The right of petition is " dear to free men
and formidable to tyrants only" We beg
our friends to send in the Memorials with
the names as rapidly as possible.
A highly intelligent friend, writing us from
Western County, says:
"These views, you may not know, are not
recent with me. A firm supporter of the war
to the end, when the end came cherished
ardently the spirit Of peace, both as an in
terest and a duty I steadily insisted that
we should put our Union element forward
| and foremost in the work of reconstruction.
have voted uniformly for none but undoub-
ted Union men, I deplored the schism be-
| tween the President and his party as cal
amity to us, which it has turned out to be.
have favored the Howard amendment, and
now favor immediate reorganization as the
shortest road to reunion. Our highest IN
terest and our first duty is to get out of this
condition of uncertainty, which oppresses
our energies and paralyzes our industry. The
fact is, my ardent desire is to see all our for
tunes rebuilt, my own among the number !;
and know this cannot be done while the
present condition of affairs continues. I
think the temper of our people-not the lea
ders-is improving"
The above is from gentleman of educa-
ton and fine attainments. He is right.
There is no hope for this people but in the
immediate restoration of the Union, and this
is impossible without reorganization.
A friend writing Us from Rowan County,
says: s.
From our leading men in this part of the
State there has been, and there is no hope
for peace or reconstruction Every effort
they make seems to be in the wrong direc-
ton. If their perverse obstinacy is allowed
still to continue they will complets our ruin.
The common people, the farmers would have
settled our business long ago, but the leaders
have prevented them. Now, Sirs, want to
reconstruct the Union on the terms Congress
| will give us. They fought US and whipt us
we aoould have it so ; and now it is but rea-
sonable they should reinstate US. We should
take the best terms we can get, and take
them at once. The longer we wait the worse
-the terms are obliged to be. do hope the
| people will take this most important matter
j in their own hands and settle it. 1t is hei7
business. They are to be the greatest suf
ferers by this continued disunion"
Sensible every word of it. The foregoing
is from an honest farmer, who can have nc
motive but the good of his country.
Another honest farmer, writing US from
Orange County, says:
"We have seen Mr. Stevens bill, and WI
approve it. 1t may be that it is not quite
tight enough, but if We can get good, safe
men to execute it, it will do. Let justice bt
done. Let our State be re-organized on
loyal basis, and let secession and treason bt
odious for generations to come"
A friend who is well posted in relation t.
public sentiment, writes us from Cabarru
that the Union people ofthat County, and o
Stanly, Union, and Rowan are tired of being
ruled by rebels, and want new, permanen
civil government on loyal basis.
Meanwhile our noble Union people west o
the Blue Ridge, are in despair, and are call
ing on the Congress through petitions t.
form new State out of Western North Car
DINA, so that they may enjoy peace and safe
ty to themselves under the old flag. w
+ learn that the proposition is taking like wilt
fire, and that thousands of the people ar
signing the Memorials. And now, WiN Con
gress octs More than twenty months hay
passed since Lees surrender, and still tn
loyal people of these Southern States are un
der rebel rule! They feel they have righ
to governments, the offspring of the law-ma
king power. They know that settled indus
try and prosperity are impossible as long a
they are held in this condition, Many o
them are growing poorer every day thou
sands have already left the State to try thei
fortunes in distant lands; and those OF then
who do not wish to leave, but who desire t,
remain and lay their bones when they die il
their native soil, most earnestly appeal t,
the Congress to come to their relief. The,
put on no airs of defance-they demand n,
Eights-they indulge in no abuse Of tn
yankees " or of the government, but the
simply ask that government to remembe
them in its justice and kindness, and to be
stow upon them the necessary authority t
re-organize In such way as will be accepts
BILE to their brethren. of the North, and a
will secure to them such basis of govern
ment as will protect them in their lives, Lii
critics, and fortunes. i,s