The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1867-03-21
Our neighhor of the Progress says:

"a prominent MEMBER Oh Iue TcPuoiiSt'u P@,tJ3
who has undoubted influence with Congress, ana
is in nosition TO know the sentiments and feelings
of that organization, writes us from w toh
that the Progress is correct i'll assuming InaI Oo
gress does not endorse Unionlsts VINO are Gu
dcayoring to tomcnt partizan strne III Tue oou.n,
instead of stimulating unity OF action IN accepting
the alan of reconstruction proposed III the oheI-
man bill. In fact the distinguished northernerI
to whom we REFER and with whom we cooperaeeu
in many political campaigns before t1e war
boldly asserts that the republicans, In ana OUT Oh
the national legislature, do not propose 10 Gu
dorse orsupport any body of men who, constltut-
ing hopeless minority in all Southern com,
munities, adopt such course as is detrimental
to the composure of the country"
The drift of the above is apparent. 1t Is
aimed at those Unionists or Republicans in
this State. who, when it was believed no
supplemental act would be passed, determin-
ed to act under the Sherman act outside the
existing rebel organizations. In this deter
mination they were sustained by such Re-
publicans as Wade, Sherman, Boutwell,,
Shellabarger, and Others.
We know of no Unionists in this State
who are endeavoring to foment partizan
strife" On the contrary, the Unionlsts OF
the State who will assemble here on We'd
nesday next, are animated only by a wish to
allay partizan feeling and to benefit the
whole people, by restoring the State to the
Union at the earliest day practicable.
We do not, of course, know what "prom-
inent member of the Republican party our
neighbor refers to, but we consider it strange
that any Republican should allow his name
to be used to reflect on the faithful Unionists
with other Republicans, to confine the ma
chinery of organization to such Unionists
only as can take the " iron-clad" test-oath.--
Unionists who can not take that oath have not
complained of this, but on the contrary they
generally approve it, as step indispensable
to secure, beyond peradventure, a thoroughly
loyal reorganization of the State. But, &C
cording to our neighbor of the Progress,
these "iron-clad" men, who " constitute
hopeless minority i'll all Southern communi-
ties" ought to be very quiet. We differ
with our neighbor. These men, of all 9TH
ers, have right to be heard in this crisis,
and if the people are wise they will do as
these men tell them to do.
The Progress also warns the Unionists that
1.-the secession element will Salways exert
controlling influence here, socially, political
ly, morally and financially" If this should
he so, it will be because the State will re-
main in rebel hands. If the "secession ele-
ment" is to control here, or to be respected,
it will be owing to the unsubdued treason of
a majority of the people. But this can not
he. The State will be re-organized on ba-
sis that will crush treason. and render the
" secession element" forever powerless.-
HConscious traitors will sink from view, and
will have, as they deserve to have, no consid-
Grafton socially, politically, morally or
financially" Many of these traitors have
had consideration heretofore solely on &C
count of their lands and negroes, and they
had this consideration over the heads of
thousands of their superiors, the honest and
intelligent mechanics and working-men of
the country. But the day of all such is over.
They may continue to assume airs, but they
will rapidly and surely find their true level
when brought into contrast and competition
wi tn enterprise, intelligence and merit.