The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1868-10-28

UaN appointed by Gencfal RttuS bafTlHSeT,
Grant and Cnltax candidate tur E!ector for
the sixth Congressional District, there was
discussion OF the political questions OF the
day at the Courthouse between Gen. Bar
ringer and Hon. J. 6. Ramsay, on the one
side, aud Henry Walser, Esq, on the other.
Notwithstanding the Generals notice to
speak was not we'll known, and in conse-
Quenco also ofan important sale in the neigh
borhood, the crowd was not so large us 1T
would otherwise have been; as 1t was,
however, there were several hundred present.
GENERAL. RUFUS BARRINGER.
1t heing the Generals appointment, he
opened the discussion in a speech of about
an hours length, in which he stated that he
would be brief, as he was quite indisposed
and had professional advice not to exert
himself He said he belonged to the FEEDER
al Wing school of politics, and that when a
hoy his father-a Federalst- hurrahed
for Jackson, on account of his famous NULL
| iication proclamation, lie too had shouted.
That he had been but little in public lite, as
| a politician, hut had been a member of the
Legislature some years ago, when he made
| speech for the abolition of the county courts,
classes would ultimately demand speedier
and less expensive mode Of legal proceed
| ings than that required by the county court
| system, and that he had the sanction OF
| Gov. Graham's views on that subject at that
| time The General said he was Union
| man until he saw war was inevitable, and
when war came he went into it, in Difference
| to the views of his section-not, however,
without some apprehension as to the result.
| He had been promoted without asking 1t,
and had fought through the whole four
years war, and had been taken prisoner at
| the close, and retained North four months,
during which time he became convinced
that negro suffrage must come, and had
written home to that effect, and advised in
| fluential men here to lead in the matter.
This advice had not been regarded, and we
now reap the fruits of following the dictates
of passion and prejudice.
He took the broad and high ground that
| the reconstruction acts were both
necessary and constitutional Necessary
for .he protection of the loyal whites
and their loyal allies, and the colored race
| in the South constitutions! upon the broad
| ground, admitted by the Union men, himself
| included, before the war-that the National
| Government lad the right of coercion. He
then proceeded to the discussion of the
Democratic platform, rs illustrated by the
Blair letter; showed the imminent danger
| of civil, of inteTnecine war. He showed con-
| misunderstanding from Judge Parsons
| sons letter to fortify his position-that the
| negro race never would submit, and that the
| Republicans North never would agree TO
| have the ballot taken from the hands of the
| former violently, as Blair proposed. The
| General concluded his able and convincing
remarks by stating that he had said more
than he intended, because the audience
seemed disposed to hear; that he would be
followed in IL few remarks by DR.. Ramsay,
of Rowan, who would then be followed by
Mr. WaIser, of Davidson, in answer to both,
when, according to agreement, he (the Gen
The General was frequently and heartily
cheered by the voters present.
J. G. Ramsay stated in the outset that he
would do himself injustice to make only a
few remarks, but that time would not allow
more He was private citizen, holding no
Office and a candidate for none. He had
made but few speeches since the war, and
had not closely identified himself with any
party. Having made up his mind calmly
and deliberately, as he hoped to vote for
Grant and COlfaX, he came over to Davie
with no settled purpose to speak, but still
he was prepared to do so, and would confine
himself to few only of his reasons. He
said our unhappy position arises from con-
tiict of power and policy between the Presi-
dent and Congress. He had submitted to
the plan of reconstruction of the President
as matter of duty and policy, and did the
same in the case of Congress Both appeal
ed to the same article and clause of the Con-
stitution to justify them, and if one was I'M
constitutional so was the other. He read
extracts from the Raleigh Sentinel to show
that the Conservative party was pledged to
reconstruct IN good filth under those acts,
as we'll as to show the estimate placed by
that party in 1867 on the Northern Democ-
racy, and declared that the party having
voted on the Convention question was COM
mitted, and neither an individual nora party
could protest against their own acts He
also read extracts from the Sentinel and
other papers to Show that no reliance
could be placed upon the Supreme
| Court to declare the reconstruction
acts nconstitutonal--that these papers be-
lieve the Court would regard the subject as
political and dismiss IT, Then, said he, Sin
! the absence If il decision of that Court de-
! claring these acts unconstitutional, and in
the absence also ola repeal of those acts by
! Congress land Mr. Blair regards their repeal!
! as impossible should the President elect
| as MIR. Blair advises attempt the overthrow
! of the State governments, as now reorgan.
led he will he regarded as Il usurper and
will doubtless be resisted not only by the
Republicans of the North, but by the whole
power also of the State governments so at
tackled" The true question was practical
onc--not whether these acts are unconstitu-
tional, but whether what has been done un-
der them shall be overthrown by violence.
IF the Democratic party meant anything
they meant serious acork. If they meant
nothing, they were guilty of deceivng the
people, and exciting hopes which could not
be realized. He showed most conclusively,
that even upon the most violent suppo-
sition that the ballot could be taken away
from the negro peaceably, neither the negro
nor the question could be got clear Of and
that if only qualified ballot were accor-
! Cled it would not be five years before all now
voting would vote again. Everything said
i lie, is now settled, except the social status OF
the negro, which must be settled anyhow
| whether he votes or not. and that too by So
= cety and not by law. Turning to the col
ored people. he said. 81 have been de
nouneed for the course see proper to take
The colored people have always treated me
we with respect, and expect to treat them
{ in the future as in the past 50 far as social
i x~+'A