The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1868-02-26
Sir, it is not : part Of my character T. h y.

'f1lngH " IL u0Vc, nome pt luaL huDiShtoPiits
!, that would elevate mortals to the skies, l
| thank nv God, I have none Of that baser
principle that would drag angels down.
In all great civil wars, as we'll as in do
nestle troubles, the fault is not entirely on
one side. Both parties are guilty to some
[extent,i and if our Conservative: friends
should challenge him, who is without guilt
among Us to cast the first stone suspect
few blows would he struck. 1t seems to me
it would he well for us to forget and forgive
! the past-to invite the waves OF oblivion to
roll over it, and hide it from our sight for
ever. The future, big with great events, IS
before us, and it becomes the great party OF
progress to look steadily at the beacon-light
ahead and to cast no glance at the shoulder
ing ruins behind. Every consideration OF
peace, and happiness, and success points to
this as the only true course for us to pursue
No party can live long by any policy of pro-
scription. The humanity, and the mercy,
and the forgiving spirit which animates the
great mass of men, will be heard in period
of repose, and he who is prescribed becomes
a martyr, and enlsts the sympathy OF those
who abhor his crimes. My own idea is,
| that q rebel DISTINGUISHED is much more pow
erful than if clothed with all the privileges
of American citizenship.
The fifth excluded class consists OF those
who inflicted cruel or unusual punishments,
or violated the rules of civilized warfare
Some writer has we'll said. that in time OF
war, hell legislates for humanity. Infamed
by the sight and the smell of blood, and
overcome by partizan feelings, men forget
| the nobler instincts Of their nature and com
| nit deeds of barbarity, at which, in their
/ caimer moments, the very blood runs cold.
/ It is not we'll, Sir, for us to look too closely
into the records of the war. lest some stain
| be found upou our own skirts. Now, do
not wish to be understood as excusing those
who committed such crimes but say this:
that it was the duty of the national govern
mcnt to vindicate its violated honor, and to
try, and convict, andif need be- execute the
guilty; but it is not Tor US to inf1ict this
unusual punishment forbidden by our Bill
of Rights, upon the offenders. Vengeance
belongs to the government. whose flag has
been assailed; hut not to the State OF North
Carolina. which, unfortunately was one OF
the assailants. trust, Sir, that this Con-
vention will pursue no such vlndlchve
course. Remember that the children of
these men. IN yon.s will grow up together,
and it is infinitely better to hide from them
the evil deeds of their ancestors, than to
keep them constantly before their eyes,
source of humiliation and disgrace
This brings me to the third section of the
report, which provides for the registration
of voters. 1t strikes me, that this whole
subject should be lett with the Legislature.
We all know, by the recent experience of
our military commanders, how very expen-
sive the process of registration is If uni
versal suffrage prevails, as l believe it will,
there will be no necessity for boards of reg
istration, except in cities, and thus much
will be saved to the State.
come now, sir, to the majority report on
suffrage l have already stated, at some
length, my objections to the various grounds
of disfranchisement, urged by the two mi
nurity reports and these objections are in
themselves the chief arguments to he adduc-
ed in favor of universal suffrage Little,
therefore. is left to be said upon this sub
ject. feel sure, that the only considera-
tions which would induce members of this
Convention to consent to any act of disfran-
chisement, are those of absolute necessity
necessity for the success of the Republican
party, and the permanent restoration of the
Union. To this point, then, invite your
attention for very short time. In the first
place, it will be remembered, that this act of
Acknowledgement, proposed by the commit
tee will not 60 into effect, until after the
coming election, and the ratification of
/ the Constitution will, therefore, not bee
dangered. In the next place would sug
gest the fact, that in the late election. a
a majority of about 10000 was polled for
tine Convention. Now, assuming that the
5000 DISTINGUISHED men in this State all vote
against the party hereafter, we would yet
have majority of more than $4,000. But,
sir, of this 5000, nearly if not fully, one half
are republicans and in thorough accord
with the reconstruction policy of Congress-
and thus the cause of reconstruction would
suffer but little by admitting them all to the
ballot. But there is another fact to which l
would call the attention of the Convention
that more than 10000 registered voters re-
fused to come to the polls. These are com
posed. in great measure, OF moderate men
who hate any policy of prescription, but
who would cooperate with the friends OF
Union upon platform of moderation and
forgiveness of the past. Now, sir, say, that
If the Republican party, cannot control this
State for twenty years with its 10000 ma
inrity, and division of the floating vote of
as. 900. with all the offices and patronage of
the State at its command, then, sir. we had as
well give up at once and admit, that we are
UNEQUAL to the requirements of the situation.
1 express my honest convictions, when say,
that believe the adoption of the majority
report of the committee on suffrage will Sc
cure this State to the Republican party for
the next quarter of a century. -..
now come, sir, to the subject of eligibil-
ity to office. And here would remark, that
the impression, which seems to have taken
hold of the minds of some, that every quail
fled elector should be eligible to office, is en-
tirely erroneous, and is totally at war with
all precedent, AMI is an entire innovation
upon almost every article of the constitution
of every State in the Union. For example :
man must have arrived at the age of more
than twenty-one years-generally 25 or 30
years-before he is eligible to the Office of
Governor or 1t. Governor. The principle
upon which this difference is made, is found
ed upon these considerations: that every
man is entitled to a voice in the government
as birthright. But every one is not enti
tied to hold office, for in this capacity he is
not acting for himself alone, but for the good
of the whole community. He should, there
fore, have ripper experience, and more con-
spicuous ability. These considerations, sir
which have induced the wisest Legislators of
the past to impose certain disqualifications
upon Office holders which did not apply to
voters, have induced your committee to rem
der persons ineligible to Office, who do not
Srecognize higher power, or who have been
adjudged guilty of treason or other infamous
| nd in To l,fln6