Wilmington journal., 1869-07-16

have been fattering myself with the
belief that had become quite passably, if
not respectfully reconstructed. Ii, how
ever, reconstruction requires me to go to
the extent that some respectable people, so
called, seem to be going, I fear shall be
unable to prove my loyalty. Negro citi-
zenship, negro testimony, negro suffrage
and the right of the negro to sit in tho
Jury box upon the life of q white man and
his right to hold Office over the white
man, have all been advocated by tho Rad
ical party. What was orthodox faith in
the opposition party has been and is yet
a "mixed question: latitude and loose
ness of opinion having been allowed to
cartain individuals and at certain points
that was refused to others. Now in these
days every mans capacity for swallowing
bitter pills, my own included, has become
very much enlarged. [ have been able to
get down everything except the last dose,
to wit: the right to sit as Juror on a white
mans trial and the right to hold Office over
white men-this as yet sticks in my craw
and resists all efforts to force it down.
You must not suppose, however, that this
enviable state of reconstruction has been
attained without many uneasy qualms and
much nausea. [ have very "plain
stomach" hut in spite of that, my gorge
rises" very frequently still at men and
things around me. It rises muchly at men
whose feelings will not allow them to be
called Democrats IT. ricaC ar man ubo
make the nomination of particular individ-
rals the condition precedent of their al
egance to their party. It rises and chokes
at men who can long hesitate between
the Republican and the Democratic party I"
It rises at the man whose feelings allow
ing it to tell me that I owe my life and
little property to the clemency and gener-
orsity and magnanimity of the Federal
Government. 1t rises and sickens me at
the sight of those men whose keen optics saw
a propriety in an early and intimate as
sociation with Yankees, whose large minds
soar above all sectional strife and partisan
animosity, and untrammelled by the COM
mon shackles of a degraded humanity,
seek solely after Office.
All these things and many more trouble
me, and sad to say, the signs of the times
promise no relief. The Raleigh ''Senti-
mel of 1st June, says, "Let the people,
aUe repeat irrespective Of party OF color, meet
in C0nrention and see what may be done.
Let them go into Convention and resolve
that the honest legitimate debt shall be
hot 1ich 6oht choli at lNo
paid, and take steps to save the credit and
honor of the people and State" The
Charlotte ''Democrat" says, eve endorse
the suggestions of the Raleigh "Sentincl"
in regard to tho State debt and State
bonds x. Let party politics be
dropped, and let as hear no more about seal
laacagS, democrats, carpet-bGQgerS on c0nSey-
patiues, but let our platform be opposition
to corruption and extravaganza, opposi-
tion to unconstitutional appropriations of
the public money, opposition to excessive
and oppressive taxation, opposition to the
present members Of the Legislature hold
ing their seats for four years, opposition
to Judicial tyranny-eQual political rights to
all american citizens, achite and black Upon
this platform let us incHe Republicans and
Democrats, acHtc and hLGck, to stand and
co operate in saving our liberties from de-
struction and the State from ruin" The
I" Old North State" of Salisbury, says,
'We most cordially endorse the Demo
Gratis" platform, and as fully agree with
the "Sentinel in its objects, only we will
say to it that we have been charged with
radicalism for having proposed last sum-
mer just what it proposes now in reference
to the races-to accept tie situation and cease
talking about a eCAte mans party. : <
But really we cannot see what a State Con
vention can accomplish at this time. Can
not more be done by county meetings to
wards creating public sentiment that will
drive the present corrupt and eXtravagant
Legislature from power than State Con
vention At least would 1t not be better that
any contemplated Increment be s5arted ia that
oody?"
The ''National Inteligencer, not long
before its demise, on 10Th Jnne, spoke
thus "We believe it to be the firm con
viction of the majority of tho people Of
this country that radicalism, past and
present. is an evi-working and dangerous
thing < x To meet the
wishes and guard against the evils appre-
hended by this Conservative majority
should be the constant aim
of the Democrats and Conservatives of the
country in all their Conventions and in
all their nominations to office. Men should
be nominated and only such men, as can
command the confidence and support of
this united mighty Conservative majority
which is made up of Democrats, Conserva-
tives and Republicans together, and by
neither alone and qChich demands Mat tie
Uiolent extremes and tie Uiole1at men and plat
forms Of both parties shall be set asiOe."
| AS if in answer to all this, the Raleigh
"Sentinel" of Goth June, says that "
meeting composed Of the Conservative
| Constitutional Union men of this city will
be held x < to nominate O can
didate to fill the vacancy occasioned by the
death of Rich'd J. Wynne, ESQ. Let there
be grand rally" You must pardon me
Messrs Editors for taking up so much of
your space. 1t has been really impossible
to be more brief in stating my reasons for
asking what does all this mean Are we
to have new party and a new platform
whose constant aim " shall be to pander |
to the depraved tastes and wishes of men |
who still are Republicans, and who have
hitherto been Radicals Are we now, at
this late day, to attempt to out Herod |
Herod, in declaring for "equal political |
rights to all American citizens, white and