Wilmington journal., 1867-04-05
THE WILMINGTON JOURNAL
WILMINGTON, \.
SATURDAY. MARCH 30, 1861,
who Arc Loyal:

WHO Arc Loyal
Tn order to advance reconstruction, We think
That mono but those who are considered loyal Dy
Congress should sock to hold Office under The
Charlotte Democrat,
We agree with o1H c0tempOrary i'll this
opinion. In fact, by the Sherman Bill,
none but those considered loyal by Con
eress can hold Office under ihc rcconstruc-
ton movement nay, such as arc regarded
as disloyal cannot cvcn vote. Attcr two
years of labor i'll Congress ANA III caucus,
with each successive step endorsed ut tho
ballot-b box by the people Of the North, II
was not to be presumed that the leaders OF
the dominant party would have 80 completed
their legislation rs ~ have left political
power In the hands of diDloyal men. so
carefully has the work been accomplished
that such patterns Of disintcr.2tcd and
honest loyalty as Pool, Holden and Iod.
Caldwell have fallen under the ban - CELL
efal legislation sufficient 10 purlty them
would extend The right Of franchise to
those who were not - considered loyal hT
Congress.
We fear, however, the De1nolyH places
it's own estimate upon tic loyalty Of our
citizens, and does not apply ihe tulo
adopted by Congrcss, Ne take ii lor
granted that the Scnatc and House ot Rep
resentatives were honest IL t4Cir reconstrllc-
tion legislation, and desired all not di5tran-
chised to participate actively i'll the work
and what of ability and integrity Is left 1T
the demand of the people, should be given
in the very important questions dovolylnG
upon the representatives i'll this crisis. Ii
the people of North Carolina ever required
the services of men of integrity, ability,
moral frmncSs and political honesty, 1t is
now; and unless the State has the benefit
of their advice and labors, inrOads will be
made in our form Of Government and in
the foundations of society from which VIC
will not recover in generations, if at all
Congress has designated III tho plaincst
terms who are to carry ont the work OF re-
construction, and is loyal citizens, We are
unwilling to transfer tho labor to those
disfranchised persons who arc now taking
such prominent part IN the matter. We
do not feel disposed to he dictated to
by men whom Congress has pronounced
unworthy to participate. We have advised
our people to conform to the requirements
of the acts of Congress and tho orders OF
the District Commander, but we shall
never recommend them to support mon
whose only title to their self-proclaimed
"holier than thon" 10y, lily, was eowardly
absence from the army to which they nrged
others who paid the Same wordy homage
to the Confederate as 10 The United States
Government who sustained President
johnson yesterday and Congress to-day, and
will support any other more potent power
te-morrow These mon can never control
the affairs of North Carolina with onr aid,
and when they do by the assistance, posi-
tive or negative, OF others. then indeed
will be heard the death-kneli OF every so
cial, moral and substantial interest in the
State.
General Sickles, in reply to the Mer-
chants of Charleston, has announced that
'' the military authorities will not Interfere
as partizans in political movements or or
ganizations. Those of our people not dis
franchised by Congress, should 90 to work
at once to reorganize the State Govern
ment it is sacred duty they owe poster
ity. Such men arc the loyal agents WHO
have heen designated to 90 the work, and
fearful responsibility rests upon them as
to the manner in which it Is performed
Our present condition is sufficiently dcplor
able, but it can and will be much worse, il
bad men are allowed to mould our conBtitu
tion and laws to suit their vile purposes
We shall do all we can to prevent such q
fate. AS Journalists, we believe we have
an important duty to perform, and shall en-
Ter on its discharge with energy, honesty
and with what ability VIC possess. We
shall continue to advise q compliance will
the laws VIC shall urge for Office onlythost
who are loyal, but shall adopt the standard
of loyalty as set forth III the act Of Con
gress, and not that put UP by dishonos
and interested place hunters NE shall II,
to promote the interest Of North Carolina
and not of unworthy men, who claim TO b
the State.