The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1867-03-23
Iron New York Evening Post.]
Reconstruction in North-Car0Iina.
LETTER FROM A. NoRrn-clROLISTAN.
WHAT IS DONE. AND INTENDED.

WHAT rs DONE AND INTENDED.
The following letter, from a prominent
Republican of North Carolina, gives very
interesting AMI detailed account of the move
ment for reconstruction which has been be-
gun in that State; and tells not only what
has been done, but what is intended in the
immediate future.
RALEIGH, N. c., March Is, 1857
A call has been issued by the uncondlt1on-
al Union members of the legislature OF North
Carolina, which adjourned on the 4th inst,
for the assembling at the City of Raleigh, on
the 9th inst, of preliminary council OF re-
construction. to be composed of loyal del
cgates fresh from the people without regard
to race or color, to take into consideration
the act passed by the Thirty ninth Congress
" for the more efficient government .of the
rebel States" and to mature some practical
plan of operations whereby all its contem-
plated benefits may be best secured to them
selves and their postcrity.
THE PRELIMINARY ORGANIZATION.
A meeting of the Union members of the
legislature was held previous to its adjourn
ment, Mr.. G. L. Harris, Senator from Rnth-
erford, being in the chair The following is
report of its proceedings:
cit was unanimously recommended that
the people of the State promptly accept the
act of the Congress of the United States, en-
titled An act to provide for the more eff
Gent government of the rebel States
cit was unanimously resolved that the
chairman of the meeting designate not less
than one hundred citizens OF the State and
that the citizens thus named be respectfully
and earnestly requested to assemble In the
ID o;.l, OStb
,lay of March, 1867, to consult together and
mature plan to call a Convention of the
people of Nurth-Carolina, to frame Consti-
tuition preparatory to the admission of the
State to representation in Congress in accor
dance with the terms prescribed III said act
of Congress.
at was also unanimously resolved that
the chairman of the meeting confer with
the colored people of the State, and ascer-
tain their views and wishes, with view to
q prompt and harmonious cooperation OF
ali the loyal people of the State IN the work
of reconstruction"
OF one hundred and seventy members of
the Legislature only thirty, or thereabouts,
were and are Union men. The remainder
are violent rebels. But will speak further
of that hereafter.
In pursuance of the foregoing resolutions
one hundred and forty white delegates have
been notified to attend at Raleigh on the
the 9th, and Mr. G. L. Harris has consulted
III public meeting with the colored people OF
this City, who have given their hearty as
sent to the movement, and have nominated
and notified their delegates to the number
of one hundred and fifty. So that on the
day appointed we expect a large and intelli-
gent representation of both races OF loyallsts
among us to meet in the Commons Hall i'll
our Capitol building, and consult together on
public affairs on footing of perfect equal
ity. For the first time i'll the history of our
State the colored man will then and there
be admitted to seat in our political con-
yentions or councils, side by side with the
white, man as his equal at the ballot-hoX,
under the Contribution and before the law.
L hoo not been three years since our statute
BOOKS read that no negro or person Of color
s So ENTER the S pfstdha5 wnatso
ever! Now they may come in as the peers
Of the proudest
MEETING OF coLoRED CITIZENS.
In order to hear what Mr. c. L. Harris
had to say to them in behalf of the Union
members of the General Assembly, the color
ed people of Raleigh called meeting on the
night of the Sth inst, which was largely at
tended. COL Harris said he was appointed
by the members of the Legislature to consult
with the colored people of the State, and to
request their cooperation in the work of re-
construction under the late act of Congress
The whites had called preliminary coun-
Gil of reconstruction to meet in Raleigh on
the 9th inst. and they desired that the col
ored people should clio the same thing, in or
der that their delegates migt! meet ours
here, and all the loyal men of The State be
thus enabled to cooperate in recognizing
the present State government.
Other addresses were delivered by both
white and black gentlemen present, when
the committee, through the chairman, S.
Ellison, presented the following resolutions
Resoloed, LIST. We rejoice that the Thir-
ty-ninth Congress has passed law remov-
ing former distinctions ofrace and color; we
rejoice in the day that gave us liberty, and
we will ever cherish andsupport the cause of
the Union.
ResOlred, I'd. We will stand by the loyal
whites of the state of North Carolina, and
heartily accept their offer of operation
ReSoLced 3d. We call upon the coored
people of the state to form themselves into
leagues, and organize for the work before
them.
The resolutions were unanimously adopt
ed.
A committee of five was then appointed
to wait on Colonel Harris, and confer with
him on his return to Raleigh, consisting of
Messrs Friday Jones, w. H. Matthes, A
B. Williams, w. II. Durham, Handy Lock-
EFT.
REASONS FOR THE MOVEMENT
p You have here the method of reconstruc-
ton adopted by the loyal people of North
Carolina, without a dissenting voice thus
far, and the greater part of the State has al
ready been heard from by letter and word
ofmouth. There must be powerful reasons
to account for this harmony in the ranks of
our neD party-a party brought suddenly
into being by an act of Congress, admitting
some sixty-thousand persons to the right of |
suffrage and upsetting the governments that !
be. Should we not rather have reasonably |
expected confusion and turmoil for time
at least ? But all have stepped off like veter-
ans to the music of the Union. May the |
march, so happily begun, continue forever
onwardl
OF the reasons which have promoted this |
harmony it is my purpose now to speak |
Let me state them briefly:
. First-The overpowering necessity of ir-
mediately organizing Union party, with
out regard to race or color, founded on prin-
ciple.
Second-A thorough and universal distrust |
among loyalists, white and black, of the |
present illegal and rebel state government |
and we'll understood determination on their
part to submit to its domination no LONGER