The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1867-02-07

THE WASHINGTON MIssIoN.-The gentle
3men appeinted by the Governor ON the mis-
sion to Washington, have all returned home.
We are glad to learn that all of them speak
hopefully Of the aspect Of public affairs; at
least that the situation ishet SO threatening
as it has been, and that there is some room
to hope that the conference of Southern men
recently Washington, may result in an
early settlement of difficulties.
The limitations thrown out in the Wash
ington papers and by letter writers. that the
late conference of Southern Governors and
others with members of Congress and 9th
ers, have evolved aplan of settlement, which
has received the sanction of leading Repub-
licans and Democrats, and understood to be
tavorably thought of by the President and a
portion of the Cabinet, we learn, may be re-
garded as correct. In a few days, the plan
will doubtless be made public.
| We believe that the anxiety of the people
of the South to put an end to the strife and
the turmoil, make them ready to yield to
any reasonable demand, and will lead them
to throw no impeachment in the way of an
| honorable and reasonable adjustment of the
difficulties between the North and South
| We are ready to give our sanction and sup
port to any arrangement that meets those
conditions Sentinel.
The Sentinel appears at last to be more or
less subjugated. 1t thinks a plan of settle
ment has at length been evolved" which
will suit the whole country. In few days."
says that paper, the plan will doubtless be
made public" Soon after we had read the
above we took up the Richmond Enquirer of
the 4th, and sav the plan We give it as FOL
lows:
"a New PLAN OF ADJUsTMENT.-We
give below copy of plan of settlement, in
the shape OF amendments to the federal and
State Constitutions, which we understand is
proposed by certain gentlemen from the
South who have but recently visited Wash
ington. This scheme has been shown, we
hear, to various members of the Legislature
of Virginia, and the intention is to present
it to the Legislature of North Carolina for a
formal adoption The patrons of the meas
ure have indicated solicitude to keep it
out of the newspapers, and thus prevent, for
awhile, at least, any public discussion OF its
merits. We have received this document,
however, with full liberty of publication,
from one who himself received it in like
manner; and we do not feel justified in
withholding it from our readers. The peo-
pie Of the South, at large, are proposed to
be affected by its provisions in their gravest
and most important interests; and it is their
clear and unquestionable right to be inform
ed of the nature and character of measures
devised by those who, whether with or with
out adequate authority, have undertaken the
office of pointing out a basis of settlement
Any attempt to veil such measures from the
public scrutiny until sufficient numbers of
persons in the legislative bodies can be COM
mitted to secure their adoption, is alike OPP
posed to the genius of our institutions, and
to the just rights of our people. The follow
ing is the scheme:
PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE CoNsTITU-
TIoN OF THE UITED STATES.
Article 14.-Section 1. The Union under
the Constitution is, and shall be perpetual
No State shall pass any law or ordinance to
secede or withdraw from the Union, and any
such law or ordinance shall be null and void
Section 2. The public debt of the United
States, authorized by law, shall ever be held
sacred and inviolate. But neither the Uni
ted States nor any State shall assume or pay
any debt or obligation incurred in aid of in
surrection or rebellion against the govern
ment or authority of the United States.
Section 3. All persons born or naturallzed
in the United States, and subject to the .ju-
risdiction thereof are citizens of the United
States and of the States in which they re-
side No State Shall make or enforce any
law which shall abridge the privileges or i'm
munities of citizens of the United States;
nor shall any State deprive any person of
life, liberty, or property, without due pro-
cess of law, nor deny to any person within
its jurisdiction the equal protection of the
laws.
Section 4. Representatives shall be appor-
toned among the several States according to
their respective numbers, counting the whole
number of persons in each State, excluding
Indians not taxed. But when any State
shall, on account of race or color, or previous
condition of servitude, exclude from voting
at any election for the choice of electors for
President and Vice President of the United |
States representatives in Congress, members !
of the Legislature other officers elective |
by the people, any of the male inhabitants |
of such State, being twenty-one years of age |
and citizens of the United States, then the
entire class of persons SO excluded from the
elective franchise, shall not be counted in the
basis of representation. No State shall re-
quire as property qualification for voters
more than two hundred and fifty dollars
worth of taxable property, nor as an educa-
tiOnal qualification more education than
enough to enable the voter to read the Con-
stitution of the United States in the English
language and write his own name.
PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE STATE CON-
sTITUTIoN.
Article. Every male citizen who has resi-
ded in this State for one year and in the coun-
ty in which he offers to vote six months, i'm
preceding the day of election, and
who can read the Constitution of the United
States in the English language and can write
his own name, or who may be the owner of
two hundred and fifty dollars worth of taxa
bic property, shall be entitled to vote at all
elections for Governor of the State men,
Ders of the Legislature and all other officers
elective by the people of the State: P,ouided,
That no person by reason of this article shall
De excluded from voting who has heretofore
exercised the elective franchise under the
Constitution and laws OF this State, or who,
It the time of the adoption of this amend
nent may be entitled to vote under said Con-
'titution and laws"
Such is the plan of adjustment evolved
~ certain politicians, and approved in adj
vance by the Sentinel We protest against it
n the most earnest terms. It is nothing more
han the Howard amendment, with the pro-
7ision disqualifying the leaders of the REBEL
on omitted, and with qualified negro suf-
rage This plan would at once let all the
eaders of the rebellion into office and