The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1867-08-24

these men to be candidates for Office. On
great element of their strength is thus de
stroyed; and the people, left to choose 9th
or leaders and vote for other candidates
have really freedom which they neve
had before, and find themselves under ne
cessity for thinking which they have MOI
heretofore felt. Congress has given then
this privilege, and imposed upon them this
salutary necessity. 1t remains to be seer
how they will use them. If they can win
the battle against their former leaders, after
an open fight, all may be well in the future
If not, then not.
do not at all agree in the opinion that
there are not enough competent men In this
district to hold the civil offices who are not
disfranchised. l have, 1 think, reason to
know otherwise. But even admitting, that
it is so, it is better to have an incompetent
but loyal man in office than to have Rebel
of whatever ability: in fact, the greater the
ability the greater the danger OF mal-admln-
istration. The questions at issue under
these acts of Congress are the most moment
Gus ever presented to a people. The result
for good or evil will affect all parts of the
country with more or less force, and will
leave an impress upon our institutions which
will long remain. 1t is easy under existing
circumstances to win the first victory and
reconstruct these States under the acts OF
Congress. But this victory is only the be-
ginning of the contest. and unless it be a
victory, openly and fairly won and very de-
cisive in its results, it may prove not only
fruitless, but absolutely destructive. The
problem is to perpetuate reconstruction in
the spirit and on the principles which can
alone secure free Government. Should we
effect reconstruction even after silencing the
open opposition of the old political leaders,
we stand committed to admit the reconstruct
ed States into the Union. Once admitted
into the Union, the power of Congress over
them is reduced practically to the general
power which that body has over all States
in the Union. BY admitting these Southern
States after slencing the old political lead
ers and neutralizing for the moment old po-
litical influences, Congress and the people
disarm themselves The moment admission
into the Union is accomplished the military
power is suspended, and when all restric-
tions arc removed at once, these old political
leaders and the old political and personal in
f1uences will resume their activity, and we
may find too late that such reconstruction as
we have made is not only not what is needed
and expected, but what will simply result in u
of the same condition of af-
fairs which made reconstruction measures
necessary at all. Freedom of speech and of
the press, education. equality before the law
and in political rights and privileges are the
essentials of any satisfactory reconstruction
in the South. Without securing these we
have secured nothing. How can we know
that reconstruction will accomplish these re-
suits unless we know in advance the strength
and the power of those who oppose it q
-, +lo
party can win the battle by decisive MAORI
ties over all the elements which oppose it,
left to develope themselves and apply their
full force to the contest. If the reactionists
thus left free can defeat such reconstruction
as this, we then know what to do-what, in
fact, we must do, if we desire to perpetuate
free institutions. 1t is best to know all these
things before readmissiOn into the Union is
granted. 1t will be too late to learn them
aiterward. Now is the time and this is the
to complete this work so that it
will stand. Every dictate of wisdom and
patriotism demands this work at our hands.
If hastily or partially done, reconstruction
will drag with it a train of evils to this coun-
trv which can never be rcmedied. 1t is not
necessary to say that however we restrain
the opposition party now, the moment recon
struction is accomplished this party will re-
gain its activity, and we ought to know in
advance whether it possesses the power to
undo what we thought we had done. I do
not mean to intimate that it would be posi-
BILE to reestablish Slavery perhaps it would
not even be practible to take from the freed
men the right of suffrage, though this latter
IS doubtful. These politici. is are willy and
'agacious. They will make no laws which
ire not equal on their face to all men, 1t is
n the execution of these laws, which seem
o bear equality on all, that wrong will be
lone, and condition of things produced
which bears no resemblance to free govern
nent except in name. Social exclusion,
withdrawal of business relations, open ex-
libitions of hostility-if not, indeed, actual
hostile acts interruption of or interference
With the freedmen's and other schools MAIN
aimed by charitable Contributions from the
North-these will be the weapons used |
gaiLst Union men and the colorcd race
Acts OF wrong and violence will meet no
efficient redress-it, indeed, any redress at
lll-in the courts. These are acts which
,annot be reached by the General Govern
nent, and yet which quietly and silently
ender justice impossible, and establish dis
against classes of color, odious
nd unbearable. say then, again, that un-
ess reconstruction is accomplished, after the |
ullest development of all the influences
gainst it, by decisive majorities, we will
imply have reproduced and perpetuated in
ne South what we sought to DESTROY. We
ught to know in advance, if possible,
whether the presence of the leaders of
hese lncurable reactionists, and their active
influence in this country, are compatible
11th the peace OF the country and the secu-
ity of our institutions.
Another question ought to be and proba-
ly will be decided in the course of the
oming canvass for and against convention.
hat question is this: have the sluggishness
f mind and body and the tendency to as
all by violence the right of opinion and dis
ussion, engendered by habits acquired dur
ng the existence of Slavery and the system
politics in the South, untitled the people
Or such selt-government as is implied by
rec speech, free press, and the fullest peace
BILE discussion of all past questions This
J most Important question, and one which,
answered in the light of existing facts,
lust be answered unfavorably. Not only
o the reactionary anti -reconstructionists use
IL the instrumentalities I have named, ex-
ept such as they are restrained from using
y the military authorities, but there's little
oubt that they would resort at once to the
Intimidation and violence which long prac-
ce has made habit, if they dared to do
} in the presence of the military forces of
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