Newspapers / North Carolina Argus (Wadesboro, … / Dec. 12, 1867, edition 1 / Page 1
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t . i 1 VOL IX-XO. 50. WADKSBOIIOUGN, N; C.,' THURSDAY, DECEMBEIM2, 18G7. WHOLE XO.-.GG. ..' FUBMBilED- f.VKRT TIITRSDAT, '- - H Y KK A f K ."D A !l LKY . 'TEBusof suuacnrrnox. $1.00 2.00 1.00 six month, ... " three raonthi, ft N nana enteral upon lit subscription book without pre-piraunt, and subscribers' names will be vfM'l tht day thilr subscription expires. m.mmmm M RATE Of ADVERTISING. 9fm TV litt BrtiUr malt t tyitrt, Sj! cJpfr- i:..L.-i i. ,i i: . ... j . - . .' .... i . . . . . - ...ki ... ri ni mu ' rt fret la rtica, and &0e. per aquaa (uch anb-qa-at latrilon. 1 te ft aq., orer tic ail nt mr thia miVm Inter- SOo. par aqoare eS laicrtioa. 1 te 8 ., ovtr mi' o I aot marc tUa thirttt to etrtJoat, 46. per eqaara rack tnrin. . Jf'.ticw, Obitutri, AonoTnef inoti ef Cm- JI)t fjf an offi-, Dctliutioai, & , at the abote ratea. - Natieti f Urrig44 an I Totba free. QuaaraaLf, lltr Vilt ai 1 atr Rnt. . V . . . 1 . rrS.,. Qaarter eolnma, I mnattt i (j it ti ii it it ij it 40$o. Ah 00 M 00 C3 00 80 n 20 16 .1 17 1 5 12 Half etUro. S aaonths. ' " . .. ii it 9 ti , " 'n 12 . Whale sol a ran, S won (hi 40 00 CO 00 ' ;u oo MOO r,f, (o u oo I OA. 00 Oi ii ti 6 . '"9 ... n Airertlia)nta mor than fc an I lok tUm ta vqaarea, a4 mnr lhaa trn an t lm tn a ebjina, at tha mira par aiaar ia tbl clna, f.r each inr. titkti, fr tha ti thay my ba or l-rl or my ran, aian tbe qaarlfranl half jrx, aal tUe h-.lf ywr aaJ ytar. V fa.rr fur traniir-t alTrli-ior.'.whn th nam bar af Insartinna ara limitai, die wl.tn hat)J4 in far pb!iatia; aai f?r -artrl.'balf ytr!j or jesr! '4trtiarifat4 any time aflrr first lnrrticn. THE 1BE I DIET'S .HUSsitCC. Owing to the'grsat 1-ngtK ofkla djcumonf, ' . we sball be unable to giso in fn'l aay portioo of it excepting that relating to tha sfaf as of the South era Stales, and the CJodiii q of tha ukoft A.milfiliniAiiHi 1 hi. iiri f tlx m-M.Mn ..v ... , "-e- r Sj'?fc,a H'-J ti'i., u-1 mr' meat, and begin ai followi : ' The contiaa'ed disorganization of the Union, to which the President lias i.i often called the attention of Congresi, is yet a subject of p- d.und and patriotic eoocero. Wo may, howerer, find some relief from that anxiety in tHe nfl.vtio that tha paioful political situation, although t.-f rt on tiieJ bj ouraelros, is Jot tew in tbu expcriuc of naliooa. Political aoicocn, rha( as bighly perfect in our i'WO lime and c wmtry as in any other, has not yet diselosed !ny means by whii h ciyil wars can be absolutely prerentej. An en 1'chu ned nation, howerer. with a wise and v. n..,,.,;.,,,;,, nf fr.. ,.,rn.i.-nt I IJmTnTsh thrTrM verity by directing all iU pr-weeJings in aecor-1 daoee wiih its fundnmeaU.! law. " . ( When a civil war has been brought to a close, I it is manifestly tho first interest aod duty of the j ytam tgTrrrha-OT4Tnr-whtc4t-th-w.r-4rss r tiro to rrntr t h ttrruttes-wft fen tn-jw tth-. ' inflicted, anirxSTswire the .hem-fit o the low-snj it teaches as fully and as speedily as' possible. This duty was, upon the tirmination cf tho re bellioo, promptly accepted, not only by tV Kxec utive I'eparment, but ly the insurrectionary. States themselves, and restoration, in llm first moment of peao, was beliert-d to be as eay nod " eertaio ai it wa.slndUpensible. The expretatians, " however," fTien iorasoTiatitv' and c onfldeintreTh" teruined, were' disappointed by legisbition from whth4 felt ei)iislraiiii'ilr by . my-tiUf, the Conslitiition, to withhold my iwot; It is. therefore, a sou a-o of profound regret, that in, complying with the ohligaiion tmj-osed upon -the Vresid.eot'bye-tWstiturion, to feivo to Congress from time to time information-uttW state of the Union, I am .-unable to communicate - any definite adjustment, satisfactory to tha Aiucr - an. people, of the questions which, since the close of the rebellion, have agitated the public mind. On the contrary, candor compels mo to declar that at this time there is no Untooa our fathers under stood the tertDn and aa they meaat it to bo un derstood hj os. The Union which they cstab lfihd eart txist oaly where hll the-Ftates are rep resented' in Wth-llouscs of Congress ; where one Stato is as free as another lo .regulate its internal concerns aocording to its own will, and where tbe law of tho central Government; strictly confined 1o matters of. national jurisdiction, opply with equal, force to all the people of every section. - That such is not the present "state of the Union" -is a melancholy fact, and we all musUcku6ff ledge that the restoration of the States to their proper le- ' gal relatione with the Federal Government nnd with ooe another, aeoording to tho. terms of the orig-, inal compact, would bo tbe greatest temporal bless ing which God, jo His kindest providence, could bestow upon this nation. It becomes our Im perative duty to consider wljelhcr.or not it is im-j possible to effect this most desirable consummii- . tion. ' : - - - . The Union and the Constitution ere insepar able. -As long as one is obeyed by all parties : 'the other will be preserved; and if one is de- atroyed, both must perish together. The do struotion of the ConHtifution will bo followed by other, and still greater ' calamities. It was or dained not only to form a more perfect union be tween the States, but to 'establish justice, insure domestio tranquility., provide for the oommon de fence, promote the generarwelfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our pos- terity." Nothing but implicit obedience to its requirements in ill ports of the country will ao eomplish these g-eat'cnd. Without that obe dier.cc, we con loot forward onljr to continual outrages upon individual rights, inccsaanlbreach- .i-i i-- puuuo peace, nauonai weaniias-, nnan ciai uisnonor, me loiai loss or our prosperity, tbe for which they voted Uut t waa a eolomn, pub general corruption of. moral, and the final cx-1 lie, official pledge of tbe national honor, and I iMMOW-prHUr rewr-To-meoor-eoinn- try from "evila so appalling aa these, we ahould renew our efforts again and egaio. T me the proceaa rf reatoration a-cma perfect If plain and aimple. It conaiats mcrel- in a faithful applicatiuo of the Constitution and la wa Tbe execution of the laws is not now obatruetcd or oppooed b physical Lrce. There ia no mili- tare or other necewity, real or pretended, which eao prerent olediencfl tothoConMitution. cither j North, pr South. Ait the richta and all the ob .Maui A ar.d IfidlvMusl! can be pro ' ' Ucted Iin-er breed br meanr cerfectlr eonairt ent with tfdJnnd mental law. . The courts tna- bo ercrfwheF oppff, and, if ope , their procwa would be oiiioiprJf.'d. Crimes asainxt the U oi- ted fcftatca can' bo preteotcd or puniihcd bj tbe proper juJicial authorities, in a manner entirely practicable and legal. . Thcro ia, thcrrfuro, no' reason why tbe Constitution should loot hi obeyed, unless those who exercise ira powera hare deter- mined that it shall t disregarded and violated, The mete nskd will of.thii Gorernmcof, or of l ime one or more or its branches, is the only ob stacle that can exist to a perfect union of ail tbe States. Ot this momentous question, and some cf the uicamrts growing out of it, I baye had tha mis fortune t jifl.-r from Congress, and bare ex press! datny cunrictiona without tescrre, though with becoming d fcrenoe to tha opinion'of the LegiIa:ivo P-'partmeot. Those caafictioot ore not only unhanged, but strengthened by ubo qu.'reetfis and further reflection The Trans coning importaace of the subject will be a suf- fk-ubt cxeusc fur calling tour attention to some of te tra.'oBs which have so strongly influenced myiown judgment.- The hope-that we may all rjTaity concur in a mode or . tiloment, coiiMsteut j Congress sod electors of President and Vice al once with our true interests sod with cur I Preideuf, larbitrari!y oVcl-rinif who shall tom i .1 .1. . n . .1 sTtru ujiKs io me nsniuuon, ii loi oatprsi od too just to be easily rtlinquiahrd. It is clear to my apprehension that the States II a If a a . ia eiy n reoe.iuo arcatui members ot tl;e nation- al l nion. neo did tbey ctase to be aor The aa4- a . it... I.' t - - i . j i "'u'""'"' i kcctsiuu. au.ipu.-u ot a aoriiora (io most tf ihsm a yary small portion) vf their citixens, wrte) mere nullities. If we admit now that they were taird and tCectaaj for tna purpoee intended by their authors, we sweet) from under II I M . . tiir li'fll urn JarmaaJ nun iwh i Siuhfinl I . 1 1- r. .( uiesrar. ere loose oiaiea auciwf ru expeiied 1 irs-" t.t tbe.Wsf'f Tr,vj;reet eon, trwij ars avetrcd by tLi Oo-eraent hi tw ita purpose, and waa ao understood by ell those who gare ihcir blood and treire to aid in, its pro-ecu-.do tion It eaonotbe that a successful war, wagtd tor th pri serTation of tbe Union,'haJ the legal effect of din-o'ringf h. Tie iofory of the nation's arr.11 was not the disgrace of ber policy; the de feat of eceMoo on tbe battle Cld waa not. tbe triumph of its lawless priociplo. Nor. could Con-re-, with or without the consent of ibje Kieeu tire, do anyihiog which would hare the effect, u'ueoil) or lodirectly, of acpirating the Sutes from each other. To dissolve the Union is to rYAl ,I,e tonwn which holds it lo-etber, Th-aat MgraW4Mjutwwr not only "nJ T" uoveinmcoi, or 10 an 01 br.u united. 1 "is is so plain that it bas been.acknowiedgcd by all branches of the Federal Government. Tha KzccativeLmy,Jnvd!ccsiior as- we4asmysIfl eLZmy,xnvd!ccsaor as-well as mysIfl ami tbe head of an tbe departments have uni formly acted o pon' the principle that tbe Union is not only undiolred, but indialuble. Con cress submitted an amendment of the Constitu tion to be ratified by the Southern States, and accepted thew acts of ratification as a noccssary antl lawful exercise of their highest function. If j ihfy were not States, or were Stat-s out of the gle individual. Yet tie system ,of measures es ltrhrir -consent-ft-a ehange-irt the funda-tsWished-by these "ae t-Cpg?s-4lsKs anally mental Uw of the' Union, would have beep subvert and destroy the form, as well .s the su ;, and t ongrfs-. in Hi I Mini' a-political absurdity, I'he Judiciary has n!s) given tho solemn sanction of its a-itbotiry to the same view of the case. The . ; , w i Judges of the Supreme Court have included the Southern States in their circuits, and they are cotiMtatitlyj in' banc and. elsewhere, excrcisingju risdiet ion. which does not belong to them", unless those. States are States of the Union. . . If 'tTwSoWero "States nro' cbmnent p of the UnioO, tho Constitution is tJie siiprcmo law . for them, as it is for all iha other States They are bi.ucdlto,obey it, and so are wc. The .right of the Federal GoTcrumoot, which is cfear and unquestionable, to enforce the Constitution upon "thehi7impircs71h"e correlative obligation on our" part to-observe its limitations and execute its juaranties. Without the Constitution we are nothing ; by, through, and under the Consti tution we are what it makes us We may doubt the wisdom of the law; we may not approve of its provisions, but wc cannot violate it merely because it seems to confine our powers within limits narrower thauJfce could wish. It is not a question of individual, or class, or sectional in terest, muoh less of party predominance, but of duty of high and sacred duty which we are all eworo jo perform. If we cannot support tbe Constitution with the cheerful" alacrity of those who love nnd believe in it, we must give, to it at least the fidelity of public servants who act un der solemn obligation! aod cpnimands which they dare not disregard. "The constitutional duty iVnot thFonlri)ne which requires the States to bo restored. There is anotaereonsidcration which, though of minor importance, is yet of great weight. (Jo the 22d day of July, 1861,aCongress declared, by ao almost unanimous vote of both Houses, that the" waii-scQta, .i vi i- r. .u. - ..-rri;.' i shonld be conducted solely for the purpoee oTpro serving the Union, and maintaining the suprem acy of4 the, Federal Constitution and laws, with out imparing the dignity, equality, and rights of the States or of individuals j and that when this waa done (he war should ecu sc. I do Mot ear that tliia declaration, U petsonully binding thoso wh. joined in making It, any more than individual numbers of Congress arc personally - bound to pay a publie. dbt creatcl under a law wrreor tmagme BrmnwhstgTtmtjdrHioT-paiflir tion of it la lo be ja-n'fioJ. If it bo laid that we aro not bound to ierp faith with rebel, let - it be retuetubercd that tbia proniae waa Dot made tnjcbela onl. Tboaaenda of trur men in tho South were drawn to oar aod&rd b it. and hundreds of thousand la the North (?. lbvir lives in the belief that fc-rouli be carried out. It waa made on tha day after the first en-at batiU bf the war bad been fuusht and loaf. 'All nati-inn- I and intolliRrnt nnS-wf i m-ees-lte of He- - 1 luirsunh a muriW. .V-?J rtiai lihnnt - 1 h the war would end aLutrr in . Haeing wtoo that anwran- in the extremit of I our peril, tbe -iolation cf it now, in tbe daj'of I OOr t0Wer. Would bo a rude rndinrrnf ttit m-tfiA faith which holds the moral worhj together; our country would cease to hare any claim upon the confidence of men; it woulJ make llo war not only a f.ilure. but a fraud. I$eing sincerely coy tiaced that thee tiewi are correct, I would bo uof.iibful to my duty if I did not recommend ti t srepeal of the acta of songrcea wbi b place fen of the Southern Stat-s under the d jimnatiHi of military maters. If calm reflection shall sitbfjf a D;jori?y of your liomrtblo bodies that the acts referred to are not only a violition of the national fi:ith, but in di rect conflict with the Coo.tiiuti'jn, I dare not p.-roiit myself to doubt that you will immediate ly strike them from the statute book. To demotstrate the unconstitutional character of tboso acts, I need do no ciore than refer to their general provisions.' If-most le b.co at or.ee that they are not authorized To dictate what I alterations shall be made io tbe oonatit otions of the several States; to control- the elections if State legislator and'Statc cflScers, members of I and who snail De t xclqded from that priviK-gej 1 to diwlve State legulatara or'i.rerent them .' .... from assembling ; to dtsmus iod as and other I . - . V . arP civil lunotionarfLs of tc &?--"4-rrr'--z I naj ft- -Nfy-i-s-: - era wiincat renarJ to Sutelaw i ta nririnU n,i I . . i- . . - operate an me puiitieni machinery of lLa Statfji- to regolato tbe whole admioiatratioo of their do; inestio aod local affjira &ocordiag to the mere will of atraog ao irresp-insible ' genu, sent sirois tbem for that ru-rv thn. r. 1 f 1 - ' M. V I im m.j rrrm n I ,A t. k . r.J.t I ... j or any ooe cl its .rancid ot be car trrauted. r. 1 ... we vWttste oat U"Vf. st'i-ihun Uy.as wa wou.'J eti: g tine fa? wr a pe lire interdict; for tbe Constitution tVbids us to whatever it does mtt afTirajaiircIj authorize either ly express words or by clear implication. If tbe autboruy w desire to use does not come to us through tbe Constitution, we eaa exercise it ooly by usurpation, an I oaurpatioo u the most d.ngcruus of politiwl crimes. liy that crime the enemies of free government ia all aces hare worked out their designs againat public liberty aud private right It leads directly and immedi ately to the establishment of absolute rule's fur undelegated power is .IwSys unlimited and uo- restraimd. s - objectionable for their assumption of unj ranted power, but many of their provisions are in con flict with the direct prohibitions of the Constitu tion. The Constitutiun commands that a reruU iicafofat-cLg3yetnmeot .Bhall bg-g ua ranxeed-i to all the Mates; that no person snail be deprived of life, liberty, or property without due process of law, arrested withrct a judicial warrant, or punished without a fair trial before aa impartial jury ; that the priviiijge of hdlxiis corpus shall not be denied in time cf peace : and that no bill of attainder shall be pissed, even against a sin -States tto wh4cLtheyppIyt.bHidstbxnLhand-JDdl w m. foot ia absolute slavery, and subjeeU them to a strsngo and hostile poer, more unlimited and mote likely to be abused than any other now knowr. among civilised men It tramples down all those rights io .hiea lie esonce of liber ty consists, aud which a free govern men t is always rowt careful to protect. It denies the hab&tt properly, ""4,.' -m1'! by the paioh, the prrjiiaicc, or r.-tr j-w--rf---!er, Bave no security whatcyer. It h&'tbt effuet of a bill, of attainder, or bill of pains and penalties, not '-upon' a few. individuals, but upon whole masses, in cluding the millions v wlio-infiabU'lbe- subject States, and eveo their unborn children. - These wrongs, being expressly forbidden, cannot be constitutionally inflioted :upoo.juiy portion ot-our peop!c, no matter bow they may have come with. in our jurisdiction, aud no matter whether they live in States, Territories, or districts. - I have no desire to save from the proper and just consequence of their great crime those who engaged in rebellion against tbe Government ; but as a mode, of punishment, the measures un der consideration are the most unreasonable that could be invented. Many of those people are perfectly innocent ; 'many iept their fidelity ta the Union untainted to the last; many were in capable of any legal offence ; a large proportion even of the person, able to bear arms were forced into rebellion against their will; and of those who are guilty with their own consent, the de grees of guilt arc aa various as the shades of their character and temper. But these aots of Con gress confound thorn all together iu one common doom.- Indiscriminate veogcanca uooh classes, and parties, or upon whole communities, . rr i .- tr .1 for offences committed by, a portion of them against tho government to which they owed obe dienoe, was common ia the barbarious ages of the world. But Christianity and civilization have made tuoh prograa that rcsoeroe ta pan! ' i-ti it. n t so cruel and nnluii xnu.l uui miiL. on the'coolc'tunation of all u n'pT-j u Jieu cl right- minded men. The runi ire justice of this aae. and especially of this country, does not consist in stripping whole Statca of thtir liberties, and re ducing all their people without distinction, to the condition of slavery. Ic dals spnaratelv petent judicial tribunal. If this does not satisfy all our desires with regard to Southern rebel', let us console ourseiretby reflating that a free Con stitution triumphant io war and unbroken in peace, is worth far more to us end our children than tbo gratification of any present feeling I am aware it is aasomed that' this system ii government for the Southern f'iatea is not lo Is perpetual. . . It is Iras this military government is to be only ptovialonallut It is through tbia temporary evil that a greater evil is to be made perpetual. If the g-iarantoca of the Coostitotioo can be broken provisionally to serve a temporary purpoee, and io a part only of tbe country, we can destroy tbctu everywhere aod for all time. Arbitrary measures often change, but they gen erally change for the worse. It is the curse of despotism that it baa no hailing place. . The intermitted eicrcise of its power brings no sense of aecority to its subjects; for tbey can never know wlial-more-thfy will be called to end-jre. when its red right hand is armed to plague them again. Nor is it possible to conjecture how or where power, upnstraiaad by law, may seek its next victims. Tbe States that ore still free may be enslaved at any moment; for if the Coaatitation decs not protect all, it protects norm. It is manifestly aud avowediy the object of thM laws to confer upon negroes tbe privilege of voting, szid to difranchue fucli a number of white citizens as will give the former a clear ma jority atall cltctbas in the Southern States This, to tbe minds i f stue persons, is so important, that a violation of tbe Constitution is jastifi-d as a deans of bringing it about. The morality is al ways faUe which txeaaes a wrong because it pro poses to aecomi'iieb a desirable end We are not pernitied to i eil -thai goC'J may come; Uut T . r-.. TO t io tbia ca tbe end itself is evil, T wiTIlTiEe means. The subiocation of the States to nemo toirK. Jaerewrte-ihflA despotism under which tbey areoow suffering It waa believed befoiehand that the people would endure any amount of military oppre&sioo, for aoy length cf time, rather than degrade them selves by subjection totbe'-oegro rase. There fore they have been left without a choice. Ne gro suffrage eras eatabliabed by act of Congress, and the military oiucers were commanded to so pe;intnl, the. process cfl-9ruH. - rae wan tn fc-Wea! ' . ; rem white men. : : . f The blacks in tho Syuth are entitled to ba well and humanely governed, and to have the protection of jast laws for all.their rights of fct. son. n.l r,r. r-rfv. If it w-r nrartifaMa af ihi ! IrbactrtodlvldtrnC -twifloff ftuirwitrmforftil of law, and -indictee ita own purity by an hi- an partial examination of every case before a com-'i be rime to give them a government exclusively their The plan of patting the Southern States w'l.ol own, under which they might manage their own n1 the coeral Governiiient partially, into affairs io their own way, it'would become a zravs lnf bands of negroes, is proposed at a time pecu- tiucstiod whether we ought to do so, or whether common humanity would uot require us to save them' mm themselves. Bat wader the circum stances, this is only a Inoculative point. It is not proposed merely that th.-y hIibII govern IthemjelvejljtitjJiabeyhalljuJe race, make and administer State laws, eloct Predents and members of Congress, and bsf 1 to a greater or liss extent tbe future destiny of the whole coantry. Would such a , trust auJ po w etiie safe in s orli hands! The peculiar 'nualities which should charccter- ize any people who are fit to decide unon tbe J (!0:lPclOCJ- management of public affairs fr a great State ! Tl' Kreat difference between tie-two races 10 have seldom been' cimbined It is the glorv of PJ-'1! mental, and moral characteristics will, white, men to know that they have.rud these vent an amalgamation or fusion of them togeth-q-ialities in sufficient measure to build upon this tr in homogeneous mass. If the inferior obtains continent a great political fabric, and trf preserve i tl,e awendency over the other, it will govern its stability for more than ninety years, while in i wi,h ref.rence only to its own interest for it pvery otherpnrt of the, world all similaresrriems--- have failed. Hut if anything can be proved bv ! 8Uch a 'yMnny as this totineut has fieer yet known faets-if utl TCasoriing npon evidence i ' ?.r...t it.. I -.'i.vr.H we ii vvuvu . va a.-. v u . '".-wju w 1 i'n in' the progress of tiafioos In gres have. hown less capacity for government . than any other race of people. No independent government, of any form has ever been successful in thtir hands. Oo tbe coutrary, wherev,ertheh.fve b;en-4eft to their own devices tbf'y'have showu a constant, teudendy to relapse into barbarism. In the iSoutlvern- Stafos Irowevcr,, Congress ias under-. tjken to corifer upon ihem the pjivile-ge of the ballot. Just released from slavery, it may be doubted whether, a a diss, they know more than their ancestors how1 to organize and regulate civil society. Indeed, it is admitted that the blacks of the -Sout h aro not- only- reaard,les. n( the rights of property, but so utterly ignorant of publid affairs that their voting can consist m iurtoitgmW-tBa-Wr where they .are directed to depo&it it. KtTJCt:d not remind you thai iho exercise of .the ,el.e,crive franchise is the highest attribute of an 'American citizen, and that, when guided by virtue, intelli gence, patriotism, and. a proper appreciation of our free instituti.ms, it constitutes the true basis of a democratic' form of government, in which tho sovereign power is lodged 'in the body of the people. A trust artificially created, not for its own sake, but solely as a means of promoting the general yelfare, its influenco, for good must necessarily aepend upon the elfvated character and tTue allegiance of the elector. It onghtrf therefor, to be i proposed in none except tjhose wbo are fitted morally and mentally to adminis ter it well; for if conferred upon persons" wbo do not justly estimate its value, and w no are man fe'rebt as to its results, it will only serve as a means of placing power-in the hands of the un micipled and anbitioua,-and must eventuate in iKirAnmnlpt.l'.nintinn of that libertv of whicbl " . . w .v.., 1 u ! nno nnsu 11 nrmwr -ator have", therefore, heretofore urged upon your at tention thegreat danger " to be apprehended ftojjaa uotitnwljr extenUon oLthe elecrive fran-l when The large ummrilv cf that clas. in wield- log the power thus placed In their hn7. eflunot be expected correctly to comprehend the dut!c and respoiibibilitica which ' pertain tosaffispe. iettrdij, as H were, four mi.lions or prrronl wore held in ji ctdition f slavery that had J- Tile11Trgooirruiror'is7' aod ara assumed by law to be citizens. It cannot presumed, from their previous tcndinon of servitude, that, as a class, they ate as wot! in-' . . ... ... -- lormed ss to the nature ol our Uovernmrnt at , tha intelligent foreigner wba make onr land tha home of his choice. In the case of tbe latter, neither a residence of tiro years, and the know ledge of our institutions which it gives, nor at tacBjfiicnt to tha principles of the Constitution, are. tha only cmiditiona opon which he cao bo, ... druitiedTo citi nsbip. lie must prove, id ad dition, a go2d tuoral .character Sod thus c?ve -reasonable ground for thj belief flat ia will be faithful to the obligations which he assumes is a citizen of the ItepuLliu. Where a pcrple tbe source of all political power speak, by tleirauf- frages, throngh the instramentality of the ballot- ' .: box, it must be carefully guarded against the con trol of lh"0 who are eorruptin principle and en emies cf free institutions, for it csnonly become to cur political and sociai j!cai a safe conduc tor of healthy popular sentiment when kept fre from demoralizing lofluehces. Controlled IhrouLlV'"'" fraud and usurpation by the designing, anarehy and despotism must inevitably follow. In tho bands of the patriotic sod worthy, cor Govern ment will be .pre.'civcJ upon tie principles of the Constitutiun inherited from cur fathers. It" follows, therefore, that in admitting to the lallot-bcx t acw class tf vottn not qualified for the exercise of the elective franchise, wa weaken our system of goverutntot, instead of adding to its atrcngtb aod durability." " I yield to oo one in attachment to that role of general sufTrsgo which distinzoisbesour policy as a cation. Iut there is a limit, wisely observed hitherto, which makes the Lulot a privilege and a trust, and which requires cf Rome classes a time suitable for t,robation and preparation; To give it indis- " criminuk-ly lo new clasrwblly UfjprepareJ, by - rP'f,t;na"fcaWt' d opportunitie-, t-r perform the trilst whlch uetnand.-.aa to degrade it, and ton- J&'toialBefiAsn4-iuaf-uf assumed that to political troth is .better establish ed than that such indiscriminate and aii-emtrac ing cxtent'u-n of populv tuCrage mnst tod t lat in its overthrow and dcs(rttClioo." I rep-eat the expression of my williogncss to join io any plan within the scope of our consti tutional authority which promises ta better the condition of tbe rjepvo-s, in the Sooth, ly wo- oowraging Ihsm in industry, wnlighleoiug their minds, imnrivin tteir morals, and eivlnc PH- ' ectio o all their .t..o i. iJat the transfer of our political rnhcritance to tbem would, in my opinion, be an abandonment of a . duty which we owe alike to the memory cf our fathers aud the rishts ot our children. ""'J coprcpuwu. The foundations of society bave betn broken up by civil war. Industry must be reorganized, jus;ice re established, pub lic credit roanuined, and order brought out of confusion. To accomplish these end wo'd re quire all the wisdom aod virtue of the great "uien who IJniredarinstifulkrnsriin.'iiiTr I conhdcntly believe that their descendeots will pe l')'"1 t0 ll "daous task be.ore them, Cut U ia woip than madnesa to expect that negroes will Perform if for us. Certainly we oujht not to . ask their assisuuee until we despaifpf'ouruwir 1 , : : .... - '"Vi Already, iho ngrot a are. ir.fUettccA b yi p rini uses f coBfi-eat iotr and -p kinder.'- Tbe? are taught to regard as an enemy ; every- white urati w ho has aoy respect for the right.-of bis own race. If this, continues it uu.. become worse and worse, until all or Jer wiU bo subverted, all industry cense, and the fertile fields of the South grow up ioto a wildersess.. Of air the daugirs which tuir nation has yet encountered, noue are equal 'to 'those which u.ust result rom the suc cess cf the effort newmaking to Africanize the " . bait of our country, " , . . I would not put considerations of- ironey ia competitions with justice and riht. Hut the?' expenses incident U ',' KooBStruction' under tbe system :sdojted..3jlVgT.?s:ngg'ayj.te wlia:. I -regard as the intrinsic wumgoftbe measure itself. It has cost uncounted millions already, and ,u taxation, already teo oppressive to be bom with-. out .jjust .complaint, and may finally reduce ,the Treasury of the uatbn to a condition of bank ruptcy. We tn,ust-not delude ourselves. It will , requinaastrongstaudingarrny, and probably more tbou two bcnclred milliolts of dollars per annum, to maintain tbe supremacy of negro governments after they arc established, Tbe sum thus thrown away would, if properly used, form a sinking fund ; lirrge enough to pay the whole national debt in iess tbanjjftcen years. It-is vnia to hope that negroes will maintain their ascendancy them- selves. Without military power they are wholly incapable of holding in subjection, tie white peo ple of the South. . 1 I submit to the judgment of Congress whether tbe publia credit may "not be injuriously affected by a system of measures like this. With our debt, and the vsft.priyiba interests which are complica ted with it, we canuot be too cautious ot a policy whicli might, by possibility, impair the con? i4ieace ci me worm inuur uuvrmiucut. iu t i It ii . '11 : V : . Tk. confidence can only be retained by carefully in culcating tbe principles of justice and honor on the popular mind, and by the moat ecrapnlona. i' iv i .
North Carolina Argus (Wadesboro, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Dec. 12, 1867, edition 1
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