The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1867-03-06
For the Standard.
Radical Meeting in Concord.

/ A large and enthusiastic radical meeting
was held in Concord on Saturday, the 23d
ult. The day was fine and full notice hav.
ing been given. the Grads" rallied in force,
and the Courthouse was literally jammed.
DR.. John Fink was called to the Chair and
Aaron Yost, ESQ.,, was appointed Secretary.
Mr.. VIM M Coleman explained the object
of the meeting to be, the organization OF the
radical Union men of the County upon the
national platform for the purpose OF co op-
Grating more efficiently with their friends
throughout the whole United States.
The following committee on resolutions
was appointed, consisting of gentlemen from
the different sections of the County, viz:
John McCarty, VIM. T. Blume, Andrew Bos-
tan, Robert Daywalt, A. M. Cook, Jacob
Pless and Daniel Beaver, and Mr.. Yost the
Secretary, was also added. The committee
reported in substance the Hileman resolu-
tions," which have already appeared in the
Standard. It will not be necessary, there
fore, to do more than to present brief abb
| stract.
The preamble sets forth in full the causes
of complaint against Andrew johnson and
assigns the following, viz: That he has be-
trayed his trust in opposing the will OF the
| nation expressed by the Congress; that by
endeavoring to prevent the Congress from
| excluding disloyal men from Offices of trust
and responsibility, he has given aid and en-
couragement to rebels; that he IS response
BILE for the continued subsection of the loyal
men amongst us to the rule of their former
oppressors.
The resolutions declare that the rebel dis
tricts have ceased to exist as constitutional
States; that the power to re-create the States
is vested exclusively in the Congress; that
the rejection of the Howard amendment was
prompted by a spirit of bitterness towards
| the Union that the future peace of the
/ country and the protection of loyal men in
life, liberty and property imperatively de-
mands that the disloyal be disfranchised and
State and National, be entrusted to loyal
men only; that the welfare of North Caro-
lima requires her speedy organization on a
loyal basis.
1t was suggested that Convention of the
uncompromising Union men representing all
the Counties meet in Raleigh, some time in
the Spring, for the purpose of petitioning
| Congress to re-organize the State govern
ment. 1t was thought that plan could be
devised by this Convention, which would
| guarantee protection to the loyal inhabitants
| and at the same time meet the views of the
radical majority in Congress, and secure the
immediate re-admission of the State. As
this question. however. had not been gener-
ally agitated, the following resolution was
agreed upon:
Resolcetl, "That tits the duty of the Union
men to agitate the question of reconstruc-
ton upon loyal basis, and we recommend
that meetings be held and clubs be organ
lied in all the Counties for this purpose"
The resolution which follows, recommends
| the North Carolina Standard, as the fearless
and able exponent of true Union principles.
| A resolution for publication in the Standard
| closes the series.
| VIM. NJ. Coleman, Esq, addressed the
meeting upon invitation for about two hours
in speech Of much ability. We do not
| purpose to present any extended report of
his remarks, but simply to note the leading
! points.
| He urged that the States had forfeited
their rights as Constitutional States. Before
| the rebellion the relation of the ten rebel
States, as well as all the others, towards the
| Union was thoroughly constitutional Now,
said Mr.. Coleman, in the view of some per-
sons, the effect of the rebellion upon this re-
lation were just absolutely nothing at all-in
in other words, the relation of these rebel
4 States towards the Union continued consti-
7 tutionally as if there had been no war, or if
the States of peace between them and the
Union had remained unbu6ken. They
claimed to stand in the Union with all their
rights intact as the loyal States The bare
statement of the proposition, he believed,
carried its refutation Had not these States
as status as organized political communi-
ties, attempted acts of secession? Had they
not sought by arms to destroy the Union
Had they not levied war upon it, Had they
not ignored and set aside the authority Of
the United States in every department OF
their governments, and made it treason fol
their citizens to profess allegiance to the
United States? Did not these States com
lnand the obedience of all their citizens, and
seek to give an authoritative existence and
force to the rebellion2 All this they did Oh
attempted to do as States; and it was an in
suit to our understandings to tell us that al
these acts of war and resistance did not fo
a moment or in any manner interrupt thei
constitutional relations to the general gov
eminent. The legitimate and inevitable
consequence of the rebellion, in his opinion
did not extend to individuals alone, and sto]
with them. 1t went further and involved
States and the rights of States in their con
stitutional relations to the government
These had been forfeited and annulled, ant
would remain so until they were restored b.
competent authority.
Mr. Coleman next argued that the powe
to re-organize the States was vested in Con
qsess, and not in the President. 1t was
Legislative power, and all legislative powers
whether expressly granted or derived by i'm
plication, incontestably belonged to Cor
gress. Not single Legislative power by til
constitution appertained to the Presiden
who was the mere executor of the legisls
tive will as embodied in law He did ne
see how this position could be shaken. An
other view of the provinces of the execl
tive and legislative departments would
as unsound cc.nstitutionally as it would |
dangerous in practice. 1t would end, if su
fered to.be successfully carried out in col
centrating upon the President the who
mass of legislative powers; and he would n
longer be, as the constitution makes hin
the servant of the popular will reflected
chosen representatives of the people-buti
lord and master.
Mr.. Coleman then commended, that as IL
right to. reorganize a.s vested in Congress
SO it was the plain duty of that body to r
auire guarantees for future security fro
those States. before they could be re-admi
ted, which had brought upon the 'countl
the horrors of civil war. This only was
imperative that Congress itself would
traitorous to the interests and hopes of the n
ton. # it, did not exact guarantees The