The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1867-02-13

THE WASHINGTON MIssIoN.-The gentle
men appointed by the Governor on the mis-
sion to Washington, have all returned home.
We are Glad to learn that all of them speak
hopefully of the aspect Of public affairs; at
least, that the situation is not so threatening
as it has been. and that there is some room
to hope that the conference of Southern men
recently at Washington, may result In an
early settlement of difficulties.
The intimations thrown out in the WASH
ington papers and by letter writers. that the
late conference of Southern Governors and
Others with members of Congress and 9th
ers, have evolved aplan of settlement, which
has received the sanction of leading Rcpub-
licans and Democrats, and understood to be
tavorably thought Of by the President and
portion of the Cabinet, we learn, may be re-
.garded as correct. In q few days, the plan
will doubtless he made public.
We believe that the anxiety of the people
of the South to put an end to the strife and
the turmoil, make them ready to yield to
any reasonable demand, and will lead them
to throw no impedinent in the way of an
honorable and reasonable adjustment Of the
difficulties between the North and South
We are ready to give our sanction and sup
pOlG w 0iidLsCi1ShG thoe hANS@S HiAoSS
conditions Sentinel.
The Sentinel appears at last to be more or
less subjugated. 1t thinks plan of settle
ment has at length been evolved" which
will suit the whole country. g In few days."
says that paper, the plan will doubtless be
made public" Soon after we had read the
above we took up the Ricmond Enquirer of
the 4th, and sav the plan. We give it as tol-
lows:
GA New PLAN OF ADJUsTMENT.-We
give below copy Of a plan of settlement, in
the shape Of amendments to the federal and
State Constitutions, which we understand is
proposed by certain gentlemen from the
South who have but recently visited Wash
ington. This scheme has been shown, we
hear, to various members of the Legislature
of Virginia, and the intention is to present
it to the Legislature of North Carolina for a
formal adoption The patrons of the meas
ure have indicated a solicitude to keep it
out of the newspapers and thus prevent, for
awhile, at least, any public discussion of its
merits We have received this document.
however, with full liberty of publication,
from one who himself received it in like
manner; and we do not feel justified in
Withholding it from our readers The peo-
pie of the South, at large, are proposed to
be affected by its provisions in their gravest
and most important interests; and it is their
clear and unquestionable right to be inform
ed of the nature and character of measures
devised by those who, whether with or with
out adequate authority, have undertaken the
office of pointing out a basis of settlement
Any attempt to veil such measures from the
public scrutiny until sufficient numbers of
persons in the Legislative bodies can be COM
mitted to secure their adoption, is alike op-
posed to the genius of our institutions, and
to the just rights of our people The follow
ing is the scheme:
PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE CoNsTTTU-
TIoN OF THE UITED STATES.
article 14.-Sectiop /. The Union under
the Constitution is, and shall be perpetual.
No State shall pass any law or ordinance to
secede or withdraw from the Union, and any
such law or ordinance shall be null and void.
Section 2. The public debt of the United
States, authorized by law, shall ever be held
sacred and inviolate But neither the Uni
ted States nor any State shall assume or pay
any debt or obligation incurred in aid of in
surrection or rebellion against the govern
ment or authority of the United States.
Section 8. All persons born or naturallzed
in the United States, and subject to the ju-
risdiction thereof, are citizens of the United
States and of the States in which they re-
side. No Srate Shall make or enforce any
law which shall abridge the privileges or i'm
munlties Of citizens of the United States;
nor shall any State deprive any person of
lie, liberty, or property, without due pro-
cess OF law, nor deny to any person within
Its jurisdiction the equal protection of the
laws.
Section 4. Representatives shall be appor-
toned amongthe several States according to
their respective numbers, counting the Whole
number of persons in each State excluding
Indians not taxed. But when anv State
shall, on account ofrace or color. or previous
condition of servitude, exclude from voting
at any election for the choice of electors for
President and Vice President of the United
States, representatives in Congress, members
of the Legislature or other officers elective
by the people, any of the male inhabitants
OF such State, being twenty-one years of age
and citizens of the United States, then the
entire class of persons so excluded from the
elective franchise, shall not be counted in the
basis OF representation. No State shall re-
quire as property qualification for voters
more than two hundred and fifty dollars
worth OF taxable property, nor as an educa-