The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1868-09-23
SEPTEMBER %, 1868.
TO the People of the Sixth Congression-
g al District of North Carolina.

said In my place in Congress was greatly
alarmed at the political condition Of the country
and repeat, am still alarmed. 1t really seems
to me, as ii the welfare of the country was about
TO be lost sight of altogether; and party and the
interests OF party alone were to be regarded.
Congress seems to be wholly unaware of the
true condition OF the States that rebelled; and
it is not strange they should be SO, as since the
surrender there have been SO many men OF little
capacity and less patriotism from the South who
are continually besetting members of Congress.
and endeavoring to make them believe, that loyal
Union men cannot live in the South; that their
lives and their property will not be safe unless
the most extreme measures are resorted to, iE
relation to what they call the rebel leaders and
secessionsts. And they say, more especially,
that men who have settled among us since the
surrender, cannot dwell among us in safety un-
less the most stringent measures are enacted in
relation to rebel leaders; and Congress, relying
too much upon these unfair and false represen-
tations Of interested men, who are looking to
their own political advancement, instead OF the
true interests OF the Southern country, have
from time to time, with honest and patriotic
views, enacted laws which have produced di-
rectly the contrary effect intended by their ad-
vocates, because all harsh measures will contin-
ue to ALLEVIATE and not to heal have had some
opportunity to learn the feelings and wishes of
Congress in relation to the Southern people, and
take it upon myself to declare that, in my opin-
ion, the feelings and wishes of Congress towards
the Southern people are, in general, kind and
conciliatory; and yet their disposition and
kindly spirit have been uniformly misrep-
resented, by two distinct classrs, of our
politicians-the extreme Radical and the extreme
secession or violent war men. These extreme
men OF both parties, us is not unusual, meet and
urge the same views in relation to Congress from
different standpOints, and for different purposes,
both looking to the advancement of their par
tctdr party Interests, regardless of the true in
md rol 4, Of and n<,1 ov1
knows what's to become OF us all aud of our
country unless the people can be induced to
pause in this mad career of party, and devote
some little of their attention to the aCed,e OF the
country, and to its true Interests and lasting pros
perity. sa
Both these extreme party politicians would
seem to wish to have the Southern people be-
lieve that Congress does not really desire the re-
storation of good government and fraternal feel
ing between the two sections, and am COM
PEELED to admit that the effect of the legislation
of Congress has been such as to give plausible
ground for the opinions entertained by many of
our people But all this arises from misrepre-
sentations made to Congress, and from a lack OF
knowledge OF the true condition and feelings Of
our people. Congress has certainly, in my opin-
lon maue great mistakes in their efforts at recon-
struction and restoration but their missteps can
not now be retraced: and il we have any regard
for the true interest and prosperity Of the coun-
try, we must make the best we can of what has
already been accomplished. Our State has al
ready been restored, and such alterations and
changes as We may desire to make in our State
government must now be made by the people OF
North Carolina alone. H
Twas nominated, my fellow-citizens, as you all
know, by the Conservative party, without the
least solicitation on my part, to represent this
District in the present Congress. My views at
the time of my nomination, all will agree, were
as well known as any mans in the 9Th Congress
ional District. hesitated for some time in accept
ing the nomination. was on my circuit attend
ing to my professional duties, having not the
slightest idea that the Conservatives desired me
to be candidate until the day before my nomi-
nation. / had considered my political course
" aed tha sA9 EePoS8aaasss aasote as to NV yapaE
fession and to my own private affairs, >
On mature reflection, although differing in NV
views from many of both political parties, l felt
it to be my duty, on account OF the critical con-
diti0n of the country, to accept the nomination.
My views upon reconstruction were well
known in my district and throughout the State,
and hestated not to declare them whenever an
opportunity offered, and this did in every pub
lie speech made. l declared it as my opinion
that the reconstruction acts were unwise and i'm
polite; that Congress had required of us uni
versal colored suffrage, which I thought unwise
and calculated to produce directly the contrary
effect of that desired. declared myself in favor
of impartial, qualified colored suffrage, as mat
ter of right and justice, judged upon principle,
had Congress made no requisition in the matter
Ny views in respect to col0red suffrage were
well known before the reconstruction acts were
passed.
Notwithstanding my original views touching
reconstruction and colored suffrage, declared
in every speech made, that although thought
Congress had required of the States, on the sub
ject of reconstruction. what ought not to have
been required yet still, as Congress had made
the requisition, I was unhesitatingly in favor OF
doing all that the reconstruction acts required,
as the speediest means of restoration to our
rightful position in the Union. This doctrine
then announced, and have seen no cause to
change the views then expressed, but have seen
great deal TO confirm them.
I had not then forgotten, nor have I since for
gotten, that the authorities in our State had
thrown off its allegiance to the United States,
and had resisted its laws, and had thereby in
volved the country in the bloodiest and most de-
structive war as to life and property the world
had ever witnessed. say, all this remember
ed, and was for accepting the terms offered by
Congress as the shortest way to tue lasting peace
and prosperity of our country
It is true, as all know, was opposed to the
adoption Oft the new Constitution; not because
the Convention had done what the reconstruc-
tion acts of Congress required, but had done
what Congress did not require, and what, in my
opinion, Congress did not desire to be done.
But declared that should the people ratify this
constitution, thenI should feel bound to make
the best VIC could Of it, and that would do what
could to aid in carrying it into effect. In this
respect, have not seen fit to change The views
then expressed 80 fully and freely to the people
of this district. ~
had hoped, when the New York Convention
assembled, they would have presented issues and
nominated candidates, upon which Democrats
and Conservatives could have heartily united ]
thought the condition OF the country required it.
but in this hope have been sadly disappointed,
both in the issues presented and in the candi
dates nominated. had hoped that the Conven
tionwould have had some httleYegard for the sen
ments and opinions of the Conservative, but i.
seems that in all their proceedings they studioas
ly eschewed Conservatism; and that nothing but
straight out old line Democracy would answer
their purposes. They have nominated straight
out old line Democrats, and they have in theiI
platform presented issues utterly at war will
Conservatism, as understand that term; and
the main issue and the only one presented, which
should control any one, says their candidate fol
vice-President, is that the reconstruction acts
are usurpations, unconstitutional, revolutionary
and void, and that these acts of Congress and thu
Constitutions and State Governments formed
under these acts are all to be overthrown ant
trampled into dust by the .'strong arm OF military
power, should the Democratic power succeed j,
electing their nominees. Is this Conservatism
Heaven help the mark! And what am asked
to do, should Isustain this great and only ISSUE
that would control any one, as says their candi
date Blair? Why. l am asked to ignore tht
principles OF lifetime. and to turn my back up
on all said 10 the canvass last spring in regard
to accepting and organizing State govern
mcnts under the reconstruction acts. as the
shorte t and speediest way to settlement
of the difficulties incident to the war, and as
the safest course to the lasting peace and pros
perity of the country Nay, am asked to GO
much further and to declare that my election te
Congress, having been held under the reconstruc
tion acts, is void, and that l have not a shadow
of authority, to a seat in Congress; that in tax
ing my seat have usurped an authority to which
had no rightful claim. Now this is asking $
little too much. hold no such doctrine and ]
therefore am compelled by every principle ol
duty, to decline to support the nominees of the