The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1868-07-08

for freedom of speech, aad declares that Inc
privilege of the writ of habeas corpus shall
not be suspended"
It guards every citizens house as his cas-
tie, against general warrants not supported
by proper evidence; and it guards personal
liberty as of chief value to the citizen.
It declares that, I" as political rights and
privileges are not dependent upon, or mod
fled by property, therefore no property
qualifications onght to affect the right to
vote or held Office"
It secures religious freedom.
It provides for education as "a raght,
which it is " the duty of the State to guard
and maintain"
It declares that perpetuities and monopo-
lies, hereditary emolumcnts and privileges
and &c post tactO laws are contrary to the
genius of u free State, and ought not to he
allowed. ,-,
1t declares that human slavery is forever
prohibited within this State" Isl k
1t provides that all property shall he taxed
according to its true value in money!"
thus establishing the only just system OF
taxation; and for the protection of both the
poll and the lands, it provides that for State
and County purposes the poll tax shall
never exceed two dollars, and that this tax
shall be equal to the tax ON property val
ued at three hundred dollars in cash, thus
balancing the land against the poll tax, and
preventing injustice or oppression to either
1t makes the most stringent provisions Tor
maintaining State credit
Itprovides for homestead for every head
of family, and, as far as it was possible to
do so, secures such homestead against all
debts or obligations.
1t very tenderly provides for the rights OF
married women, by exempting all their prop
erty from the debts of their husbands, and
giving them power, with the assent of the
husband, to convey such property as they
may choose. :,
Itprovides for the poor. for the orphan,
forfthe deaf and dumb and blind, for the
insane, for idiots and inebriates, and, in fine,
for all who are benighted, wretched and for
lorn.
1t separates from each other the three
great departments OF the Government, leg
islative, executive and judicial: and it makes
them all dependent on the people as the
only rightful source of power.
1t provides that every male citizen shall
be a voter; and every voter, with few excep-
tons, shall I've eligible to office. Suffrage
has thus been bestowed upon all. The col
/ ored man has the same right with the white
man to vote and hold office. do not in
quire whether it was necessary to do this to
accomplish reconstruction. 1t is sufficient
that justice is always n necessity in found
| ing governments that are 10 operate upon
| all, and that without it no government can
| be expected to endure The ballot, thus
ftU m trau cl cnl
people, will remain with them. There is no
power that can deprive them of it, without
| plunging us into a protracted and terrible
| civil war. -Four millions of human beings
who have once tasted the blessings of free
dom, would not surrender these blessings
without a struggle. They would find pow
erful friends here and elsewhere in the
country. Greater calamities and sufferings
than those endured by our people in the
| late rebellion would come upon us with such
struggle, but the result, though long de-
layed would not be doubtful. Liberty for
all would again triumph. Those who had
provoked "war of races" would disap-
pear from the earth, and their possessions
would pass from their children to the con-
auerors. There ran be no danger of such a
conflict if every one will faithfully submit
to the Constitution and laws, and follow the
things that make for peace and good will
among the people The friends of recon-
struction will prevail hereafter, as heretofore,
not only in the State but in the nation, and
the colored people will, therefore, retain
the right of suffrage and exercise it as it is,
in common with the white race, with no
qualification save that of manhood. There
is no reasonable ground to fear! III. :. yiil
| nat aae,. ~ H., =. :-ii--f----'f Ahe foPuS
nance to It, which exists among many of
our people, will gradually subside, when
they shall be convinced by actnal experience
that none of the evils they anticipate have
resulted from it.
This Constitution, fellow-citizens, must be
administered by its friends and supporters.
The people have so decided. The interests
it guards are too precious to be committed
to any extent to unfriendly hands. Every
office and every employment under the State,
from the most inferior to the most exalted,
must be filed by the friends of rec0nstruc-
ton and of the new State Constitution. So
far as the Executive is concerned this pur-
pose will be inhexibly maintained, not only
from sense of propriety and justice, but as
indispensable to full and fair trial of the
principles contained in the new Constitution
These principles are dear to the friends of
liberty and OF The government of the United
States; and no opportunity should be af-
forded to those who are opposed to them to
occupy official positions or to have employ
ments, in which they would be tempted. as
they certainly are disposed, to pervert, dis
tort or misapply them. The friends of the
government must conduct the government in
all its departments Yet it does not follow
that Others will be singled out to be wrongcd
or oppressed. The people do not Cypress or
wrong any one when they say that certain
persons shall not have office, on account of
their political opinions. Office is privilege,
which may be bestowed or withheld with.
out infringing any right Every citizen of
the State will be free. The laws will be
made for all, and will operate equally upon
all. Every citizen will enjoy, in equal
measure, the protection of the Courts. There
will be no social prescription. No effort
will be made to blacken the names of even
unrepentaDt rebels. as was the case with the
tories of the revolution; but it will be left
to history to assign to their appropriate
places all the actors in the late tragedy of re-
bellion. In fine, those who will conduct the
government are not the enemies of any por.
ton Of the people of the State. They desire
to do justice to all, and, as far as may be, to
be the friends of all. If the administration
OF public affairs shall bring peace, prosperity
and happiness, al will share in these bless
lngs; If, on the contrary, it shall produce
disorder, and further suffering and misery,
none will be exempt from these calamities.
The injunction of the Constitution regard
ing education should be faithfully observed