The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1869-02-17
Let us Have Peace.

To many this phrase has called to remenl-
brance one that was much used during the
late rebellion-oU zoe aeant is to be let alone.
This was the impertincnt demand OF those
men who were at the very time engaged IN
an attempt to overtum the government OF
the United States and TO destroy the last
hone of human freedom. While engaged
in tbe;r nefarious and wanton crime their
un;ntermitted demand was to be let alone
If WIS not done. They were not let alone;
tbev were sadly and seriously intcrfered with
BY the chastiZing hand of the government
they would defy. 1t was not to be sup
posed that any people who valued Their
country's honor and welfare, who knew how
to estimate their own liberty and blessings,
should heed the insolent cry, ''let us alone"
as little as watchman would the midnight
assassin or incendiary so little could the in
suited and threatened nation let alone the
secessionists and their latter breakfast al
lies" 1851 ~
We are reminded of those days when we
hear repeated from the lips of certain dis
contented and dangerous men, the words at
the head of this article When the Presi-
dent elect uttered them they had all the
force and authority that an honest man
could give them He would have peace to all
with the rights of all vindicated. But who
are those men who now demand peace, and
what are their conditions? Are they not
men who are political outlaws of the order
/ of the Sentinel, men whose bitter hate is en-
gendered by the disappointment of the most
miserable ambition, who assail the majority
OF the people, assail the general and State
governments, who assail the organic law of
the State-its executive, judicial and legisla-
tive authority, who evince the most bitter
hostility IT, the political results of the
rebellion2 These men who are doing all
4 they can to overturn the existing order OF
J things. and to infamc the hearts of ignorant
and prejudiced men so as to resist the exc
cution of the laws-these men do not only
say .'let US alone,n but they would be invested
with power and position to carry out their
wicked and cruel aims, and because it is not
done they rave and cry forpeace. These are
the very men whose teaching and incendia-
~, incoherent rawlings encourage and en-
holden such men as committed those horrid
and cowardly acts of assassination at Kinston
those contemptibly base and poltrocn
gangs that light after night, in disguise, beat
and murder defenceless freedmen, and spread
terror and alarm by their threatening mes
sages to peaceable and respected whites
whose Republicanism and virtue has incurred
their hate. These men cry for peace, ano
howl about the presence of the military
Their miscreant followers shall be unmolest
ed; they mast hare peace; they shall not be
indicted nor punished; the law must be
held in allegiance, and if not, their howl j:
for peace. They must be let alone.
There is no question that the Republican
party is for peace but not on such terms
and those dwelling men will find that Gen
Grant is not for peace on such terms. Thu
Republican authorities, as the condition pre-
cedent to peace, demand submission to law
respect for the rights of all men, safety tt
person and property, the punishment O
crime cessation from rebellion. On these
conditions they consent to terms of peace
but until then they Will press upon the enc
mics of the country