The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1868-02-19
OR MOUNTAIN CORRESPONDENCE.
MARSHALL. MADISON Co., N. c
February Tth, 1868.

fcDfuarv Itn, 1905.
MEssRs EDITORS :-Supposing that a line
from the Mountains would not he unaccep-
table TO your readers in the East, l seat to
myself tn drop you a few notes by the way"
in reference to the pecuniary and political,
status of our people. The Republicans of
the cisnaontaiae portion of the ''old North
State" are unit for Restoration, Equal,
Rights and the Union"
We have been rejoiced to see, and feel and
know, that the Constitutional Convention,
now in session in your City, is working with
so much harmony and unity of spirit in the
one deliberate purpose OF restoring North
Carolina to her constitutional relations in
the Federal Union on the true basis of Re-
publicanism, and the eternal principles of
equal justice and equal rights to all her
citizens. 1t is not unknown to you, and to
your readers, that strong efforts have been,
and are now being made to establish in
this locality "white mans" party, based
on political partisanship, and the total dis
franchisement, not only of the innocent and
helpless colored race, but of all those, who
favor equal right and fair and impartial
administration of the government. With
this view, the Secession and Copperhead
party, (under the name of "Conservative'O
are organizing themselves, with the prefix of
Constitutional Union men" God save the
mark y to defeat the Constitution to be SUBJ
mitted for ratificati on by the Convention,
now in session. Here, if anywhere, there
should exist prejudice against the colored
man, and his rights before the law, because
we have but few of that population among
us, and because of the imaginary antlpathy
existing between the poorer whites, and COL
0red races. These men of the mountains,
though poor pecueiarily, are rich in justice.
They do not seek to deprive citizens of
rights, guaranteed to them by nature, and
natures God, because ut their color By
reference to the recent election returns, it
will be found that the white Unionists of
the mountains are abundantly able to take
care of, and protect themselves at the ballot
box, regardless of the very small vote cast
by the colored population. The Union
voters of these Counties, independent of
all things, and considerate of the ma
tional unity only, are determined that
North Carolina shall be reconstructed and
the old ship Of State" once again safely
meored in the landings of fidelity to the
Union aud eternal pepce and happiness,
quiet and prosperity to all her citizens re-
gardless of all side issues, on the basis pro-
posed 5y the National Congress- Too long
have we suffered and endured too long have
we mouFned for " our first love;' too long
have We hearkened to the siren voice of Sc.
cessien and rebellion; too long has the voice
of reason been stifed; too long has bloody
governments of rebellion and treason been
Haunted in our faces; too long has the cry of
brether's blood come up to us from thou.
nd tn6 t;,,,,, II
over our green hills and grassy slopes-mur-
dered for principle, and love of the old flag
which waved SO grandly over the land; too
long has the mist of their blood arisen from
the ground, like incense from consecrated
altar, and appealed to justice and law for
Vengeance; too long have the walls of wild
owed wives and orphaned children assembled
to the God of the fatherless and the widow
too long have old men mourned to return
again to the land consecrated to. freedom in
the first revolution, by the best blood of our
SEWERS, SHELBY's, CLEAvELAND's Nc
DowELL's, and the heroes of Kings Noun
tain, the Thermopylg of American liberty
too long have we overlooked the crimes of
the red right arm of treason too long has
the voice calling forrepentance gone unheard
through the land
"Return oh, wanderer, return"
Too long have we, like Israel in Babylonish
bondage, hung our harps upon the willow
and sat us down by the rivers and wept, be-
cause we could not sing the Lords song in
a strange land" Oh, sir, the heart sickens
and languishes when we look back over the |
past, and we long to gather up our hopes
and binding them in the tie of universal |
brotherhood" return to the Union of our
fathers and be happy forever more.
The Republican party in this county are
in complete organization, and the councils
of our Leagues are fully at work, and Wig
orously preparing for the approaching po-
litical campaign. We have no fears, under
the leadership of true and tried Republic
cans; we can march forth to battle and VIC
tory in solid and unbroken phalanx In
this Senatorial district, comprising the SIX
counties embraced from Transylvania to
Mitchell. we have trusty leader, whose
eloquent lips are only ovcrshadowed by his !
genial heart. I defer pronouncing his name,