Year: 1869

The Republican party have not only en-
dorsed Gen Grant but they have accepted
his poL1oY-"let us haue peace" This for
i mula embodies it fully. A peace guaranteed
4 by respect for the existing institutions and
4 obedience to law-equality of rights and
perfect safety. The Republicans of North
Carolina have proud record in this matter.
From the beginning their policy has been


"peace.n Their course is not marked by
vindictiveness in any respect or degree.
All the bitter reviling and cruel outrages
that were perpetrated upon them during


the war, and that are now persistently con-
tinued in various parts of the State, could


not drive them from their magnanimous


purpose. We must be permitted to men
4 ton the careful and pains-taking efforts for
peace made by the Union Republicans of
this State


In the confusion of the surrender of the


army of Johnston and the presence of the
Union army-in that hour that gave such
full opportunity to revenge the long horrid


docket of outrage and suffering that was
perpetrated by the minions of secession up
on Union men and women,-was that open
door to vengeance entered, and were those
1 nights and days made memorable by the
4 horrors of retaliation upon the homes and
q families of their cruel enemies2 In these
days, trembling with destiny, when traitor
Souls cowed before their wronged neighbors,


and when cringing braggarts blubbered for


fear they would be hanged for treason. were


their guilty and cowardly souls sent to their
oacn place by incensed Union men? 1t is


their proud record that they refused to take


lives that are marked as accursed and must


must prove burden to the vile possessors


weighed down with crimes against defence


less women and children and decrepit age.


Are not those men even to-day suffered to
dwell quietly, and insult by their felon pres
encc those whom they wronged2 Union
men are not guilty of the bastard act of dis
! guising their honest faces and with faggot


and dagger venting hellish hate on these
most deserving wretches. When the peo-
. pie of redeemed North Carolina assembled
in Convention-when they were invested
with absolute power by the Congress of the
United States, did they then demand re-


venge2 We defy any enemy of the Repub-


iican party to find one single sentence in tue
new Constitution that breathes vengeance
against any one. Although that Conven-
tion had in it many Union men who


had horne the brutal violence of their rebel


neighbors, yet in the nObeand manly spirit
of patriots and christians they rose te-a dig
nifty that placed them far above he spirit
of vindictiveness. All this was for peace.


Not one political disability rests upon any
citizen of the State-no Gains mark is put
upon the enemies of the people and the
Union. They are left to God and the voters
of the State. But it is repeated until stale
that such men as raised their arm against
the government are not trusted by the peo-
pie Very true, and this. is the neral desert
of their crime The loyal men of North
Carolina do not think that such men can be
safely trusted with power. They were be-
trayed, by such once, and they still dread
them, particularly such as are arrayed bold
ly against the great principles that underlie
the safety of the Union and make war on the
agencies that overtlFew the rebellion. The





people of North Carolina cannot eoapre-
{ memo how men WHO revile the Union and


hate the men who preserved it can love
North Carolina as it is now organized or be
the friends of loyal men. Yet they wage no
war upon them. They award them all the
rights and privileges that they enjoy them
selves


Gov. Holden is revilea for bis appoint
ees. He had but one alternative-loual
men or the enemies of Congress He was
compelled by the law of selfpresergation to


make choice of his own aud the friends Of
lhe Union and Congress. 1t is no use to
prate about talent aud responsibility, tai
enf and re>pectability are very poor COM
m"dities to place over against rebel hate.
his the people well know. 1t was "the
talent and rrspectability" of the State that