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

Legislature called by that Convention, the
extensive amnesty of the Presidents procla-
nation, and the indiscriminate grants Of
private pardons, instead of awakening graf
itude and repentance, served to inspire ASST
rance and hope. and to embOldcn the insti-
gators and leaders of the rebellion to a uni
ted, but then cautious effort to regain their
power in the State and national councils.
They did not, indeed. dare at that time, is
q general thing to put forward their most
notorious characters, but took the more pru
dent course of uniting upon such of their
least Objectionable opponents, as they had
reason to believe had been rendered most
disaffected to the federal government by the
loss Of slaves and most likely to be won to
their purposes. When the Legislature as
sembed such of the rebel leaders as had
been returned to seats in it, and such others
as they had succeeded in gaining ever to
their interests, united in unwavering sup
port OF those measures anI candidates for
office that seemed best calculated to regain
and re-establish their power and influence.
In many instances they succeeded in carry
ing their points. So damaging was the eff
feet Of this conduct upon the federal rela-
tions of the State, and so unexpected to the
national authorities, that the President of
the United States, who, from motives of mer-
cy and magnanimity, had unwittingly
opened the door to it, felt called upon to ad-
minister his rebukc and remonstrance in the
following telegram:
WASHINGTON, Nov. 9th, 1865.
Hon. W. W. HOLDEN, P'or. GocernOr:
i * :: = The results of the re-
cent elections in North Carolina have greatly
damaged the prospects of the State in the
,,f L.,
Should the action and the spirit of the Leg
islature be in the same direction. it will
greatly increase the mischief already done,
and might be fatal.
1t is hoped, the action and spirit manifes-
ted by the Legislature will be so directed as
rather TO repair than increase the difficult
ties under which the State has already placed
itself" ANDREW JOHNSON.
President Of tie Unitad .Stntes.
This courteous but pointed advice was i'm
mediately communicated TO the Legislature,
but was not only UNDECIDED, but treated with
defiant contempt by those for whom it was
intended. As was to be expected, when our
representatives elected to Congress under
the Presidents preparatory proceedings for
tie restoration of the State, arrived. in Wash
ington, they found the Congress fearful and
| indisposcd to confirm and perpetuate the re-
suit Of those proceedings by the sanction of
civil authority. So unexpected and danger
Gus seemed the united action of the rebel
! leaders, since the commencement of those
proceedings that Congress deemed it essen
tal to the national safety to await further
dcvelorements. 1t was hoped that such de-
! lay, in itself, would serve as a salutary
warning, and recall the Southern mind to the
just appreciation Of the condition Of the in
sur~cnt States and of what the peace and
safety Of the nation required as security
against future repetition Of the dangerous
disturbances from which it had just es-
capped at such immense and distressing cost.
But this warming, too. was unhceded Not
only so: it was made the basis of more
thorough organization of the secession
| element in the southern States. There was
Immediately q repetition Of the means and
appliances by which the rebellion was first
inau@urated and then upheld as far as the
movers dare 60 in the presence of military
supervision and under the threatening aspect
! of the government. The passions and sec
tional prejudices of the people were again
most vehemently appealed to. The Con-
grcss was denounced as an unlawful Assem-
blage of tyrants and fanatics and the gull
ty leaders of treason dared even parade the
cpithet of traitor as applicable to those in
the blood of whose sons and brethren they
had so recently stained their hands, and un-
der whose counsels of mercy they had just
escaped. unrepentant and unerateful trait
or's doom.
Congress, with dignified inactivity, re-
manned earnest spectators of passing events.
But in charity, setting down much to
wounded pride and chafng restlessness the
Constitutional amendment was finally offered
rs the least that was consistent with the
safety and future peace of the republic
This. too. was spurned as an insult to Southern
honor, and was seized upon, was the GUS
tom previous to the rebellion in regard to
acts of Congress, to increase the violence of
sectional appeals, and the shameless abuse
of all men who raised voice in defence of
nationality. The rebel leaders pretended to
found great hopes upon the pending cleo
tions in the Northern States, last Fall but
instead of strengthening the hands of their
supposed friends by silence, or by propriety
and moderation of conduct, they unbecom-
ingly thrust themselves, covered with unfor-
gotten treason, into the affairs of people
with the blood of whose SONS and comrades
they were freshly dripping. Infaming the
unfortunate difference between Congress and
the President, and magnifying its impor-
tance, they arrogantly smothered his influ-
snce and popularity by the odlum OF their
support Through their presses and in har-
angues before the Southern people who had
no power and could exert no influence in the
elections, they ostentatiously coupled their
denunciations of Congress with praises of
the President and with claims that he was
their especial champion and upholder.-
Such conduct, at that time, was either the
extreme of most unaccountable folly, or it
was for the well considered purpose of pro-
voking among the Northern people serious
civil dissensions auspicious to concealed de-
signs. The previous character and conduct
of the movers favored the latter construc-
ton The result of the elections was such
an overwhelming rebuke to every one, con-
taminated with their touch, as to amount
to instructions to Congress that could not
be disregarded. But, not at all abashed by
this result, they eagerly seized upon it and
increased their efforts again to fire the
Southern heart--to make past treason test
of honor, and brand past and continued
loyalty in the South as stain of social and
political disgrace. Sounding the same hol-
low professions of loyalty with which they
inaugrated the rebellion, they scoffed at ev-
cry sentiment of nationality, covered with
bitter contumely and reproach every stead