The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1867-04-09

resistance effective at the earliest possible
time, is too nearly allied to actual treason 10
escape the attention of those who nave %, Deen
rendered vigiant by recent dangers. I'D.
they should consider those citizens, wlthoul
distinction of race or color, who nave :, mani
tested LOYALTY in the past, and cheerfully CO.
onerote in measures at present deemed ne
cessary for the national safety, as entltied 10
esnecial confidence and consideration. is rea-
sonabIe and natural But there Is just APP
probation of the position OF those VINO were
really deceived into Il participation IN tiie
rebellion, and il disposition to discriminate
properly between them and the conscious
and persistent leaders who deceived them
In shaping our conduct. We must not DC uh-
mindful of this evident public feellng among
the Northern people. 1t is unfortunate tilas
it has not been more generally understood
and acted upon for the last eighteen months.
Now. that time has exposed the decep-
ton recklessness and folly of the instigators
and leaders Of the rebellion, those brave
soldiers who were deceived and forced into
their army. and made to undergo so many
hardshins in vain, should Indignantly re-
buke the present efforts of those leaders to
nrolono the troubles of the country. That
so many brave men were sacrhced IN war
so useless, and that The sacrifice was contln-
ued beyond all humane and reasonahle
bounds is crushing crime and burning
shame. from which the perpetrators cannot
escape before the tribunal of posterlty, how
ever cxultant they may now be over the mer-
ciful forbearance of the present, and callous
to the compunction of conscious guilt.
NV views of the duty of the people OF
North Carolina are too plainly indicated in
what has already been said to require more
explicit statement in detail. BY tine recent
act of Congress, the State is remanded to q
military government, and many of the condl-
lions imposed as preliminary to the estab-
lishment of civil organization must be ex-
ceedingly distasteful. We night have orga-
nized loyal government in this State under
less stringent provisions than may be re-
CURED in other sections. The effort to sep
arate North Carolina from the other insur-
gent States and to restore it to the Union |
on milder terms. made by the bill intro |
duced by Mr.. Stevens on the 18th of Decem-
Der, has already been referred to. That effort !
was not only discouraged by the insursent |
leaders, but assaulted by them in such Il vio-
lent and abusive manner that it was dropp-
ed as unsatisfactory and too lenient Had
it been properly received and sustained, we
might have avoided the more harsh features
of the present law, so far rs our State is con-
cerned. The necessity for the military fca-
ture of the present law is to be regretted
and the DISTINGUISHING and disqualifying
clauses are such as it was desirable to have
avoided. But we may confidently trust that
Congress, hy future legislation, will make
such further provision as magnanimty de-
mands. in behalf of those who may show by
theirconduct that they are true to the Union,
and earnestly DESTROYS to perpetuate the
peace and prosperity of the country.
Our DcODle should not heSitato IN acoent |
the act as 1t Is, and tC proceed under it
promptly and IN good faith. Let any cleo
lions that may take place be conducted or
derby and without any local disturbances -
The Peace men and Conservatives" of
19G4-G5, should again unite in this final eff
tort to rescue the State from the destructive
influence Of those whose past counselS and
conduct were fraught with so much evil
We must not suffer their baleful touch to
blight again the prospects of relief which are
now opening before us. They forced us upon
a career of ruin in 1861. In 1S64-'65 they
used their ill-gotten power to
suppress our struggling efforts in behalf of
peace and humanity. Since the termination
of the war, they prevented a return of peace
and order by obstinately endeavoring to
make Il participation in their past crimes a
test of honor and merit in the Southern
States and our past efforts in behalf of the
Union, and in the cause of humanity and
peace u mark of social and political reproach {
and degradation to ourselves and our chill
dren forever. We shall he fortunate, if our
rights can be restored, and peace and quiet
come to us. at no further sacrifice than the
exclusion from office of few guilty and !
reckless leaders, whose ambition, stained I
with the best blood of our State, and loaded ,
with untold miseries of a ruined people, has .
at last met part of its merited fate. But
their luminosity towards those, who would
have saved them and relieved the embarrass-
ments of the State, will probably increase as
time continues to disclose the character and
of their conduct. lobe wrong
NAV be forgiven and forgotten; but bad
men never forgive an adversary for being |
in the right To convict them of error is {
to incur their hatred forever.
Thus have spoken candidly and plainly
to people with whose interests mine arc
identified. Time will test the truth and {
value of these suggestions. If UNDECIDED, a t
consciousness of duty discharged will be
some recompense for the ills that must befall
us all. But rather, let us trust that kind
Providence will put it into the hearts of men
to permit relief from our long borne scourg
ing, and give us a return of those bright
DAYS of prosperity, liberty and peace which
we allowed to be exchanged for the dark
and terrible lessons of the last six years.
T eft us labor to make ourselves, and our
children after us, worthy participants in the
rising glory of this great and wonderful re- '
nublic of freemen and let us seek oblivion
nnou our connection with the late attempt to
verify the hopes and predictions of its enc
mics. JOdN fooL.
March 25th, 1867.
REGISTRATION OF VoTERs.-It is rumored
CaI,oE.ll ,r1ll chnrtl1r %