The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1868-09-30
For the Standard. 3
Political Discussion at LincOlntOn-.
Rynum and Vance. .tr-

sar For the Standard. r
Political Discussion at LincOlntOn-.
Bynum and Vance. 1al srs.
Mr.. Bynum began the discussion, by stat
ing that the large assembly had met pursu-
ant to notice issued by him, that he would
on that LAY, address his fellow-citizens upon
the political issues, now before the people.
That he saw Gov. Vance upon ground
to reply to him, and that he, Mr.. Bynum,
would checrfully accord him hearing. for
while he did not invite or desire controversy,
it was against his principles to avoid fair
discussion. tlH
Mr. Bynum then proceeded to say that he
while he saw things in the Republican party
which he did not approve, he also saw in
the leaders of the Democratic party, those
who had brought us to our present misery,
and he could not look for salvation to the
authors of our ruin. That his address was
mainly directed to that respectable class of
his fellow citizens, known as peace ConserUG
tioes and peace Democrats, who not bound
by the blind ties OF party, felt themselves
at liberty to vote according to an enlighten-
ed and contentious sense of duty.
He proceeded to say that by the common
consent of both parties in the South, there
was before the public mind, but one ques-
ton which has here, absorbed all Others,
and that question was as to the acceptance
of the Reconstruction measures" That
for the purpose of narrowing the discussion,
to its true limits. he would confne himself
to the duty Of North Carolina, in relation
to these measures. That North Carolina had
accepted the terms of reconstruction, ordain-
ed a Constitution which had been ratified
by the people, elected and sent members to
Congress, and been admitted into full men,
bership, as a co-equal State of the Federal
Union. That while it was natural for US to
complain Of the terms of our re-admission
into the Union, it must be admitted that
we who committed the alleged offence, were
not the proper judges of the punishment,
and that the conquered could not dictate
terms to the conquerors. That lie believed
the civilized world, outside of US, was unan
imous, that no vanquished race, after
war of such fury and duration
ever received more favorable terms from
the victors. He instanced the English re-
bclion of 1745. the revolts in Hungary, the
Irish rebellion, and the treatment of the 10y
aIists in the American revolution, rs cases in
point, where greater civil and political disa-
bilities were imposed than have been i'm
posed upon the South.
Mr.. Bynum went on to state that the prop
osition of the Republican party was that the
present government of North Carolina was a
rightful government and entitled TO the mo-
raj as wella legal obedience of its citizens
and on the other hand, the Democratic party
holds that this State government is rerolu-
tionary, unconstitutional and cold, and that
the people are not bound to obey it. They
further hold that it will be the duty of their
President, if elected, to dispense this State
government, by arms if necessary, and pro-
coed, in some way, to organize new gov
eminent. .....- ..-
So the question is having established our
selves in the Union and engaged in those
peaceful industrial pursuits, SO essential to
US, shall We now attempt to rip up the work,
tear open old sores and renew another fierce
and, he feared, bloody struggle, for at most,
the doubtful result of better times7
That before we accept the Democratic
proposition that the legislation of Congress is
null and void and not entitled to our obe-
dience, we should be extremely sure that it
is so, otherwise it is rebellion and just that
course pursued in bringing on the late war;
That we may believe laws to be unconstitu-
tional, but that belief will not protect us
from punishment for an open defiance of
them. Before we can disregard them, they
must be legally adjudged to be unconstitu-
tional, by q judicial tribunal competent to
pronounce judgment upon them. The re-
construction acts have not been declared un
fnt and thorof,,ra hinlinrr
upon the conscience of the citizen, and q
wilful refusal of obedience to them, puts him
in rebellion against the government.
Mr.. Bynum proceeded to say that the
main ground of the Democratic party, for de-
claring the government of North Carolina
null and void, is, that Congress allowed GER
tain persons to vote who were before not
allowed to vote, and excluded others who
before had that right. That this argument,
pushed to Its extent, not only tears down
the present State Government, but
also the Government attempted to be
set up by the President and even proves that
VIC have no U. S. government, or any gov
ernment at all For if the exclusion of a
few voters from the polls, made the State
election void, as Judge Ruffin held, what be-
comes of the President of the United States,
who was elected by excluding ten entire
States from voting His election is void
and we have no lawful U. S. government !!
If our State government is null and void, he
said, these consequences followed.
LIST. We are without any civil government
or officers of the law, and might makes
right. End. Slavery is not abolished, but
exists is full legal force, and every slave
owner has the legal right to reclaim his
slaves. For slavery, if abolished, is SO, eth
er by the amended Constitution of the Uni
ted States or of the State of North Carolina.
1t is not abolished by the former, for that
amendment became part of the Constitu
ton only by the concurrent vote of three
fourths of the States, which number was
got only by counting several of the Southern
States, and as these were Illegal votes and
void, slavery was not SO abolished. 1t is not
abolished by the Constitution of North Car
DINA for our State government is null and
void and could not legally abolish slavery.
So if this party is right, however it may be
in fact, slavery is not in lao abolished, but
exists at magazine full of future mischief
and confusion. A third consequence of the
nullity of the State government is that there
is no legal way of forming new State gov
eminent, for there would be no lawful Off
GERS to hold the elections and declare the re-
suit of the ballot! Therefore no legal cleo
lions can now be held and there is no pro-
vision in the Constitution to meet the emer-
gency. That the Democratic party may tear
down and destroy this State government
and hurl US back to where we were at the
end of the war, with anarchy and CRIME
overspreading the land, but when we final
ly entered the Union, it would be just as aoe
are back no,o, in way not expressly provi-
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