The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1868-08-19

the people except as such. What valid objection
against the proposed militia organization can be
urged? If everybody intends to behave them
selves, the bill can do no harm; il they did not
intend to keep the peace, then this force came
into effect and protected peaceable citizens in
the exercise of their political rights. There is
present State governments, by treachery If pos
sible, by force if it could be done in no other
way. The Democratic party in this State means
the same thing. II they only intended change
of political rule, it would be all right and prop
er, but that is not the object-they intend an
overthrow OF the government itself Look at
what the recent Governor Worth said when
yielding up his office to the present State govern
ment: 81 do not recognize the validity of the
late election, under which You ana those co OPP
civil government of the State"
That declaration has yet been repudiated
by the party of which he was member; but on
the contrary, the Sntine, the organ OF the party,
in the very paper which contained the protest,
eulogises that protest. That paper is still the
organ of the Democratic party, and that party
has thus tacitly endorsed those remarks. Ex-
Governor Graham, the leader of that party, says
colored people cannot be allowed to vote on or
control public measures.
He then referred to the letter Of Chief-Jnstice
Pearson to show that suffrage could not be taken
from the colored man without producing war.
The proposed law would protect all classes Of
the people in the exercise of their political rights,
and preserve that peace which, without some
such means, might at any time be destroyed.
He therefore called upon the opposers of the bill
to cease tn ir opposition as they were now op
posing not only the bi but the government. -.
He quoted from President Johnson's recent
message to Congress as follows: %
ait is worthy of remark that If the States
| whose inhabitants were recently in rebellion were
| legally and constitutionally organized and re-
stored to their rights prior to the 4th of March,
1867, as am satisfied they were, the only legiti-
mate authority under which the election for
| President and Vice President can be held there
in must be derived from the governments insti-
| tuted before that period. 1t clearly follows that
all the State governments organized in those
States under act of Congress for that purpose,
| and under military control, are llegitimate, and
of no validity whatever; and in that view, the
votes cast in those States for President and Vice
| President In pursuance of acts passed since the
{. 4th of March, 1867, and in obedience to the So
called reconstruction acts of Congress- cannot he
| legally received and counted; while the only
votes in those States that can be legally cast and
counted will be those cast in pursuance OF the
laws in force in the several States prior to the
legislation by Congress upon the subject Of re-
construction" '-
The platform of the New York Convention
pledged itself to undo, by force of arms all that
had been peacefully accomplished under the re
construction laws of Congress, in this as well as
in other States. Then it was undeniaby war
party Blairs letter of acceptance breathed
|
was endorsed by The whole Democratic party,
thus proving beyond any doubt that the Demo-
cratic party was war party, and intended the
overthrow of the Government, even by force OF
arms. .
1t had also been urged against the bill that
although it might be necessary now, it might
also become thing of evil by remaining in force
after it was no longer needed for its original OBJ
jects. Very good. If the Democrats could
prove that they do not intend any injury to the
- tt,n, oft
the Government, but only fair political contest
he would vote at the next session to have the
bill repealed. 1t would be our fault if any traI
should be sprung on us and find US unprepared
Mr.. Jones of Wake, had said when the substi
tute was offered he would support it; but the
course adopted bo the opposite party had unitet
the Republicans in the Legislature, to a man.
The disruption of the country had been brought
about by the Democrats, and the country wat
saved from ruin by the Republican party. Tho
same men who before raised all the trouble, now
they have failed in their efforts to destroy The
government, modestly demand to take charge
of it. They object to the ''great powers giver
the Goveror by this bill He had vastly more
power in 1865 and not only never abused that
power but used it with the greatest discretion
No man who knows Gov. Holden will ever be-
leve he would abuse any power he may be en-
trusted with. 1t was nothing but right for the
, Governor to have the power to call out the mi
ltia in defence of the law and for the protection
of the people. He thought Democrats unworthy
of trust after their previous record and though
they shsuld be contented to stand in the back
, gaound, and be very thankful they had not beer
+ hung between heaven and earth as they deserved
! He himself had once sinned against the govern
ment but had repented and been pardoncd tor II
and now devoted himself to the preservation o
that tgovernment-the best that ever existed
He was as much opposed to the military powe
, as being superior to the civil power as any man
! but this bill proposed no such thing, and he gav'
it his hearty support
Mr. Wynne spoke at length in favor of the bill
showing the necessity of the adoption, and gvin,
instances showing the immediate necessity of tn
q formation OF a militia.
3 Mr. Robbins said the remarks of some of tn
Senators seemed to have reference to remark
made by him. He felt it due to himself that b
c should reply, and thought the debate had ass um
: ed very great latitude. The Senator fron
franklin (Mr. Wynne) had said that lie had call
ed members who favored this bill "cowards. p
!, This mistake: he had said no such thing
= What he did say was "the bill seemed to hav
originated in apparent cowardice." He ha'
d thought it singular that majority of 10000
should not be able to take care of themselye
! without calling in the aid of soldiers. The Sena
tor from Wake, Mr. (Joncs) had said Democrat
3 were not to be trusted, and should be cOntente
z that they were not hung. He did not propose t
discussion the question, as all such question
were now dead issues The Democratic part
Q had made secession, &C., dead issues, and he (M
Robbins) did not propose to argue them. II
i pronounccdany statement that the Democrat
- party intendad to revive secession or slavery VI
terly false. a r.i
He did not consider the militia bill as fa
thing Every man in the State would feel ths
this force would always be on the Republica
side end never on the Democratic, and with th
70 state of feeling the Conservatives might at som
time arm themselves and resist this militia, thu
+" producing bloodshed and loss of life. He though
the people sufficiently able to maintain the peac
among themselves. His party meant to obey II
d law, and if the Republicans meant the sam
that Gov. Worth had ever said anything savorin
q of treason, and coulc say the same thing OF Go
Il Graham. He wanted everybody to know that
long as the present Constitution was the Const
o tuition OF North Carolina he was willing to ha,
colored people vote and would defend them
l. the exercise of their polical rights. THE r
marks of the Senator here turning on Fran
Blair's letter. and that subject not being befo
n the Senate, the Reporter did not take the
n down. Mr.. Robbins then turned his attentio
to the militia bill again, but rs his remarks wei
-e precisely the game as several TIMES before :
:, ported, the Reporter omits giving repetetion
Is | them.
le Mr. Brogden was in favor of peace, law al
le order. He was in favor of affording every su
,e port to the Governor in. the enforcement of Il
D. Constitution and the laws of the State again
r the militia BILL as they had already been hnswe
" cd several times before, nor would he initiate u
70 vanity and egotistic confidence with which
n predicted terrible things, if his (Mr. Robbins
l. advice was not followed. He had heard mu
t. denunciation and abuse from those quarters, b
ty no reason. This bill had been characterized al
a, party measure 1t Is not so It is purely
g /, measure ior the good of the people. 1t was n
" SO with the charge itself, which was originat
s, simply fer party purposes and to make par
Ie capital for the coming campaign. he (Mr. Re
ne birsl was not in frvor of colsred suffrage VIII
e. the law had pronounced all men, without rega
~ to color, entitled to that privilege Every ms