The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1868-04-08

'g>emh dH0n this occasion. or those demo-
Gratis ho still act with them, are CONSCIOUS
Of al fimproper motive. I deabtfpot| hsA
thin themselves influenced bYa jnst nd
well grounded apprehension. EWewhdFit-s
ne( thejr daily life, the uprigNtne8 of heir
walk ami conversation, find NJ difhculg IN
acquitting them of all influence, save those
which may attend the loftiest PATRIOTISM
Their course, however. may I've supposed by
Others directly in conflict with their engage
Fihents tn Cohgfesss it is certainly inEcoHflict
with the will of that body; now by the
stern decree of fortune and of Providence,
the arbiters of our fate. It Is also plain
declaratiJn df TprSferkne, mt least for the
preseit, II ths Existing military government,
and a, refusal- of the benefits of the Federal
Constitution and therefore I think it
will be difficult for them to disabuse the
public mind at the North Of the impress.
sion that there does exist with certain OF
the native white population of the South, "a
continued feeling of aversion to the govern
n1ent of the United States, and that a senti-.
ment Of /" contumacy"' prevails, especially
among the former leaders OF party, which
constrains them to- oppose and reject aohat-'
eeer plan Of rSconstruction and f'ac.fcntion
Congress may propose. i,....7.,.s l.,,, 90
y, And it is undeniable that from the mo-
ment of this i'll starred assembly until the
present, the cry has gone forth ''Down with
the Constitution 7" not only in advance OF the
adoption of this instrument, but even of any
report upon the subject in the deliberativc
body to which Congress had committed the
| work of Reconstruction Long before the
Adoption II the Constitution the organ of
the coalition had declared the defeat of tho
Constitution t'the slogan OF the party.
may he wrong, but / cannot but consider it
of some consequence to consult public opin-
| ion abroad in our present condition, and in,
| that view think 1T was unfortunate that
time was not given the delegates to the
Constitutional Convention to mature and
present their plans; and that from the mo-
ment of their appearances at the capitol up
ON the call of the government, down 10
their adjournment, they were assailed with
epithets and reproaches in the newspapers
Of the Conservative party. The President
of that Convention in his address of the 9Th
February we'll observes st will not do to
answer these questions by epithets and de-.
| nunciations." ''This is but ordering the
drums to beat to Dire wn the voice of remon-
strance," the resort of Richard the Third,
when met and charged by the mother of the
strangled princes with the procurement of
their DEATH"
1t was impolitic to .precipitate so extern
sive and intricate and hostile an organiza
ton. I am 10th to speak i'll of gentlemen
for whom entertain so much sympathy and
respect They cannot return to the councils
of the nation without the assent of a
two-thirds vote OF their political adverse.
ries. But there are Others who are not in
this position. -, jisI
Their policy shuts the door upon every
other aspirant or nomination. 1t doubtless
was not in their intentions, and yet to the
public mind of the North, already obscured
by suspicious, will it not be at once sug-
gested that they do not despair of such re-
turns unencumbered with the test oath, pro-
vided they are accompanied in their present
exclusion by the bulk of the State2 Hence,
the desire to commit all to sullen refusal
of pacifcation, and thus compel the Con-
gress of the United States to submit to our
terms. The energy which may resist the
emergencies of battle may not always be
equal to the more constant attractions of in
action. The power to infiict pain may be
met by the pride of endurance. There is
mighty strength in the vis inertia of a united
people. If so. it was a magnificent act of
selfish conception. To be successful it must
he unanimous. Surely in that view nothing
could equal the skill with which men of all
shades of opinion were thus committed and
combined, unless it were the happy conccp-
ton which made of those prejudices which
degrade the vulgar steps in the ladder of
ambition. 1 deny, however; that there ex-
lists in North Carolina any such sentiment of
hostility to the government of the United
States, unless it be on the part of those who
took no part in the recent hostilities, and
are dissatisfied with the result There are
always persons who fight only when there is
no war, and are very valiant in peace but I
assert that the desire to return to the Union
and for the reestablishment of the State
government is almost unanimous. 1t is
more than probable that in February last
there was such general disposition to &C
cept any terms of settlement Congress might
propose, that some slight precaution might
have been necessary to guard us from impo-
sition, hut no such interference US this was
necessary. Then the majority would have
willingly adopted this Constitution now,I
do not know what may be its present fate,
opposed by so potent and hitherto irresisti-
BILE a Coalition; then there would be nothing
significant in the adjournment of the Com
vention subject to thu. call of the President;
now, with the brief interval allowed US for
reflection it may mean another session, an
other Constitution and another election;
further discord, unrest and agitation. t
1t is fearful responsibility to forestall
and defeat great popular impulse like this,
and the coalition has accomplished it. lift
be true as is alleged by the President of the
Conservative Convention. that civilization
itself is assailed or intended to be, and our
rights as American citizens trampled down,
although we have been conquered and sub.
mitted, 1 counsel no craven compliance
| That self respect we have maintained amidst
so many disasters requires we shall not con
nives at our own humiliation. If, on the
contrary, it shall appear that these appre-
tensions are mere phantoms. that the Negro
Suffrage ascribed to the new Constitution
already exists and is not likely to be re-
moved or even modified, except by its instru-
mentality; if in fact it shall appear that by
ratifying this instrument we increase the
means and power of resistance, as we'll as
advance the material prosperity of the coun-
try, then l think no wilful ignorance, no
blind prejudice, no selfish motives of per-
sonal ACKNOWLEDGMENT should he permitted
to interfere with or postpone the return of
peace and the offered adjustment of our
difficulties with the Federal government
But negro supremacy negro equality
are shouted by persons who are unable or
unwilling to enter into calm discussion
"Are YOU willing your children shall be