The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1867-03-23

to devise a plan whereby convention might
be called in accordance W. tn the act OF Con-
gross, and through its instrumentallty the
last vestige of slavery and treason forever
effaced from our law-books and the minds of
urpeople.. -
POLITICAL CONSIDERATIONS.
t. The palpable deadlock existing between
the suffrage provisions of the Congressional
act and the present State Constitution, which
the members of the Legislature are sworn to
support has been referred to above, and ought
perhaps, to be explained more fully. The
present Constitution provides that all free
men. resident twelve months, who have paid
taxes, may vote, except free negroes. free mu-
lattoes or free persons OF mixed blood. de-
scended from negro ancestors, to the fourth
generation, inclusive. The act of Congress
disfranchises certain persons permitted to
vote under the above provision of the social
ed State constitution, while it enfransllise
others not permitted to vote. By what no.
cus-pocus can the legislature of this state.
therefore, elected upon white basis, and
one disloyal, too, ut that, call . convention
upon q black and white or mixed basis,
without violating their oaths to support said
constitution, and also their favorite theory
of state rights Besides, there are disquallfi-
cations of certain classes from voting and
holding office under the Congressional act,
not recognised in the fundamental law of
this state How about that9 Should leg
isIator-and there are many in the present
body disqualified under the said act-bc al
lowed to vote tor the call of a convention
when he is not entitled to go to the ballot
box and vote for delegates, or hold seat in
the honorable body ifelected therefor Is not
this deadlock palpable to every one?
r -, u ,Irrhf
obyiate these difficulties; old members of
the Legislature would resign or be forced out
by their own partisans; amendments to the
Constitution rushed through, and in the
course of twelve months the rebels, by steady
working, if let alone, could thus replace
themselves in commanding position, call
convention, and teaze Congress for admission
Plainly it was not our duty to let them alone,
but to go to work at once, and call a conven-
ton of the people by the people, as contem-
plated in the act itself
WHAT THE NORTn-CARoLINA REPUBLICANS
INTEND
Since these conclusions were arrived at the
Fortieth Congress has evinced willingness
to pass a supplemental act, providing the
machinery of reconstruction or reorganiza-
ton. Our purpose, however, in calling
preliminary council in this State was two
fold.
1st To organize Union party, without
regard to race or color, founded on princi-
pie; and,
Cd. To devise the machinery of recon-
struction or reorganization.
If the supplemental act be passed, it will
relieve us of the latter weight, and leave us
tree to do many things towards perfecting
our first object, which might otherwise have
been neglected or overlooked.
The only danger which threatens US from
this supplemental act, is the provision allow
ing the commanding general to delegate the
powers ard duty of reconstruction to the
present Governors Of the rebel States. 1t is
a serious danger. Every rebel in the South
ern States will manage to crawl through ..
smaller loophole than that, If Congress hop
pens to leave one. I cannot believe, how
ever that it Will be so blinded and hood
winked as not to see the inevitable tendency
of such a useless provision towards restoring
to power set of men which it has lust
knocked off their legs as unworthy of con-
fdence.
Regrets have already been expressed
among leading secessionists that they have
not paid more attention to the federal COM
manders In the Southern States. Should the
least discretion be allowed the general to
delegate his powers, he will be overwhelmed
with attentions and iattery, until he yields,
and then---weil, then down goes the Con-
gresslonal polcy into the same pit into
which Andrew Johnson's SO suddenly disap-
peared
The first election which will be held in
this State under the Congressional policy
shortly occurs in Newbern for municipal of
ticarS I asSurn6 tboh act
that active measures are being taken to poll
the entire colored vote, which, together with
the white northerners, now citizens, will be
sufficient to rout the cohorts of secesson.-
Ii our friends are successful it will send a
thrill of joy throughout the State They can
scarcely fail, and in that belief we are already
rejoicing.
POLITICAL. LEAGUES
The Union party of this State among the
blacks is being more closely compacted by
means OF leagues. The loyal whites have
two secret organizations at work, both DOW
erful and daily increasing. One of them is
native to the soil, yclept in terms of derision,
by its opponents, red strings" It was in
vogue during the rebellion, and did much
good in conveying loyalists safely through
the lines, protecting deserters from the rebel
armies and escaped federal prisoners, and in
conveying important information
The Knights of the Golden Circle, organ
lied among the secessionists North and South
before the war, is still in existence, but un-
der an assumed name. The other organiza-
ton, known as Regulators" extending
throughout the Southern States, is composed
of the ri1i-raf of the white population. un-
der the management of rebel leaders, who
engineer it for the purpose of expressing the
negroes and plundcring them This is an
organization that should be looked into
It has managed to commit every species of
crime in Eastern Carolina for year past.
and continually, too, without molestation,
detection, or punishment.
Under the Congressional law of recon-
struction from henceforth no person disqual-
flied from holding office by the constitution
al amendment can vote at any election. Are
such persons who are now IN State offices |
over us-and they are largely in the MAORI
ty-to be retained in authority until their |
regular terms expire, or are they cast out of |
Office already de j,re ipso? These are prac- |
teal questions We hold that not being
citizens of the United States. and being de. |
barred of the right of suffrage, they cease to
be officeholders, and that no citizen of the
United States who is a voter is bound to re-
spect their authority or obey their commands. |
To this class belong our Governor, so-called. |
many of our legislators, sherifs, justices of
the peace, &C., sc. Are we to pay taxes to
support them in Office for nearly two wears
longer, perhapsa The loyal people rise up
as one man, and say mol