The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1869-07-28
!. Ask md We shall Receive. /.

Tho Republican party advocates the liberal
principles of Universal Suffrage and sGenerai
Amnesty. Standard -
g Is the Standard in favor Of the passage of
General Act by Congress, Immediately upon its
Assembling In December next, FOR the rsnNoval OF
the disabilities imposed by the l4ih Amend
ment odd North State.
To answer such question in one word
would be neither correct nor proper. There
arc many things to be considered. I'VE will 4
say, however, that we hope that the law will
be modified We do not, how ever, presume
to dictate to CONGRESS what action it
should take in the matter. The 18th
Amendment is not party measure to
be repealed and adopted Ms the rxi-
gendics of parties may require, 1t is
now portinu of the Constitution
of the UNITED STATES, and can only hc re-
pealcd by tho people Of the whole country
that is any amendment To tho amendment
would have to he ratified by the people ut
the UNITED STATES, Neither Ito We think
that total repeal OF the amendment would
be either advisable or proper. The Consti'
tuition of tue UNITED STATES, section =,
article 4, states: " Treason against the UNI
TED STATES shall consist only in lecyiag tcar
against them, or IN adkering to their enemies,
sirisg them aid and comfort" Section of
the l4th amendment simply prescribes the
punishment for treason. Therefore those
who are disabled under the 18th amendment
have been guilty of treason against the
UNITED STATES. Treason is the greatest
crime which citizen can commit
against his government, 1t attacks
not only the government itself, hut the
welfare of the people who support it.
Therefore in every country, civilized or un-
civilized, treason has always been punished
with death OF with hanishment 1t has been
reserved for the UNITED STATES to show Il
magnanmity wholly unprecedented in the
history ofthe world. A large and powerful
rebeiiion was inaugurated. and the insur-
gents levied War upon the UNITED STATES.
Many who did not actually take up arms
gave aid and comfort to those who did.
rhusthcy were guilty of TREASON against the
UNITED STATES. The rebellion was crushed
and the traitors-therc can he no other
namc-were at the mercy of the government
:hcy had so wantonly assaulted BY their
treason their lives were forfeited to
the government. Many of them ex-
pected death, for they knew that,
according to the laws of nations, they We're
deserving of death. The government, how
ever, was mercIful, and no death punish
ment for the crime of treason Was admins
tered. The CONGRESS of the UNITED STATES,
however. felt it To he necessary to take steps
to prevent traitors from occupying their
former positions. Some action was neces-
sary to brand the traitors with the reproach
OF the nation, that treason might be made
odious, and that the dis'oyal might not
rule the loyal. To this end the 14th amend
ment, prohibiting such men from holding
office, was proposed and adopted. 1t was
the punishment which was inflicted by
the government instead of the usual pc
nalty of death or Punishment 1t was
the mildest punishment ever inflicted by any
naiion--so mild, indeed, as to be more
rebukS than a punishment 1t was virtually
the Divine admonition, go and sin no
more" But the leniency of the government
does not cease here. 1t goes even farther.
The attainted traitor who solicits the govern
ment for pardon is forgiven. His political
disabilities are removed. He is par,loned
and is once mole an American citizen.
And here, we will add, is an important dis
tinction. which has been too easily forgot
ten, or purposely overlooked, by those who
have SO soon forgotten the fact of their
treason. The majority of the States lately
in rebellion have been readmitted into the
Union by the leniency of the government.
and are now upon an equal footing with
other States. Men who were traitors
ARE still citizens ol the UNITED STATES
Therefore they have the right to vote, for
the right to cote is the right of every citi-
zen. But to hold Office is not right, but
prioaege, and that privilege they have for
teited by acts of treason. No person who is
disabled can demand the removal of his dis
abilities-he may petition. CoNGREss to re-
move them. but he cannot demand their re-
moval. CONGRESS parduns all who petition
it for pardon. Therefore we are NOT in
favor of the passage of a general act for the
removal OF the disabilities imposed by the
14th Amendment" The passage of such an
act would simply be to offer premium for
traitors. The law is sufficiently lenient now.
Ii persons are too stubborn to be willing to
ask the removal of their disabilities, they
should remain banned, for their obstinacy
proves them unfit and unworthy to
hold any Office of trust or profit. If they
have not been able to appreciate the Glenn
ency OF the government, they are not fit to
represent it or the State in any Office, no
matter how Insignificant. Those who can
forget their treason SD easily as to dream
that they have the right to demand any
'hihg from the government they have be-
trayed, must indeed be brazen in. their i'm
pudence and scared in their consciences
For such men we have mn rnsnnct for tI,ny