Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1867-09-13

one that will not be intortered with by Congress
Look at Delaware, Mary land and Kentucky three
| loyal" sovereign States-which to be put OIL
! trlal before Il star chamber committee the
charge Of not having Republican Constitutions
Can they promise restoration Of the Union
1he Radical rulers expressly declare that then
measures arc not " finalities." Can they premise
even ;.lat doubtful GoOdrepresentation in the Con-
| Sress I'll the United States? | refer You to Ken
lucky, whose representatives ignoIn.niously
rejected because rebels voted for them But sup,
pose that the State accepts the terms proposed 10y
Tie military bils-that she agrees to the perma-
ncnt and total exclusion from her councils of the
intellect the experience, the wisdom and the patri
otIsnl, which, Ill times past, gavo her lnstre-that
instead Of these noble qualities and virtues. she
commits her Political destinies to the guidance OF
ignorance, lneXperlence, folly and radicaism-.
that She adopts Constitution disfranchisng for.
ever the who, in obeying her command to de-
tend her, believed that they were serving God
that she
Buys -ignomilious purchase -ehort reposo,
with dying curses and the groans of those
That served and loved, and put il her theil
Eust.'
Suppose she does all these things, and that the
RADICALS then Sraclously permit her to send her
rePresent anYes to Washington, from what class
VIII she select the men who are fill the places
once hunored by LOwndes, Calhoun, McDuffie,
Preston, Cheves, Hayne, Huger and their glori-
ous comPeerS: The same body which has shown
such wisdom and ma9nanimity i'll framing these
Reconstruction Acts that are to bring so many
blessings IN their train, gives you the answer in
the following Acts Of Congress
l. Hereafter any person elected or appointed
10 any Office OF power or profit under the Govern
nent OF the United States either in the civil mil
ltary or naval departments of the public service,
excepting the President OF the United States, shall
DclOfe entering upon the duties of such Office, and
before being entitled to any of the salary or other
emoluments thereof, take and subscribe the fol-
lowing oath 90 soemnly swear that I have
never voluntarily borne arms against the United
State since l have been citizen thereof that 1
nave voluntarily given no aid, cOuntenance, coun-
sci or encouragement to persons enaged in armed
hosullty thereto that have neither sought nor
accepted nor attempted to exercise, the functions
OF any office whatever, under any authority or pre-
tended authority in hostility to the United States
that have not yielded voluntary support to any
pretended government, AUTHORITY power or con-
stitutiOn within the United States hostile or in
lmlcal thereto. And do further swear, chat to
the best Of my knowledge aHu ability | will sup
port and defend the Constitution Of the United
states against all enemies, foreign and domestic :;
that VIII bear true faith and allegiance to tho
same that take this obligation freely, without
any mental reservation purpose of evasion :;
and that will well and faithfully discharge the
duties of the office on which am about to enter
30 help me Cod" And any person VINO shall
falsely take the said oath shall be guilty OF PERU
ry and on CONVICTION, in addition to the penalties
now prescribed Tor that offence, shall be deprived
of his Office, and rendered incapable Of ever after
holding any Cf1ice or place under the United
States
Is representation III Congress so very desirable
that We should send mon there who can take that
oath, rather than that we should remain uurepre-
sented longer? Can tho people of the State trust
those who could or who would take it? For the
h0norof our state, L should prefer that she should
not be represontedln the halls ofCOngress until her
delegates can enter them free men, represent
ing sovereign State, with ali her dignity, equal
Ity and rights UuImpalrcd.' When hat day comes
there may BE- restoration OF the Union i'll fact
well as lii theory; when North and South, fOrgiv-
ing the past. even if they cannot forget it, may
meet as equals on some common ground, where
a. md
be recognized and respected But until that day
Goes come, III the words of Patrick Henry, g Gen
t.emen may cly peace! peace but thero is no
peace"
1t is scarcely necessary for me to say, entertain
ing the views have expressed, think it far pre-
tGraDla the State should remain present con-
dition, under military rule, than that it should
give It's sanction to measures which we believe to
be Illegal, unconstitutional and ruinOus. 1t is my
honest and firm belief that the voluntary accept
ance OF these measures by our people would sure
ly bring, not on Y to the South, but to the whole
country, evils far greater than any we have vet
suffered. The North flushed with success, and
drunk with power, may not be able to realize this
fact; but surely as the South falls a victim to
Irresponsible and unlicensed power, so surely will
the North lose its liberties. Ruin to the South
will react on the North, and if we are crushed to
the dust, the Northern people will see bot the fore
shadowinS of their owl! certain doom. Recognize,
az an established principle, the right Of any polit
lcal party that NAV be i'll the ascendancy to fix
upon all who differ with them laws unauthorized
by the Constitution Of the United States, and we
shall begin that downward career which will lead
steadily through confusion, anarchy and blood,
to the certain overthrow of ofrepublican institutions
and free government. Believing this, regard it
rs the duty Of every man, III the exercise of the
right accorded to all by these military bills to op
pose their adoption by all lawful means. As the
peop.e have the privilege, then, of expressing
either assent or dissent on this question, advise
them, earnestly, to record the latter fully and
solennly as possible Let every man register,
nH a. ia N ba hn
question will be made on that issue.
These, gentlemen, are the conclusions to which |
have been brought by the most am ious consd- |
9ratlOn OF those " important matter soon to be |
submitted TO the people of the State" They have |
,ecn laid before you at greater length than I in
ended, but it seemed to me to be the best to let
'Ou have my premises, well as my conclusions, J
n order that you might Judge Of the correctness |
II both [ can only say that l have discussed |
his nomentous question with the single desire to
rri|o at the truth, and hope that it has at least
'een discussed IN temperate and dispassionate
pirit. Let me- bring one other subject, suggest
d by your letter to your consideration, and shall
AK your patience no farth er.
You say, truly, that /, well yourselves,
have hoped and striven for entire harmony OF
ction among our people" 1t has been my most
arrest desire to secure this harmony, as It has
cen my constant effort to allay excitement, aud
o counsel obedience to the laws. This has been
he prevailing sentiment among our people, and
1t tails of its object, it will not be our fault.
anne amicable relations which have here; OfOre
xisted between the whites and the bl4cks. I can
Ot too strongly reiterate my counsel that all clas
es should cultivate harmony and exercise for
earauce Let our people remember that the ne
roes have as general rule, behaved admirably,
nd that they are in no manner responsible for the
resent condition of affairs. Should they, in the
ature, be mised by wicked or designing men, let
$ consider how ignorant they necessarily are,
nd let us only the more try to convince them
hat are their best friends. Deal with them
18th perfect justice, and thus show that you wish
D promote their advancement and enlightenment |
10 this, and the negroes will not only learn to
rust you, but they will appreciate the fact
o evident to Us, that can do without them far
etter than they can do without
On a l.te public occasion, while many Of you
ere present, | exp Cssed my perfect Willingness
see impartial suffrage established at the South
nd believe that this opinion is entertainC d. not
My by large ma jority of the intelligent aud re-
Getting whites, but also of the same class among
le blacks. / deprecate universal suffrage, noJ
MY general principles, but especially IN the
ase before us, because | deny the right of Con-
ress 20 prescribe the rules of citizenship in the
tates. The Supreme Court has decided that
ee ro Is not citizen Of the United States and
Ongress cannot reverse that decision bv an act
lie States, however, are competent to confer citi-
enship on the negro, and think it is the part Of
isdon that such action should be taken by the
outhern States. We have recognized the free
ON of the blacks, and have placed this fact be-
onI ali probability OF doubt, denial recall
et us recognize in the same frank manner and
Fall mol ol,icr1