The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1867-04-17
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REMARKS OF HON. Il. p, DICK.
Deligered in the Republican eonreats0a q
Raleiqh. March 2Sth. 1867.
OF GUrLFoRp COUNTY,

Z.
committee have Just reported a series OF resoiu-
lions embodying principles which Will test the
loyalty of the people of North-Carolina, anu
upon the success or failure OF tlls EXPERIMENT
will depend the future destiny o. the tstate.
plan for the reconstruction oil tue reoei elales
has just been devised by Congress, and we are
the pioneers at the South in carrying out It's I'M
portant measures Every thing is SO new, SO
strange, SO contrary to all the ideas ana expert
ences of the past, that am filled WITH ast9nisn-
ment at the rapid progress OF events; ana DOW.
with rcverential awe as | witness the march Oh
this grand, civil and political revolution as u
sweeps over the strong prejudices OF centuries.
The terrific storm of war has passed by, pul the
great political ocean has moi yet become cain1.-
It's waves still roll on with majestic ana reslstiess
power and in the wonderful changes when are
effected, can almost hear the divine mandate
uttered by the inspired Psalmist-" Be still ana
know that am God" We have no precedents
to direct us in this trying hour. Wemust not al
low pride Of consistency to fetter our actoh ior
no one can be consistent in the midst OF reVoiu-
tions. As well might we expect city 10 retain
its original proportions after it had been shaken
by violent e ,rthqualle. With firm, prudent
and wise craftsmanship we must meet Ihe great
issues of the crisis as they arise we can trust 10
the guidance of God, and yield ooedlence 10 law,
and then we can feel assured that We are in the
pathway of duty.
Mr.. President this movement will complete
the work of our political forefathers, and carry
out the great principle which they enumerated
"that all men are created free and equal When
they commenced the great work OF establishing
free institutions in America, they had many dif-
ficulties to contend with, and they were deeply
impressed with the responsibilities of the under
taking The solemn voice OF history taught
them that man was incapable OF self-goyernment,
but they disrcgarded this warning OF human ex-
perience. They felt that new era had dawned
upon the world; that new people had come
into existence; that this continent was new
arena for the development of human progress;
and that greater nation than ever before eNls-
ted was about to be born Their ardent and de-
voted patriotism gave them dauntless courage,
and almost inspired wisdom, and with unfalter-
ing trust they labored on until success crowned
their efforts. They passed triumphantly through
the ordeal of revolutionary conflict, through the
threatened anarchy that followed, and al last es-
tablished the Union of the States, which for
eighty years furnished the most brilliant epoch in
the history OF man. ..
In the year 1860, the splendid career of our
nations greatness and glory was for time ares
ted by the madness and WickednesS OF rebellion
against that government which our fathers form
ed, and which had so long insured us prosperity
and happiness will not dwell upon the dark
scenes of ratrcidal strife for they are still fresh
in our memories. Three hundred battle-tields
drank the hearts blood of our bravest and best
Our homes which were once filled with domestic
contentment and peace, and where so often the
voices of Thanksgiving and joy we're heard, have
become the abodes of poverty and SORROW
This bloodiest picture in the book of time has
been yelled, the terrible conflict is ended, the
cause of the Union and human freedom has tri-
umphed, and we are again under the old flag of
the ''Stars and Stripes" and can look with hope
and confidence to the future.
Mr.. President, we have met here to-day to assist
in the reconstruction of those free institutions
which the rebellion has overthrown The corner
cto Of tbn ad;finn il IInion I ihprty and
Equality" We pour not upon it the emblems of
the mystic builders, but we will consecrate it
with our hearts best affections, and feel conf
dent that against this foundation the storms and
floods of secession and rebellion will never pre-
vail. We are not invested with any power OF
fixed and definite action, but still we can do much
good by directing Alright public feeling and opin-
ion. We can by our conduct show that we have
completely given up the spirit Of rebellion that
We cheerfully submit TO the issues decided in the
tribunal of arms We can manifest a heartfelt
loyalty for tire government, a sincere desire for
the restoration OF kind and fraternal relations
between all the citizens of our country; and we
can make an honest effort TO heal up divisions
and disscnsions home. If we succeed in these
thirgs we will do much towards restoration of
the Union Politicians may have their favorite
Schemes to accomplish, and for that reason may
throw many obstacles in the way of reunion,
but believe if we faithfully do our duty the peo-
pie of the North will meet us with noble and
generous magnanimity. | formed my belief in
this respect upon the experiences of the past
When the Confederate forces surrendered to the
superior power of the federal armies, there was i
great reaction in public sentiment at the North.
The bitter luminosity which long years of bloody
strife had engendcred was rapidly giving way to
returning feelings of brotherhood, and there was
a strong manifestation OF sympathy for the poy-
erty, Indebtedness and desoatiop of tie South.
If the magnanlmous policy of the President had
been promptly and cordially accepted and carried
out III good faith, itwould have been sustained by
public opinion. 1t was accepted in name, but
rejected in spirit, and it has proved failure. As
soon rs the fear OF punishment was removed by
all almost universal amnesty, malcontents be.
gan their walls for the dear dead Confederacy
and at its funeral pyre they kidled afresh the fires
of sectional hatred. As soon as the right OF suf
frage was restored, the old Confederate leaders
became exceedingly popular, and they were hail
ed as glorious chieitains worthy OF heroic immor
tally. The surest passport to official position
was prominence in the rebellion, and hostility to
the government was digniied with the honora
bic name of fidelity TO tie State. Unionisin was
regarded as SYNONYM for pusillanmity and
meanness, and even the faint of it seemed to pro-
duce social and political leprosy. Northern men
who had come into our midst with intelligence
energy and capital to assist in building up the
fallen fortunes of the country, were treated with
GOODNESS and sometimes with contempt and
every where they felt the influence of social os
the peculiar defenders of Southern rights, and
the opponents of Southern sentiment, were con
.tantly teeming with the btteres diatribes agains
the representatives of the people of the Iowa
States. The whole language of ridicule and in
vective was exhausted against the yankees and
yankee sympathiZers. Such influences as these
stirred up and increased the fires of sectional ha
tired, and the fierce and demoniac spirit of re
bellion was too often exhibited by the pistol sho
OF the assassin, the torch of the incendiary, and
l. g
of disoyalty could not escape the eyes of the
northern people, and corresponding feelings O
bitterness were aroused airesh. They felt thai
generosity and magnanimity were not the infu
ences by which the South could be controlled
and that the safety of the government required
the sfernest means of policy, and we at the Soutf
should fully realize the fact that we are conquer
ed, and it is presumption in us to dictate terms
to the conquerors. a spirit of cheerful acQues
cence to terms proposed, and quiet submission
and obedience to law, is the surest way for rebels
TO win the favor of the government, which they
guarantees for the security of the government
have been demanded. These guarantees hav,
heretofore been Indignantly rejected, and if thi.
strange and suicidal course of conduct is persis
ted in, the sternest requirements of indemnit,
for past injuries will inevitably follow. l am per
fectly astounded at the madness and folly which
seems to urge SO many of the Southern peopl,
on to utter ruin. The recent elections at the
North have shown that the people are terribly il
earnest. They demand, and lis their patriotic
duty to demand, that the spirit of rebellion shall
be given up completely and forever. We cal
never be admitted into the Union until we by GU
conduct manifest heartfelt loyalty for the gen
eral government. Events have shown that tht
North can live and prosper without union and pc
'litical fellowship with us, but the South without
the Union is like limb torn from the body-i
has not the needful currents of life, but mus
waste away and die.
The old Confederate leaders have now become
very Jealous advocates for :" the Constitution az
it is, and the Union as it was" Upon this sub
ject they certainly cannot claim the virtue of con