The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1868-09-09
The Challenge.

Sentinel to answer the following proposi
tions from the letter of Judge Pearson, and
gave notice that unless it replied within
q reasonable time we should publish it to
the world that it was unable to contro-
vert single one of those propositions. 1t
has not dared to attempt an answer to one
of our questions, and has thus shown
signs of sanity and wisdom; for it well
knows that any attempt to refute those posi-
tions would involve it in confusion and
defeat. They reach the very root OF the is
sues in the Presidential contest; and while
the Sentinel vainly and falsely claims to
represent the intelligence of the State. it, in
common with the leaders ofits party through
the press and on the stump, seeks to achieve
success by keeping its readers, and its fol-
lowers who cannot read, in darkness and ig-
norance. We now fulfill our promise, and
declare that the Sentinel will not, can not,
and dare not answer the following PROPOSE
tiors:
s, 1st. Is it not true, "That the South at
tempted revolution and was su!iugated, and
our condition is one of the bitter fruits of
the rebellion 2
In 1861 the Democratic party South, en-
couraged by the false promises of the Demo-
ocratic party North, organized rebellion,
because, as they asserted, tho administration
of Mr.. Lincoln would not give the protection
to slavery which it had previously received,
and because they saw that the South, while
acting in the interests of oppression. would
not again obtain control Of the Government
of the United States. That rebellion was
put down. the hostile forces were subjuga-
ted and destroyed; the rebellious govern
ments were overthrown. But it required
sacrifice Of the lives Of five hundred thousand
of the best and nob!cst men in the nation, and
an expenditure in money of over four thou
sand millions of dollars, besides the untold
| millions of property used and destroyed in
the South by the contending armies. Before
its accomplishment misery, poverty, mourn
ing and wide spread desolation was univer-
sal throughout the South. Impartial histo-
| ry records that this resulted from the Dem
ocratic rebellion, and our present condition
of misery, poverty and disorder sis one of
the fruits of the rebellion"
Cd. Is it not logically true that, If the
reconstruction acts of Congress are void, so
are the reconstruction measures of President
johnson, and the negroes are still slaves9"
By the ordinances of secession, passed in
1861, the existing governments in the revolt
ing States were superseded and displaced by
governments revolutionary in their charac-
ter. While the people of the several States
were not absolved from their allegiance to
the Federal Government, the rebel organiza-
| tions were in direct and open hostility to
that government, and compelled the people
of the States to give their aid and assistance
| in tue attempt to overthrow the Federal su-
premacy. We all know the result. The
| government asserted its authority, and the
rebellious organizations were overthrown.
The theory upon which the Government
acted after the collapse of the rebellion was,
that the seeding States were left without
valid and legal governments; that the loyal
State governments which existed prior to the
war, having been superseded by armed Sc
cessipn organizations, and these organiza-
tions in their turn having been destroyed by
the Union armies, the States were left with
out local governments, which could he re-
cognized under the Constitution. 1t then
became necessary to organize governments,
or in other words, to reconstruct the States
upon a basis of loyalty. This theory was
recognized by President Lincoln, prior to the
close of the war, in the appointment of Pro-
visional Governors for the States of Louisiana
and Tennessee. 1t was recognized by An
drew johnson himself, in accepting the ap-
pointment and exercising the functions of
Military Governor of Tennessee, and in the
organization of provisional governments in
the several rebel States after the surrender of
Lee, and after the assassination Of Lincoln,
States. Congress recognized the same prin-
ciple, and acting under the provision of the
Constitution, which says Congress shall
guarantee to the States republican form of
| government, passed the reconstruction acts
for the purpose or recognizing those States
upon the basis of the civil and political
| Ity Of all lonA