The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1868-09-02
Retaliation.

principles. Even weil-fed Doctors OF OWN
ity tell us that we must not construe too
strictly those passages which, to a simpler
comprehension, seem to inculcate non-rcsis.
tance to injuries. However, be this as it
may, one thing at least Is certain and that
is, that self-preservation is the first law of
nature and we find that both individuals and
nations illustrate the maxim. An eye for an
eye and a tooth for tooth is still law
among men, and the number of those who
turn the other, when cne cheek is smitten,
is remarkably small
! In state of nature, the right to redress
an injury is lodged in the hands of the per-
son wronged. The ground of human pun
ishment is justice. In the individual ag-
grieved, this sense of justice takes
the form of revenge in the public
mind, it takes the form of Indignation. Thus
among the ancient Jews, and among the
savage tribes now existing, the son slays the
man who took the life of his father. brother
or kinsman. Personal revenge is transmu-
ted into a. religious virtue and public indig-
nation not only justifies but approves the
act. The criminal law in civilized States
does not change the essential character of
punishment. 1t merely relieves the injured
party from the duty of redrcssing his own
wrongs, and places the redress in the hands
of the State. 1t is entirely incorrect to sup
pose that the object of punishment is to re.
form the criminal, or to make an example of
him to deter Others from crime. These are
only the incidents. The stream cannot rise
higher than the fountain. The State pos
sesses no other right to inflict pun
ishment than the right which was vested in
the individual, and which right has been
granted over to the State to exercise
The idea of punishment, then, is the idea
of retaliation. 1t is just and right TO retail
late; it is more. it is often expedient, not
unfrequently necessary.
A painful fact has suggested the forego-
ing general reflections. The colored race in
North America has been enslaved for about
two hundred years. A few years ago, they
were emancipated by the proclamation of
President Lincoln. A few years thereafter,
they were made citizens of the United States,
and the right of suffrage was accorded them.
They naturally exercised that right to pro
tect and defend themselves in their newly
acquired franchises. This course of action
on their part, drew down upon them the
vengeance of those who were desirous of de-
| priying them of these franchises. As gen.
eral rule, the newly enfranchised race is very
poor and entirely dependent upon their own
labor for clothing, food and shelter. As a
general rule, those who desire to reduce this
unfortunate race opolitical serfdom, possess
houses and lands and corn and meat. Thus
it happens that the former race is entirely
dependent for labor upon those who are their
implacable political enemies. 1t further
happens to be lamentable and disgraceful
fact that many of the possessors of these
houses and lands and meat and corn are
using these for purposes of oppression.
They are combining ith each other not to
give employment to those who will not con-
sent sell their citizenship. The only alter
native, then, which is presented to thousands
of our citizens, is to vote for Seymour and
Blair, or starve. But suppose they do not
choose to vote for Seymour and Blair, and
rather choose to take the chance of starva-
tion that consent voluntarily to their own
egradation-what then? 90 ,
Something must be done. The law of self
preservation must necessarily be obeyed.-
Something must be done at all hazards but
the more quietly and peacably it can be done
so much the better The question then is, can
there be any remedy under the forms of law?
We think SO, unquestionably. OF course it is
not to be supposed that men and women and
children will starve to death while corn is still
standing it the fields and while hogs and cattle
are not kept under lock and key. But these are
matters of minor importance and are to be ex-
pected, however much the necessity may be de-
plored. What We mean is, that there is one Ell
ficient remedy for this wholesale crusade of op-
preston carried on against the colored race to
strare him into voting against his choice The
remedy is this
Whenever the Republicans have control of a
county, let meeting of the commissioners be
called at once. Let them make out list of all
the coored stone-masons, brick-layers, plaster
ers, painters and carpenters. Then let them
select site of sufficient dimensions for village
of from five 10 fifteen hundred colored paupers
as the case may be. The work itself will give
employment to a considerable number of per-
sons and some time will be required to completeit.
Then let the county paupers be moved in and
and be provided with houses and food at the
expense of those who have made them paupers.
Let the tax be SO laid to effect only the large
land holder. Not one in twenty ownes any land
at all and the large land holders are much
rarer. This tax will fall lightly upon the great
mass OF the people, while the oppressive land
holder will be compelled to throw his broad
acres upon the market to raise money to pay
the taxes; And in addition to this, let the
Legislature deprive these exactng tyrants of
the benefits of the stay law and compel them to
pay their debts. Pass their lands under the
she,iffs' hammer and give the poor chance to
buy land. 10 e1L ~. aa h9s ii
From all sections of the State we are re-
ceiving the most cheering intelligence
Judge Pearson's letter is working wonders
among the Conservative and peace-loving
men OF the State While we can hear of no