The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1867-08-13
TO THE PEOPLE OF NORTH CARO-
LIMA.
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT OF n c.,
Raleigh, August 3, 1867.


| Under recent acts of Congress, called Recon
struction acts, popular elections are shortly to
| be held in this State.
At these elections no person is to be allowed
to vote, unless he shall furnish evidence of his
right to vote from Registrars appointed in pur-
suance of said acts
| All male citizens, white and colored, who
| have resided in the State one year previous to
! the day of election, with certain exceptions,l
will be entitled to VOTE upon producing the GER
t6cate of the Registrars.
| 1t is expected that instructions will be issued,
at early day, from Major General Sickles,
who has been appointed, by the President of the
! United States, to carry out the provisions of
planning to the Registrars their duties, and
giving his construction of the acts as to the per-
s-ns entitled to register and those to whom this
right is denied !; and these instructions it will
be the duty Of the Registrars to obey.
| AS L understand these acts, no person is to
| DE allowed to register or vote, who, at any time
before the war, had held any Office under the
| United States, or any State office "created by
law for the administration Of the general law of
the State or for the administration of JUSTICE
and "atterwards engaged in instruction and
rebellion against the United States, or gave aid
and comfort to the enemies thereof" L pre-
sumo, in the expected instructions from Gen.
Sickles to the Registrars, he will give con-
structlon to these, as we'll as any other pro-
visions of the acts, touching the right of regis
| tratlon, which may seem to him SUI ceptlble OF
variant Interpretation.
| 1t is believed that nearly all the colored
voters, above Fl years old and who have resided
a year in the State will be entitled, under these
acts, to register; and they will register and vote
There is no means of making an estimate ap-
proxlmatlng certainty, as to the number of white
male residents, above the age of Fl years, who
will not be allowed to vote
At the last census-1960-th total white
male population was 313 $40, and the total male
colored population was l9l $40; and at the ex-
cited election of Governor in 1860, 1885
votes were cast
The effect Of this legislation, by the conquer
Ing power OF the nation, makes the negro in the
excluded States, TO civil aid political rights,
the equal Of the most favored class of the whites,
and the political superior Of most of those who
held office in the State before the war
| Whatever may be the final settlement of the
questions as to the political equality of the two
races, or the superiority of the over the
other, it is certain that for long time to come,
unless humanity is to be shocked by the expul-
sion or annihilation of one race the other, this
State is to be Inhabited by both races; and it is
the manifest interest of both races to live to-
gether in peace and friendship, each acting
kindly and justly towards the other Every
good mar, who is wise statesman, will use all
his influence to avoid everything tending to
antagonlze the races IF one class consolidate
to gain political ascendaucy or effect any other
object deemed beneficial to such class, it will
certainly lead to counter combination, and hos
tility between the classes, injurious to both and
! r. n N tO he he thnr
l have not heard of, and have no idea that
| there exists, among the white population any
combination, public or private, to consol idate
the white vote, to the prejudice of the blacks;
nor have the slightest suspicion that any such
combination is contemplated.
After the Registrars shall have decided who
are to have the privilege of voting, the persons
so registered will be called upon to vote for or
against the call of State Convention and for
members of such Convention.
These acts provide that, in case a majority of
the voters shall! vote for Convention and elect
members; and if sach Convention adopt Con-
stitution which shall! be ratified "by majority
OF the persons voting on the question of ratifca-
tom and "when Congress shall have approved
the same; and when the State, by vote of its
Legislature, elected under said Constitution,
shall have adopted the amendment to the Con-
39th Congress and known as article l4;'' and
when three fourths of the States shall have
ratified said l4th article, then "the State shall
be declared entitled to representation 10 Con-
gress, and Senators and Representative shall be
admitted therefrom on their taking the oath pre-
scribed by law"
The sole object of this address is to urge on
every citizen of North Carolina to register, who
may be entitled to regster-and [ have gone
into this recital of some of the provisions of the
acts Of Congress, to enable you to understand the
reasons which induce me so to advise you.
If you do not register, then you will not be
allowed to vote for against the call of Con-
vention, which is expected to make tho altera-
tlons in your Constitution, contemplated by
these acts of Congress, and such other altera-
tions as the Delegates may deem proper.
1t you do not register, you will not be allowed
to vote for any delegate to the Convention.
When the Convention shall have proposed a
new Constitution, if you shall not have registered,
you will not be allowed to vote on the ratifca-
ton or rejection Of the proposed Constitution,
however much you may admire or abhor it
And if you do not register, you will not be al
lowed to vote for members of the Legislature,
who are TO latify or reject the proposed 18th
article, amendment of the Constitution of
the United States
have no hesitation 10 urging upon every
citizen, who is allowed the privilege of voting
under these laws, to register, to vote, if he
choose. on these questions. No citizen allowed
to register and vote, who fails to vote, will have
any right to complain, if those who do register
and vote, should adopt Constitution which
should be ever so oppressive and proscrip:ive.