The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1867-02-28

tical question and desire practical answer
If this were the beginning of a controversy
it might be we'll to veto by way Of taking az
appeal from Congress to the People, Bu
the appeal has been taken; it was fairly
boldly made by the President year ago
and the verdict is overwhelmingly against
him. 1t cannot lie mistaken, nor argued
down. The people have decided that the
terms of Reconstruction shall be settled by
their representatives in Congress. If it was
right to make the appeal, how can it be
wrong to abide the decision2
The XLth Congress is already chosen-in
so far, at least, that its political character is
fully decided. 1t is notorious that the next
Congress will be quite as Radical as that
which closes with this week Evidently
nothing is to be gained for 1.-THE South by
delay.
Look, now, at the fifth and sixth sections
of the bill, and note that they recognize and
legalize the existing State Governments at
the South-rccognize them, indeed, rs pro
visioual only" but who ever contended that
they were morea We claim that this
act legaizcs all that has been or may be
| done by those governments, except that
which Congress may expressly override. Is
this nothing?
As tor the residue of these sections. it is
its character-that is, it authorizes "the
South to reconstruct hersefin certain way,
but commands nothing, compels nothing
If " the South" does not choose to accept the
proffercd conditions. she declines them and
remains as she is. Why deny her chance
to say whether she will or will not be so re-
constructed
The exclusions and acknowledgements
stipulated are, in the nature of things. tenn
porary. They are sure to lie RENTED when
ever we shall have fully returned to order
and peace. And YOU cannot destroy the
natural weight and influence Of able and wise
men by prescribing that they shall neither
vote nor hold office. Youare quite likely to
increase them. \ law prescribing that an
ounce shall outweigh pound would not
avail.
Profoundly believing that the Presidents
approval of this bill would be 4 great step
toward the restoration of our country to
harmony and true peace we cannot quite
foreeo the hope that he will sign 1t. And VIC
will thank any one who has his car to remind
him Of this ancclote:
When Nj. Douglas had canvaSscQ Illinois
against Lincoln in 1853, and won his rc-clcc-
ton as L. S. Senator, he came on to Wash
ington. and, like n good Democrat. called on
the head of his party. President Buchanan.
After mutual greetings had passed. the Presi-
dent Was first to breach the all-ahsorhing
topic: Mr. Douglas, what can we DO with
this distracting kansas-Lecompton CUES
tom" Why, Mr.. President" responded
the Little Giant. | can imagine that zee should
have some trouble with that matter up at the
Capitol; but don't see how ger should have
any. For the Constitution says. Congress
shall make all nec,lful regulations respecting
the Territories; hut it says nothing about
the President. making any,
Surely. when the people have decided q
matter ON appeal, and have affirmed the iudg-
ment Of Congress- the President NAV Justly
feel discharged from further responsibility"
And the New York Times, which has here
tofore given good advice to the South on
this subject, has the following significant
article. 1t would be we'll If the leaders of
The rebellion would weigh we'll what the
Times says. These leaders have had ample
-oom and verge to settle this matter long ago,
out instead of coming forward III good faith
% dose, they have uniformly thrown obstruc-
ions in the way. They refused to carry ont
he Presidents plan. They rejected with
the Howard amendment, under
which, if they had accepted it, they might
nave escaped negro suffrage. They haYet thus
orocoked the Congress 10 its recent action;
md we tell them now, in the most emphatic
erms, that if they do not submit promptly
md Internationally to this action, or stand
side and permit the loyal men of the State
'eaceably and quietly to adopt the steps ne
.cssary to restore the State to the Union, all
hat the Times has foreslladowed, and more
will orertake them. If the act referred to
hould become law, it will be executed to
he letter. Those who may stand in the way
will suffer. The loyal people who may take
ction under the act Will be protected by the
congress with the whole power of the gov
if necessary. If any among us feel
hat they are degraded by the terms which
congress ha. imposed, and if such persons
re still rebellious in heart, let them be warn
d that their proper course is that of submits
ion and silence. Their factious rebellious
onduct has been tolerated to the last mo-
nent That last moment will have been
cached when the bill referred to becomes q
aw and no matter what their peculiar views
nay be, or how much soever they may detest
he government which has laid down these
erms, it will not be prudent or safe for them
o attempt, in any way, to obstruct the work
# restoration.
We give the article from the Times as fol-
ows:
"BLAcK CLOUDS IN TIE SOUTHERN SKY.
)ne reason which led many persons to toll
rate the passage of the Reconstructin Bill,
Who disapprove wholly of its principles, was
he apprehension that the longer the subject
5 left open the more severe and intolerant
will be the terms imposed upon the South
This was urged last year as a reason why the
south should accept the Constitutional
amendment, but it was secuted by the South
I'm States, under the advice of their prcten-
led political friends at the North They
we're advised by the World and other Demo-
ratio journals not to accept the Amendment,
md were assured that neither negro suffrage
Tor any other terms severer than the Consti-
utional Amendment could or would be pro-
posed.
We have seen the result of that experiment.
The Southern States, with very great unani-
nifty, rejected the Amendment, and now they
lave got that, with universal negro suffrage
md partial white disfranchisement, and mil
tary government to back them up, as a sub
titute for it. And Reverdy johnson, a
,taunph DpmDcrat oD6 q South.rp mo,