The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1868-02-26

atmosphere OF hope, and to raise again their
manly forms in the healthful sunshine of
Constitutional Liberty. And if they accept
that bride, as believe they will. the State
will be regenerated. and the Union restored.
REMARKS OF MIR. RICH,
OF PITT,
On The Suffrage Question, IN Conrention, Friday
eye'aing, February 81, 1858.
Mr.. PRESIDENT: have always thought that
under republican form Of government every
mau Of sound mind, and not criminal, should
be, at some time, entitled to suffrage, for several
reasons: ~ isii1
Fsra, As a matter of right, as whoever sub.
mits to the laws contributes to the support and
defence of the country, and help pay its taxes,
ought to have the privilege oftaking part in that
government. .s r;lf I'D
Second, As matter of safety to the State, since
to exclude men permanently from political life,
rights and privileges, is and must necessarily be,
to commit them to On ssnprisSleged class, and sep
arate them from the common interests, and from
personal care, concern and responsibility, and
tends, directly and naturally, to make them I'M
9 easy, disappointed and revolutionary.
- In this country the generally received doctrine
Is, and always has been except in the case of the
negro, that the more general the suffrage is the
better; that the more classes and persons embrac-
ed in it the BETTER for the safety the prosperity,
the Judgment, the wishes of the whole people,
are far more likely to be right than the narrow
prejudiced and selfish passions and opinions Of
the few. Our entire history as a nation proves
that the decisions OF the people have been wiser
than the notions of partizan leaders or particular
parties. We haveinvited emgrants to ourslores
from almost every portion of the habtable globe,
and have held out, as an important inducement,
the fact, that after short residence they should
have voice and vote in the government. The
nar iprr hon ,tt I'm I
being thoroughly convinced of the truth of the
great American theory, that tac people ought to
govern, therefore can have no sympathy with
those who sneer at the republican idea of hu-
man equality which our declaration of indepen-
dence itself lays down as its first maxim-the
corner stone of our political structure viz:
That "all men created equa.'' l therefore
cannot co operate with those who call impartial
suffrage, "ngger supremacy" and seek to Oh
struct the adoption of that great reform by APP
peals to the nurrOwest, most selfish and most
vulgar prejudices Therefore cannot agree with
those who propose to disfrnnchise the colored
citizens OF our country, nor can agree with
those who propose to disfranchise The white citi-
zens of that same country. The class it is pro-
posed by some of my republican friends to ex-
clude from the rights and privileges Of citizen.
ship embraces large part of the most ntelli-
gent men in the State. Half of them, at least it
Is believed, ure republicans, and large majority
of them confessed to be law-abitling citizens
lueTe cdU Dt, GucTtlOTc, no QQngeT IN restoring
them to the enjoyment Of full citizenship. Ii
We regard the matter from purely partizan
stand point We have as much to gain as to lose by
being just and liberal, while VIC at the same time
rid ourselves oil the damaging 0dium which al
ways and everywhere attaches to the idea OF pro-
scriptiOn. .ie tii
It is beyond dispute that our republican friends
at the North have lost ground by reason of the
proscriptive clauses of the Reconstruction Acts.
1t was not the acknowledgements Of the blacks,
but the Acknowledgement of the whites that
wrought the mischief. Let u.s. as far us in us lies
correct the error "by melting out equal and exact
rights to all men," To disfranchisc mhite man,
especially one who has capacity or ambition
to engage in public affairs, is to strip him of all
motive and incentive to be just to the colored man.
We wish to found our institutions upon the
broad basis of public confidence, and the love
and attachment of all classes. What we want in
reconstruction Is the ready and cheerful assent,
not of one class OF the community, but reliable
and commanding majority of all classes, not only
OF the lately enfranchised slaves aud original
Union men, but also of those who were, until
lately, hostile to the government of the United
States.
1t is not enough, in my Judgment, to merely
bring this State back to her proper relations to
the Federal Government BY the party triumph Of
o portion OF It's citizens. The people must not
feel themselves bound hand and foot-carried
back by force. They must learn to love the gov
eminent and its flag. They must sustain the
government not through favor or fear, but be-
cause it is their government, the government of
their choice.
And now the question arises how is this to be
accomplished? By pains and pcnaltes-by dis
ability to take part in that government-by dis
reimbursement? Will not this course of treat
ment continue their prejudices-their hatreds |?
Will not a sence OF humiliation and degradation
keep alive in their hearts that spirit OF opposi-
ton which now, to SO great an extent, actuates
them? Stirred by sense OF political and person
al tyranny, will they not they strive, unceasing-
ly, to throw contempt upon that government,
and assiduously to fan to blaze the least spark
of disatfection that shall, perhaps, destroy the
existing state of things, and give Them ut least,
chance to rise? With nothing to hope or Or
expect under present circumstances, is it not
natural that they should wish for change
With every thing to gain and nothing to lose,
will not the DISTINGUISHED become q disorganz-
ing, dangerous, revolutionary class? While hui
man nature retains its preJudices and passions ii
is impossible it should be otherwise
The apprehension was expressed by some be-
fore the cOlored men were eniranchsed, that they
would vote for their old masters and through
their votes the secessiOnists would regain power
The result has proved exactly the contrary, and
whenever and wherever we have former seces
siOnist or proslavcry man counting the votes o.
the colored men we have seen him turn republi
can. He could not expect to receive their yotei
without pledging himself to support their rights
and in making such he becomes, In fact, if not il
profession, republican. So it will be with all o
them.
The exigencies Of party will cause all to seel
the colored mans vote by pledging themselves t.
the support of colOred mems rights, and in do
ing that they mast abandon the anti republican
and anti Union theories and principles which
have heretofore actuated them.
For myself, l wish to see all parties coming VI
to this idea of acknowledging the civil and polit
ical rights and equality Of all men, and ain op
posed to the impolitic and unjust prescription
which would give any man an excuse for his in
justice, or deprive him of mOtiyeto be Otherwis
| than unjust
The immortal Jefferson said, that ait a slav
can have a country in this world, 1t must be an
| other in preference to that in which he is bor
| 10 live and labor for another"
| In abOlishing slavery and enfranchising slaves
let us not put the same chains upon the master
Let US not destroy his I" aYnaor patrioe and Civ
| him cause to love any other country In preference
to that which gave him birth. Then let us entras
ehisc all. Let us give an equal opportunity i
life, to all, and let us not doubt that Just laws
and liberal constitution, will bind all by til
ties of love and patriotism.
Resolution in Favor of a Penitentiary-
| John A. Mcdonald.
WHEREAS: Criminals are frequently convicte,
at great expense, of high crimes and sentence
to a loag term of Imprisonment, the costs of a
of which oftentimes Lave to be paid by the coui
ties and are heavy tax on The people and Il
punishment works no reform on the ofende
| RI