The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1867-03-23
Pennsylvania.

REPLY TO THE NoRTH-CAkoii''->
,u :. the message from Gov.
Georv to the Legislature OF rennSs wanna
rolo+;vc to the call of North-Caroina LOT
..t;or., convention to amend the Constltu-
ton of the United StateS'
EXECUTIVE MANSION,
HARRISBURG, March IA, 1867.
n. The Senate md House Of Representatives.
of the Commonueath Of Pennsylvania;
GENTLEMEN A letter dated 9th inst,
has lust been received from Hon. Jonathan
worth. Governor of North Carolina, cover
inc a set of resolutions adopted by the Leg
isiature of that District, both OF which, &C
cording to his request, arc herewith trans
mitted to you. .,
The object of the resolutions is to invite
g. all the States-North, South, East and
West" TO a national convention, for the pur
nose of'' proposing, in exact conformity with
tbe Constitution of the United Stntes, such
amendments to the Constitution that the re,
sult will be such mutual concessions rs Will
lead to restoration of our former happy
relations"
Hinder ordinary circumstances would be
satisfied to simply submit this cOmmunlca-
tion TO the Legislature without comment;
Int in this instance the occasion seems to de-
mond something more. l am by no means
insensible to Il noble spirit ofconcession and
forhearsnce necessary to impart vitality to
our national existence and, therefore, in de-
bberating upon this important subject l
would recommend that local feelings and
nreiudiccs be merged in patriotic deter
limitation to promote the public welfare
But when we reflect that the people of North
Carolina. inviting this assembly, are not in
frll communion with the loyal States that
they have been for many years in the habit
of looking with great indifference upon the
national interests and of tolerating disloyal-
ty: that throughout the thrilling and san
culinary war of the rebellion they used their
utmost efforts to destroy the Constitution
and the Union, and to establish hostile
government of their own; that they recently
Tefused to ratify the mild and wholesome
amendments to the Constitution; that Con-
Dress bv the passage OF the reconstruction
net has made salutary provision for their
future military government, and for that OF.
the other refractory districts lately engaged
in rebellion, is not the presumption with
which these unrepentant rebels and suhjuga-
ted traitors now ask for I" mutual c0ncessiOnS'
surprising2 The people of Pennsylvania
have always been loyal to the government,
true to the Constitution and laws of the
nation. and have stood in the foremost ranks
of the defenders of the Union. They have
no concessions to make, certainly none to
those who have waged a reasonable war, and
who have been conquered at the point of the
bavonet. The doctrine is certainly abhor-
rent that defeated treason should ask the
loval men of this country to meet them upon
equal terms in convention to amend the con-
stitution they repudiated and attempted to
destroy. The guilty failure of those men
has assigned them to far different task
submission to the terms of the conquerors
and obedience to that law which we all
obey.
While Pennsylvania has no concessions to
make, her people, desiring speedy, just, and
proper REIMBURSEMENT of all the States in the
Union, earnestly beseech the citizens of
North Carolina, and of all the Southern
States. to return without delay to the benign
influences of the government while yet the
terms of such return are easy, and not to
wait for more severe conditions, and perhaps
for more serious punishment.