The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1867-09-04

For the Standard.
Z To the Cslsred People u Nsrth-CarolIna.
FRIENDS AND FELLOW CouNTn7afEN -
trust you will pardon me for saying q few
words to you on subject Of great import
ance to us all. 49,
i Various reports prevail as to my opinions
in regard to a Convention. and have been
written to by SO many of you on the subject
that cannot answer you by letter, and |
therefore adopt this mode of giving my
| opinions. flf 8
am fixed and earnest in the opinion that
we ought to vote as one man for Conven-
ton. Our best friend is the Congress of the
United States. That body gave US our free
dom, and it has passed laws to secure that
freedom to us so that it cannot be taken away.
These laws provide, first, that all Of us
should register our names SO as to make our
selves voters. This must be attended to
first. If you neglect this you will not be
allowed to vote. Secondly, be sure to vote
for Convention. This lisa part of the plan
which Congress has provided for making
your freedom sure. Your right to vote
hangs on this law Of Congress providing for
Convention. Congress says, "here is the
right offered to you. We want to see if Won
can govern yourselves You must take care
of this right to vote. You can do this onzv
through a CoaUention. If you fail to call
Convention this law, which secures your
rights, will fall to the ground as of none eff.
feet; and who can tell when or how this
right will be offered to you again It is not
your State that offers you this right but it
comes from us, the Congress-
Let no one vote against Convention with
the hope that confscation will come. if a
Convention is not called. Practical selfgoy-
eminent by our race will be put of, if a
Convention is defeated, and even our liberties
may be placed in peril; but confscation will
surely not result from our voting down plan
for our good and the good of the country.
which has been offered to us by that same
friendly body from which some of YOU ex-
pect confiscation. If confscation should
take place, it will proceed from Congress-
Is it reasonable to suppose that that body
Will listen to you, and do for you what some
Of you think good thing, after you have
shown your contempt for it by voting down
Convention, which is an important part of
is plan to secure your rights and restore the
Union 2 think not.
Let me, therefore, earnestly urge you,
irst, to register your names; secondly,
o vote for Convention and for avowed
md tried Republicans to represent you
q the Convention; and thirdly, to vote
or the Constitution which will be formed
y the Convention. Let me beg you to keep
tese things in mind, and do them. If know
~ heart l am deeply attached to my race.
have thought much of these questions, and
would not deceive you. My earnest wish
that all our people of both races should
We together in peace and harmony; and
nat we should avail ourselves of the recon-
'ruction laws of Congress to restore the
tate to the Union. et 4di
Remember, my friends, let us first register
If names. Then let us vote for Conven-
on. And then, to finish the good work, let
prepare to vote for the new Constitution,
I'd for good and sound Republicans to rep
sent US in Congress and to fill our State
ices. Very Respectfully,
JAMES Fl. HARRIS.
Raleigh, Aug. 30, 1867.