The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1868-01-15
The r, Proposed p, rebel state Convention.

OlaIC, Has Cdllcu d SOuNCitIWt W OC hSi0 III
this City on the 5th of next month, the oh |
iect of which is to defeat, if possible, the re- |
construction acts. We call these people !
Obstructive Destrnctivcs, for by their con-
duct they are perpetuating as far as they
can the destruction caused by the rebellion.
During the rebellion they were Positive De-
structives holding this poor people up to the
war under the power of the bayonet, ur-
til desolaion and ruin overspread the land.
These leaders defeated the. Presidents
plan Of restoration They next defeated the
Congressional plan, to wit, the Howard
amendment. When they were urged to ac-
cept this plan, and thus restore the State to
| the Union, they declared that the terms were
too degrading, and that they would accept
nothing until they knew what the ultima
tum would be. They said they would ac-
cept the ultmatum-that is, as soon as Con-
/ gress should finally say what was required
they would, submit, and would promptly
carry out the requirement. Well, Congress
finally acted by passing the present recon-
struction acts, but instead of accepting them
as they had promised to do, they became
more violent than ever in their opposition;
| and they now declare this final action of
! Congress unconstitutional, null and void,
| and are taking steps to defeat it. Failing in
| this, it is their purpose still to cherish OPP
| position TO these acts, andto avail them
selves of the first opportunity to orepeal them,
to put the loyal people under their feet, and
to restore themselves to power. In other
words, protesting to submit, they would ig-
nore and reject the authority Of the nation,
and set up in its stead a government for
this State based on the principles and senti-
! ments of such traitors as Jefferson Davis and
| o. B. Vance
The public men who are pursuing this
4 course are deadly enemies to the people OF
this State. They know that the restoration
| of the State to the Union is indispensable
to the well being OF our afflicted and suffer
ing people, and that restoration can be effec-
ted IN no other way than by and through
the reconstruction acts; yet they are oppos-
ing these acts, and doing all they can to de-
feat them Even if these acts were ohjec.
tionablc, as they are not, these rebeilious
leaders might as well live under them as our
loyal people. Certainly they have no pecu-
liar claims on the government. Indeed,
they ought to be thankful that their lives
4 and property have been spared them. after
their persistent, selfish, and criminal opposi-
| tion to the government; but for gratitude
they exhibit hatred. and for submission,
which they solemniy promised, they are sub
stituting the most desperate Efforts to thwart
| the national WILL These leaders are thus
showing by their conduct that they are gov
| erned solely by the desire for Office. They
can not bear the idea of being deprived of
the patronage and power of the State gov
ernment, on which they have so long
lived and fattened, and hence the desper
ate and frantic efforts they are making to
defeat the reconstruction acts. But their
fate is sealed The Convention they have
called. to assemble here on the 9th of
next month, will only serve to stimulate
the Constitutional Convention to more
/ prompt and stringent measures. A sound
republican Constitution will be formed
will be submitted to the people and ratified,
and loyal officers, from Constable to Gov
ernor, will I've elected and placed in Office
The militia will be organized and arms
placed in their hands to maintain the public
peace; and any thing like organized re-
sistance by these leaders, or violations of
law by their infatuated followers, will be
visited with swift and heavy punishment
The people are going to rule in this State
They have been ruined too. long already by
these leaders. Every interest dear to them
and their posterity demands repose, and
such protection from class legislation the
result of sectional, secession principles land
such laws generally as will put the State ON
the high road to renewed prosperity
North-Carolina is the property OF the people,
and not of the few sorcheaded politicians
and traitors for whom Mr. Badger speaks.
/ Nearly if not quite all the insurgent lead
! ers who have joined in this call for a Con-
vention to defeat the reconstruction acts. ARE
banned by the Howard amendment When
! do these gentlemen expect to be relieved of
! their disability 25yf.. When Birnam wo6d
shall come to Dunsinanc ~ Let Others who
are also banned by the Howard amendment
beware of following these men. Their
names recorded as delegates to this Obstruc-
ton Convention, will stand against them as
\ perpetual record to bar them from relief,
and they will go to their graves with tlieir
disability upon them People will say to
their children after they are dead, 9. Here
lies man who was banned by bis govern
ment for his treason. That government
kindly opened the door for his repentance,
/ and told him he should be restored if he
( would cheerfully exert himself to repair the
/ evil he had done. But, refusing to hearken
to the voice Of mercy and reason, lie contin-
ncd his evil conduct and attempted to
I Nound the hnnd that had spared and would
4 have restored him: and now, behold, he
sleeps in his grave doui,ly stamped by his
own acts as an migrate and traitof!" = -
! SAIL THE DEcENcY.r I'm the Virginia
J Convenrion on, the 9th seme member called