Year: 1867

EXECUTIVE DBPAPTMEAT, RALEIGH, August 3,
lS67.-To the People OF North Caronna;-Onuer
recent acts of Congress- called heconstructl0h
acts popular elections are shortly 10 be held
in this State. At these elections no person ls
to be allowed TO vote unless he shall furnish
evidence of his right to vote for Registrars ap-
pointed IN pursuance OF said acts. All male
citizens, white and colored, who have resided in
the State one year previous to the date OF elec:
ton (wlth certain eXceptions) will be entitled
to vote upon producing the cerudcate OF tue
Registrars. It is expected that the instructions
will be issued at an early day from Major-Gene-
raj Sickles, who has been appointed by the
President of the United States to carry out the
provisions Of these acts in North and south
Carolina, explaining to the Registrars their
duties, and giving his construction OF the acts
as to the persons entitled to register, and those
TO whom the right is denied; and these instruc-
tions it will be the duty OF the Registrars
to obey.


As understand these acts, no person is to be
allowed TO register or vote who, at any time Oe-
fore the war, had held any office under the
United States, or any State office, "Created by
law for the administration of the general law of
the State, or for the administration OF justice"
and afterwards engaged IN lnsurrectlon ana
rebellion against the United States, or gave aid
and comfort to the enemies thereof" pre-
sumo, in the expected instructions from General
SIckles to the registrars he will give construc-
ton to these as well as any other provisions OF
the acts touching the right OF registration which
may seem susceptible of variant Interpretation.
1t is believed that nearly all the colored voters
above twenty one years old, and who have
resided a year in the State, will be entitled
under these acts, to register, and they will
register and vote. There is no means OF making
an estimate approXlmatng certainty as to the
number of white male residents above the age
OF twenty-one years who VIII not be allowed to
VOTE At the last census N860) the total white
male population was 3l3,670, and the total male
colored population l91, $40; and at the excited
election for Governor in 1860 ll2,5S6 votes were
cast.


The effect of this legislation, by the conquer
ing power of the nation makes the negro in the
excluded States as to civil and political rights,
the equal of the most favored class OF the
whites, and the political superior OF most OF
those who held Office in the State before the
war. Whatever may be the final settlement of
the questions as to the political equality of the
two races, or the superiority of the one over
the other, 1t is certain that TOR long time to
come, unless humanity Is to be shocked by the
expulsion or humiliation of one race or the
other, this State is to be inhabited by both
races; and 1t is the manifest interest of both
races to live together in peace and friendship,
each acting kindly and justly towards the other
Every good man, who Is wise statesman, will
use all his influence to avoid everything tending
to antagoniZe the races. If one class consoli-
date to gain political asCendancy, or effect any
other object deemed specially beneficial to such
class, it will certainly lead to counter combina-
tions, and hostility between the classes, injurl-
Gus to both, and likely to end in ruin to the one
or the other.


have not heard of, and have no idea that
there exists among the white population, any
combination, public or private, to consolidate
the white vote, to the prejudice OF the blacks;
nor have the slightest suspicion that any such
combination Is contemplated. After the regis
trars shall have decided who are to have the
privilege of voting, the persons so registered
will be called upon to vote for or against the
call OF State Convention, and for members of
such Convention. These acts provide that in
case majority of the voters shall vote for
Convention and elect members; and if such
Convention adopt Constitution which shall be
ratified "by majority of the persons voting on
the question of ratihcation;" and ''When Con-
gTess shall have approved the same, and when
the State by vote of its Legislature elected
under said Constitution shall have adopted the
amendment to the Constitution of the United
States proposed to the Thirty-ninth Congress,
and known as Article IA" and when three
fOurths of the States shall have ratified said l4th
Article, then 'the' State shall be declared en-
titled to representation in Congress, and Sena-
tors and Representatives shall be admitted
theretrom on their taking the oath prescribed
by law"


The sole object of this address is to urge on
every citizen of North Carolina to register, who
may be entitled to register, and have gone
into this recital of some of the provisions of the
acts of Congress, to enable you TO understand
the reasons which induce me so to advise you.
III you do not register then you will not be
allowed to vote for or against the call of Con-
ventlon, which is expected to make the altera-
tions in your Constitution contemplated by
these acts of Congress, and such other altera-
tlons as the delegates may deem proper. If
you do not register, you will not be allowed to
vote for any delegate to the Convention.


When the Convention shall have proposed
new Constitution, If you shall not have regis
tered you will not be allowed to vote on the
ratification or rejection of the proposed Consti-
tuition, however much you may admire or abhor
it. And If you do not register, you will not be
| allowed to vote for members of the Legislature
| who are to ratify or reject the proposed l4th
Article as an amendment of the Constitution of
the United States. | have no hesitation in
| urging upon every citizen who is allowed the


privilege of voting under these laws to register,
so as to vote, If he choose, on these Questions
/ No citizen allowed to register and vote, who
| fails to vote, will have any right to complain If
/ those who do register and vote should adopt a
Constitution which should be ever so oppressive
/ and proscuptiye. Whatever Constitution NAV


be adopted will no doubt contain a provision
| making it difficult to amend it. Hence every
| citizen allowed to do so should do what he can


to make the new government as good as pos


sible.


Let me ask each of you who is allowed to
| vote and register, are you willing to surrender
| all share in making the Constitution and laws
| under which you are to live? Are you willing


to surrender all share in eecting the officers to
| whom shall be condded the making and the exc.
| cutting of the laws, including the leyying and
| collecting taxes? Whether you regard these
| laws as constitutional or unconstitutional wise
| or unwise, you ought to register and put your.
| selves in condition to vote, and maintain rs


long as possible the right of the people to form


the Government and make the laws under which
| they are to live, If you cannot have su5h =
| Government as you desire, make it as good as
| you can. A neglect or refusal to register re-
| gard as a voluntary surrender of the right tC
| take part in governmental affairs; and / there


fore most earnestly entreat every citizen not tC


despair of popular government, but to register
| and vote, and try 10 maintain Government