Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1867-08-16
The Duty of the People.
J. M. ASHLEY.

The Duty of the People.
We trust that our people are satisfied
that it is their duty to register their names
as voters. We have attempted very often
in these columns to urge upon them the
importance and necessity of this course !
The question which was of the future is
now to be decided. Registration actually
begins to-day, and the Conservative whites
who are not disfranchised have great re-
sponsibility resting upon them.
Under the Instructions issued by General
S1ck1Es little OF nothing is left to doubt, !
and none who are entitled to register should
fail to do so, either from vague fear that
some covert danger is imminent, or that In
thus complying with the terms OF recon
struction they thereby endorse them we
publish few plain, and we believe correct,
rules AS to who can and who cannot regis
ter. They are in accordance with the acts
of Congress and the orders of Gen. STCEzLEs,
and we think will commend themselves to
the impartial Judgment of honest Regis
trars.
The fate of North Carolina is to be de-
cided by this registration, for the registra-
ton decides the approaching elections.
The old State is either to be under the
control of those of her citizens who have
not been placed under the bans Of the law,
or to pass under the sway OF the ignorant
masses of enfranchised blacks, and such
whites who hope to ride into power by
their suppoTt-men, for the most part. who
have been thrown upon the surface by the
storm, and who have merged from their
former oblivion by means OF the chaotic
land demoralized condition of the country.
The question at issue is between lntelll-
gence and Ignorance, property and poverty,
forethought and improvidence whether
former slaves are to govern their old mas
ters, and the laws of nature to be reversed
in having a superior race governed by an
inferior; whether we are to have taxes levied
by one class and paid by another. AS I'M
palitable as is our present military govern
ment, as humiliating as may be the efforts
to better our condition, there are depths
which can and must be avoided which are
infinitely worse. The white people Of the
State have it in their power to avert the
, threatening dangers, but if they delay ac-
ton now, regrets in the future will come
| too late Let every one consider the I'M
S portance of his individual action and
u the weight of his example. Disregard 10
cal minorities, for any attempt to fasten 6
= discriminating Constitution upon North
e Carolina and thereby secure class leglsla
0 ton. must come before the registered vo
+ ters of the whole State, and receive a ma
l jority of them. In the Middle and Yves
tern portions of the State the whites are
u very largely in the majority, and will sWal
: low up any local ajorities the blacks anc
d their white allies may have in the East
y And, besides, many Of the more intelllgen
C ard considerate blacks will vote with those
l. among whom they have been raised anc
:. whose honesty and Judgment have beer
Il tested 10y years Of association.
/ Let our people, therefore, address them
selves to the work of registration. If Nortl
g Carolina is permitted to pass into thu
IS hands of those who now aspire to govern
J. her, the folly of present Indifference will
y find response in future suffering and ruin
t, BY prompt and united action now, no mari
L of the wicked legislation Of the present vii
IS leave it's blackened trace upon the laws
and Constitution of orr State.