The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1868-02-26
sFE b l'Iis n j, n {. Ko6Saf.

6 isN a OF BEAUFoH9,l
Dsliss,sd ssMe Constitutional Conpentioa Of
@MNtA- Carolina, on the 90th Es5rsdry. 1855,
Il n tie qssst,on Of Suffrage and Eligi6ilisy
8 tSae6scs
s.. Rodman said: -
Mr.. PRESIDENT II occupy in this Con-
veation a somewhat peculiar position. l
was a Confederate soldier, and claim now,
to be good Republican, and as sincerely
DESTROYS of seeing the Union reconstruceed
in wise and permanent manner, as any gen
tleB,en on this floor Starting from an orig
inal position of opinion different from that
Of most of those with whom am acting,
add ct having arrived substantially at the
same conclusion, I must ask the indulgence
al the Convention, to state briefly the con-
alterations which have led me to my present
convictions. Possibly, the reasons which
have satisfied me, that it is wise and proper
to act with the Republican party, may also
be satisfactory to Others of political antece-
dents, like my own. The gentlemen from
Chowan (Mr. FRENCH said, in his eloquent
spccch of Yesterday, that the late war had
been war of ideas. 1t is very true. All
great wars have been wars OF ideas. Moth
ing but great ideas can rouse the minds of
men to infiict and endure the suferings of a
protracted and sanguinary war. The ideas
. which led to the late war have been Skin
.mishing for over half u century, and mar
shalIing their hosts for n mortal combat
When it came on, it could but stir CONT
tent. and deluge half of it in blood. The
ideas on the part OF the South were, chat
the lfack race was naturally inferior to the
Mil race; that its. proper position Was enc
Of s3bordination and inferiority; and further.
that however that might be. as political
question, it was one entirely for the decision
of the several States, OH the principle of ul-
innate State sovereignty. On the part of
the North were the ideas of a unity Of civil
ization, Of social systems, and of nationality
throughout the territory of the United States.
l shall not waste a moment in discussing
these views. We all know the result The
flag which represented unity of civilization
and unity of nationality, foated triumph
ant over the last field of conflict. The first
consequence was, the emancipation of the
slaves; visibly necessary tor that social as
1similation which was supposed necessa-
ry to preserve the integrity and unity of
the national domain. Emancipation was
accepted by all as an inevitable result of the
war. The Southern people acted sensibly
and in good temper They enacted in the
fundamental laws of the States that slavery
was forever prohibited. Slavery is dead,
and no one seeks or expects ever to revive it,
acquit the Conservative party of all such
purpose 1t seems to me with that, necessa-
rily fell all that was politically distinctive
and peculiar in our Southern civilization
From emancipation necessarily follows suf
frage. cannot see in our existing American
political system any place, intermediate be-
tween slavery and the full enjoyment of eve
ry political right, in which any portion of
the people can I've put, usefully, and consist
emily with the stability OF the government
draw this conclusion without any refer
ence, either to the theory SO clearly stated by
the gentleman from Pasquotank, (Mr. Poole,)
that the right of suffrage is inherent in man.
hood or to any theory of the moral or in
teIectual equality or difference of races
Wise men spin theories, but they do not
bind themselves with them. 1t seems to me,
in practical view, that the existence among
us of class of men possessing every legal
and civil right, free to acquire property, to
receive education, to discuss political ques-
lions, to think, write. speak, and print, but
deprived of all political rights, would be
an element Of discomfort and danger in the
bosom of society. liable at any moment to
explode, and rend society itself in pieces
To remove this element of danger, to make
these legal and civil rights secure, and felt
to be secure-we must add to- them the
great .erSwning, defensive right---the right
to VOTE And do not see in this act the
dangers which SC alarm the Conservative
gentlemen on this floor. / do not see that it
will make the black man superior to the
white man, or enable the black race to gov
ern the white race, by holding the balance
of power, or otherwise. acknowledge that
at this time the colored people of North
Carolina act en- naasse with the Republican
party. l should regret this as permanent
condition of things, just as should regret
| to see any class whatever. united against any
other, or one section Of the State united
against another. 1t is well for the peace OF
society, that partisans of all parties shall be
| found in all classes and sections. But the
Conservative party should recollect, that by
the very issue which it makes, it compels this
action in mass, on the part of the c0lored
people. Let this right to vote be once con-
coded to them, let them cease to fear any at
tempt to take it away again. and the natu'
raj elements of dissent will have room te
work; the colored people will divide among
the different parties, just as white men do
and while individually enjoying the atlvan.
tage of suffrage, as distinct political power
they will cease to be either dangerous or i'm
| " 1ek =,
recollected that the colored vote will in thu
nature of things be perpetualy decreasing
in its relative strength. They have but ont
means of increase, the whites have two. LIE
but the first rill of immigration trickle int
| North Carolina, it will soon swell into
stream and wash away every gloomy appre
hension of African domination. So far, il
all this argument. have avoided looking t.
any outside pressure on this subject, othe
than what l consider to be the established
principles of American government, and tn
absolute necessity of assimilating our insti
tutiOns. to these great general and dOminan
principles have avoided referring to tn
necessity of granting this boon to the color
ed people, in order to he restored to tn
Union. But confess this consideration ha
great weight with me. I believe that out
side of the pale of the Union there can b
neither peace nor prosperity for North Care
lima, or any Southern State. / do not be
lieve that the Rapublioan-pnrty designs a
intends, to give any one race dominatio
over another The aims of that party as
conceive them to be, are benevolent. The
may be summed up in the phrase: One Law
one civilization, one government for til
whole United States Whatever else ma
he said of this purpose, certainly, it is quit
Incompatible with the taking of the chair