The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1868-08-12

protests that he was driven from his seat by
armed violence. A thousand other officers
elected from their places by the voice of the
people declare the same thing. They are
taught to believe that they are the victims
of a remorseless despotism, and that all the
laws of God and man require them to resist
to the bitter end. We are walking upon the
crater of volcano and can hear the rumbling
fires beneath. Sod
There is but one means of safety. Organ
lie the militia. Pass the bill now before the
Legislature. The interests of law and order
demand it; the preservation of the existing
State government demands it; our lives and
our fortunes demand it; our honor demands
it; the loyal people of the State demand it.
Pass the bill, and all fears of future trouble
will be at once removed A sense of Sc
curity will take the place of the present fear
ful apprehension of some evil TO come. With
this safeguard, the credit of the State will
at once revive Our bonds will advance in
value. Capital will feel secure, and the peo-
pie will rest in peace Pass the bill and ten
thousand heads will repose quietly upon
their pillows without fear of instruction
and riot. A free election will be held, when
every man may vote as he pleases, and the
terrors heretofore exercised by Ku Klux
Klans will be abated.
The cost of organizing this force will be
merely nominal. We speak advisedly when
we say arms can be procured without any
expense to the State If it is thought that
the pay is too much, cut it down; if vol.
unteer system without pay be thought adj
visable, adopt that system. But let as hare
the bill. If the force is organized, there is no
probability that one hundredth part oft will
ever be called into service The bare fact of
its existence will be sufficient terror o evil
doors to accomplish the desired result. 1t
is the sheerest hypocrisy and device of the
enemy to argue that this force will be used
for oppression. Honest men never feared
the Jail Or the whipping post; neither will
any fear this force unless their designs are
acicked. What man did Governor Holden
ever Cypress when he was clothed with die
tatorial powers as Provisional Governor |?
Let even his enemies answ.r. When he
could have taxed or imprisoned at pleasure,
what mans property did he seize, or whom
did he incarcerate? The Governor is amena-
bic to the law, and tine representatives of
the people would be swift to resent any
usurpation. Pass the bill and treason will
be dead, and as our enemies have confessed
in their own secret councils. their organiza-
tion of terrorism would be destroyed and the
rebel Conservative party would exist no more.
Fail to pass the bill +; leave the Executive
of the State without means to enforce the
laws, and who can portray what may be the
fearful consequences Who can tell at what
moment the raging hate which is pent up in
the breasts OF our enemies may break forth
and this Southern land be desolated with
fire and slaughter? The North would not
be the sufferer in this terrible tragedy. 1t
would be here that the lurid glare of inter-
necine war would roar and blaze. 1t would
be Southern homes that would be devoted
to destruction. 1t would he the old
rebel battle yell that would be heard above
this wild sea of universal ruin; it would be
the triumphant shout of the arch-fends of
the first rebellion as they beheld the results
of their labors.
This is a painful picture to contemplate
And yet it is not beyond the range of pos
sibility; not even of probability, should the
proposed Bill fail to become law. Hu-
man nature remains the same. The things
that have been may be again. The passions
were not more fiercely aroused during the
French Revolution than they are to-day in
North Carolina. Why should not similar
results be anticipated here unless means are
taken to guard against them? Let the Re-
publicans remain true to their country,
themselves and the principles of justice
which they profess and all will be WE'LL
Should they be defeated in this measure and
should the torch of the incendiarv and the
dagger of the assassin be let loose upon US,
we will at least know we have done our du-
ty and may say to those who opposed US,
Shake not thy CORY locks at me,
Thou canst not say did it.
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