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OFFICIAL

Proceedings of the Convention.

REPORTED BY JOS. W. HOLDEN.

MONDAY, Feb. 8, 1868.
   
The Convention assembled in the Commons Hall, at 10 o'clock, President Cowles in the Chair. 

The journal of yesterday was read and approved.

The use of the hall was granted to the Young Men's Christian Association for a lecture, by Bishop Atkinson, this evening.

Mr. Harris, of Wake, presented a petition from Ann Underdew, praying a divorce from her husband. Laid over.

Mr. McCubbins, a memorial from the citizens of Rowan County, praying for a change in the usury laws. Referred.

Mr. Abbott, a report from the Committee on Finance.

Mr. Ragland, a resolution as follows:

Resolved, That the Judiciary Committee be instructed to report an ordinance declaring valid all contracts the consideration of which was Confederate Treasury Notes, in all cases where the same was offered to be discharged in the same funds. Referred.

Mr. Duckworth, an ordinance for the relief of the Sheriff of Henderson County.-Laid over.  

Mr. Morton a resolution that when the Convention adjourn it assemble hereafter at 10 a.m., and adjourn at 8.

The hour of adjournment was stricken out and the resolution as amended adopted. 

Mr. Glover, a resolution in reference to the present laws on bastardy. Laid over.

Mr. Petree, a resolution to raise a committee to memoralize Congress for the reduction of the revenue tax on tobacco.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

Mr. Harris, of Wake, called up a resolution relative to appointment of a committee of eight for redistricting the State. 

The resolution was adopted.

An ordinance to revive debts, by Mr. Glover, was taken up, when

On motion of Mr. Glover, it was indefinitely postponed. 

The ordinance in relation to the admission of persons from other States to practice at the bar in this, was referred to the Judiciary Committee.

The ordinance of Mr. French of Bladen, repealing that portion of the revenue law, requiring employers and corporations to list employees, was withdrawn because General Canby's order covered the case.

The ordinance of Mr. Candler, repealing the amnesty law-except so far as applied to federal soldiers and females, was read and passed over.

The vote by which the relief question was postponed till Saturday was reconsidered, and on motion it was set for special order 12 o'clock to-morrow.

On motion of Mr. Heaton the bill of rights was waived, and the ordinance in relation to the W. C. & R. R. R. Co., was taken up, it being

THE SPECIAL ORDER.

The ordinance was amended and adopted by the following vote:

FOR-Messrs. Abbott, Andrews, Aydlott, Baker, Blume, Bradley, Carey, Carter, Cherry, Chillson, Daniel, Dickey, Dowd, Durham, Ellis, Eppes, Etheridge, Fisher, French, of Bladen, French, of Chowan, Fullings, Galloway, Graham, of Montgomery, Graham, of Orange Gunter, Harris, of Wake, Hayes, of Robeson, Highsmith, Hollowell, Holt, Hood, King, of Lincoln, Laflin, Lee, Legg, Lennon, Logan, Long, May, Mayo, Marler, McCubbins, Merritt, McDonald, of Chatham, McDonald, of Moore, Murphy, Nance, Newsom, Patrick, Petree, Ragland, Rich, Rodman, Stilwell, Tourgee, Tucker, Watts, Williamson. 

AGAINST-Messrs. Barnes, Bryan, Chandler, [[?]], Duckworth, [[cutoff]]

THE RECORD
of the
INSTIGATORS AND LEADERS
of the 
REBELLION.
     
Z.B. Vance delivered his speech at Wilkesborough, Feb. 22, 1864. In referring to the terms offered by President Lincoln in his Amnesty Proclamation of December, 1868, he said:

"Now what does Mr. Lincoln promise the State of North-Carolina? In what language does he clothe his gracious terms of amnesty and pardon? He says if one-tenth of the people of any State will take an oath to support-what? The Constitution? Nay, take an oath to support his proclamation abolishing slavery, his proclamation inciting your slaves to burn your houses and murder you and your families! If you swore to support this proclamation, you would perjure yourself, for it is in direct violation of the Constitution, as you well know. Old Abe has perjured himself, and he wishes to put you in the same category of villainy. Not only must you swear to endorse his infamous document-so pronounced by the civilized world-but you must also take an oath to support all the acts of Congress which have been passed, abolishing slavery, confiscating your property, placing you in subjection to one-tenth of the community and publicly executing your glorious chieftains, and every officer from a Colonel up to Gen. Lee."

How many perjurers are there in North-Carolina to-day, therefore, according to Gov. Vance's test? Do he and his friends hold that Mr. Lincoln is still infamous in the eyes of the civilized world? Who has been publicly executed? Who has lost property from confiscation?

In the same speech he said that President Lincoln desired "to set up a government of ten thousand perjured scoundrels!" And that if he, Vance, and his friends "consented to this thing they would deserve the fate of dogs!"

Aug. 3d, 1864, the Conservative, speaking as the organ of Gov. Vance and the latter-day-war saints, said:

"We have not changed on opinion about reconstructionists. We have not only here-tofore regarded them as traitors, but we still so regard them. Not only so, but we think that any man who so avows himself in favor of reconstruction should be required to leave the Confederate States, for such an one is a Yankee at heart, and unfit to live among Southern people!"

The confiscation act of the so called Confederate Congress was approved by Mr. Jeff Davis, Aug. 30th, 1864. 

It declared "that all and every, the lands tenements and hereditaments, goods and chattels, rights and credits within these Confederate States, and every right and interest therein held, owned possessed or enjoyed by or for any alien enemy since the 21st day of May, 1861, except such debts due to an alien enemy as may have been paid into the Treasury of any one of the Confederate States of America prior to the passage of this law, be, and the same are hereby sequestered by the Confederate States of America."

The second section made it the duty of every citizen to give information to the officers charged with the execution of the above.

The third section declared any person wilfully failing to give such information, or rendering an account of sequestered property, guilty of high misdemeanor, and upon conviction should be fined $5,000 and imprisoned not longer than six months!

Under this law officers were appointed, who executed all its provisions promptly!-Debts due Northern merchants were paid to Confederate Receivers, under fear of fine

Is any intelligent Northern man now at a loss to perceive why even the best Union men among us, were forced to identify themselves somewat with the rebellion? It was for the sake of saving their lives, and the lives of their innocent wives and children; for the leaders of the rebellion neither respected age or sex, as the following from the Confederate of June 29th, 1864, plainly proves:

"TRAITORS.-It is said that the parties detected in Augusta in communicating with the enemy are females. They should be imprisoned forthwith, and kept in confinement until the close of the war. They are probably high in social position, but we hope the authorities have the nerve to do their duty."

What would have been the fate of "females, high in social position," thus imprisoned in some Castle Thunder, for the war, at the mercy of vile and brutal turnkeys? Yet such was the hideous proposal; and it came from the mouth-piece of "the chivalry."

And the following from the Confederate of July 18th, 1864: 

"FOURTH OF JULY.-It was once a day of sacred recollections commemorating as it did, the pledge of fortune, life and sacred honor to the principles of self-government-to the declaration of the "right of the people to alter and abolish a form of government which becomes subversive of their happiness and prosperity, and to establish a new government, deriving its just powers from the consent of the governed." Celebrated through four score years with bonfires and rejoicings, the 4th of July had come to be considered as the natal day of Liberty; and everywhere throughout the wide, wide world, age and youth, men and women, boys and girls, the rich and poor, were taught its glorious associations and bowed in homage to its holy aspirations. It was left to the hated and detested yankees to make it a day of loathing and scorn. False to every precept which it taught, faithless to every pledge it recognized, they have desecrated its character and converted it into a derision and by-word.
 
When history records the infamy of their short comings, as they are now summoned to abide the test, it will require neither invective or abuse to stain the page-the recital of ignominious treachery, untruth and apostacy, couched in the simplest form of narrative, will startle the world for their mean, depraved vice, as concentered and developed in the yankee nation."

Who that has recently witnessed a Fourth of July in the South can escape the conclusion that those who applauded such sentiments in 1864, still secretly cherish and approve them?-that the natal day of Liberty yet remains unto traitors a "day of loathing and scorn!" And what Northern gentleman, after reading the above, can school himself to affiliate with such creatures?

But Gov. Vance not only counselled the most desperate resistance to the Union armies, he also advised the confiscation of the property of Union refugees, or their punishment otherwise. In his message to the last rebel Legislature of this State, at its first session, he said:
 
"I feel quite ashamed also to add that a number of Home Guards in certain interior Counties, holding both civil and military offices, actuated either by treason or cowardice, or perhaps by both, have recently deserted and fled to the enemy. I earnestly recommend that you take such steps for the punishment of such a crime by confiscation or otherwise, as may deter others from such cowardly and degrading treason. There should be no more trifling in this matter.-Those who seek the aid of our enemies should share the fate of our enemies. The blood of

"Capt. Jos. Davis, 47th N. C. Regt., who was captured at Gettysburg, and a paroled prisoner from Johnson's Island, will speak in Louisburg on Thursday of March Court upon the facts of his imprisonment and the state of the country."

What did a paroled prisoner, who was sworn to neutrality, have to do with public speakings; inflaming the minds of the people and encouraging them to resist the armies of the United States? Did any other paroled North-Carolinian ever offer to do such a thing?

Let us return to the spring of 1864, when the Confederate of April 18th, let of the following sky-rocket:

"Take heart, O countrymen! Our cause was never half so hopeful as now; our strength never half so formidable; our resources never half so abundant or so readily within grasp."

What baldfaced falsehoods! But in its issue of May 4th, 1864, it spoke in another strain. It was thirsting for blood.-Read it:

"We hope the Eastern counties will soon be cleared of the yankee allies and protectors of the infamous herd of Buffaloes, when the loyal citizens will have an opportunity of taking 'their own affairs in their own hands,' by inflicting summary justice upon them. There is a fearful day of retribution in store for them; and not only these, but many others who esteem themselves out of harm's way, far in the rear, too cowardly to take up arm or shoot a Confederate soldier but of the less dangerous in plotting mischief sowing the seeds of discord and strife."

Who after reading the continued extracts from these, the leading secession journals of the State-all of similar tenor--can doubt this fact, that if the Confederate arms had succeeded, Union men, and all who sympathized with them, would have been driven out of the State, some murdered and others maimed for life, their property destroyed and their families maltreated and abused? But now different has been the action of Union men since the success of their friends? With more causes for vengeance they forgave their foes and treated all kindly. Truly they are the "salt of the earth." But they have met with the ingratitude of the viper, that was warmed into life. Hereafter, we trust they will exercise a little more justice and less mercy. Amen

The military authorities of the Confederate States, in 1862, first began to employ negroes in small numbers to build fortifications-gradually as their armies grew weak-the sable sons of toil were drafted in large numbers. The Legislatures of the various Southern States patriotically voted to pay owners of slaves for the loss of their human property, thus employed-but forgot to remunerate poor white females for the destruction of their husbands, sons or brothers. Let the orphans of poor Southern soldiers remember that!

This paying for slaves who died in the service arose from no love for the negro, but because they feared the influence or disaffection of the wealthy master, deprived of his property without compensation. In the same spirit was the exemption clause inserted in the conscription law, shielding the owner of twenty slaves from military duty.-Again we say, let the poor conscripts remember that!

But as the war advanced and the rebel armies dwindled gradually away, the leaders of the rebellion became desperate. Having forced every white man into the field, whom they could reach, and still feeling weak, with Grant crowding Lee into his fortifications, and Sheridan advancing through the swamps of Georgia, they first proposed to conscript every man but recoiled from that proposition so soon as it became evident that they too would have to go in, at the front, "close under the flashing of the guns." What was left them? Only one and the last desperate resort [[cutoff]] to call a convention in May to take North-Carolina back to the United States and the agitation has already begun. Resolutions advocating this course were prepared a few days ago in the Standard office, and sent to Johnson County to be passed at a public meeting next week: and a series of meetings are to be held all over the State."

[These resolutions were not prepared in the Standard office. They were written by Hon. J. T. Leach, and submitted to Gov. Vance, who approved them. We have Dr. Leach's word for it, publicly given in this paper, and also in his "Appendix to the life of D. K. McRae."]

"For any cause now existing, or likely to exist, I can never consent to this course.

"Never. But if it should be inevitable, and I be unable to prevent it, as I have no right to suppose I could, believing that it would be ruinous alike to the State and the Confederacy, producing war and devastation at home, and that it would steep the name of North-Carolina in infamy, and make her memory a reproach among the nations, it is my determination quietly to retire to the army and find a death which will enable my children to say that their father was not consenting to their degradation. This may sound a little wild and romantic-to use no stronger expression-but it is for your eye only."

The Governor did not redeem this "wild and romantic" pledge-but is still in the enjoyment of robust health.

"All mankind is one of those two cowards; Either to wish to die, when he should live, Or live when he should die."


THE PRESIDENT'S INTENTIONS.-A correspondent of the New York Evening Post, writing from Washington under date of February 3, gives an account of an interview had with the President on Sunday evening. The President expressed his intention of nominating a successor to Commissioner Rollins, which he has since done. Will he be equally exact in the fulfilment of the intention he announced to this writer, who says:

In reply to a question by your correspondent, as to what course he would take in case the Senate refused to take any action on the nomination made in place of Mr. Rollins, and laid it on the table, the President said he should probably then be compelled to make a direct removal of Rollins, although this would be in contravention of the tenure-of-office law and would undoubtedly cause a new agitation of the impeachment question. 

He said the time had arrived when he was either compelled to ignore the Constitution itself or an act of Congress clearly unconstitutional and it was not his purpose to hesitate, although impeachment be threatened.

The President has heretofore given utterance to similar revolutionary sentiments, if he has been correctly reported by correspondents whom he has honored with confidential conversations as to his future plans, but thus far there has been in his conduct much more bark than bite. We do not seriously object to his barking, because we have long since given up all hope that he can be inspired with a proper conception of the sort of deportment which harmonizes with the proper dignity of the Presidential office; but should he attempt to go futher and execute the design above expressed, he will probably find that that impeachment is something more than a mere threat held over his head "in terrorism." He certainly will deserve to find it a stern reality, if he assumes the right to nullify a law constitutionally passed by Congress. We scarcely think, however, that his present threat means any more than those in which he has heretofore indulged on various occasions.-Washington Chronicle

MR. RODMAN OF BEAUFORT-The course this gentleman, has seen fit to pursue since his entry into the radical troupe at Raleigh

For the Standard.
REPUBLICAN MEETING IN WILKES.

According to a short pervious notice, a Republican meeting was held in the Court House at Wilkesboro' on the 4th of February, 1868, for the purpose of appointing delegates to the State Convention to be held in Raleigh on the 26th of February, and to the district Convention to be held in Salisbury on the 3rd of March next. It being Tuesday of County Court week a large number of the citizens of the county being present. 

The meeting was organized by appointing H. Hays Esq. Chairman and W. B. Siegrist Secretary.

The Chairman then called on Rev. S. P. Smith to explain the object of the meeting which he did in a few appropriate remarks.

G. H. Brown. Esq., then introduced the following resolutions, which were unanimously adopted:

Resolved, That we approve of the call for a State Convention of the Republican party to be held in Raleigh on the 26th of this month, for the purpose of nominating a candidate for Governor and other State officers. And also of the call to hold a district Convention of the 6th Congressional District in Salisbury on the 3d of March next, for the purpose of nominating a candidate for Congress.
 
Resolved, That we request the delegates to the Constitutional Convention, now in session, to send up to Congress a memorial asking for the political disabilities of the loyal men of the State who are disfranchised, to be removed.

Resolved, That the delegates from this County be instructed to prepare a list of all truly Union men of this County who are debarred from the right of suffrage and holding office under the acts of Congress, and have their names accompany said memorial.

Resolved, That copies of these resolutions be sent to the delegates from this County with the request that they be laid before the Convention.

Resolved, That the Chairman of this meeting appoint twenty delegates to the State Convention to be held in Raleigh, and twenty to the district Convention to be held in Salisbury.

Resolved, That the proceedings of this meeting be published in the Standard and request the Charlotte Republican to copy.

Under the 5th resolution the Chairman appointed the following delegates to State Convention to be held in Raleigh, to wit: Calvin J. Cowles, John Q. A. Bryan, J. E. Saintclair, Asa Triplett, Elijah Dyer, R. M. Smith, G. H. Brown, Stephen Johnson, Andrew Porter, R. P. Bowie, J. M. Call, J. W. Hays, R. B. Bryan, G. S. Smoot, H. C. Summers, Rev. S. P. Smith, Wm. Myers, Andy Gilbreath, John Wadkins and York Hickerson.

And the following to the District Convention, to be held at Salisbury, to wit: 

Wm. D. Phillips, J. W. Goforth, T. L. Kilby, James Kilby, A. E. Myers, John M. Brown, G. H. Brown, W. C. Dejournette, L. D. Burcham, A. Wiles, E. E. Hendren, N. D. Alexander, A. Sprinkle, Anderson Winkler, S. S. Goforth, R. M. Smith, Osborne Hackett, Luke Gilbreath and Caswell J. Smith.

On motion, the Chairman and Secretary were added to each list.

The meeting was then addressed by John M. Cloud, Esq., in an able and appropriate manner.

Then on motion the meeting adjourned.

H. HAYS, Ch'm.

W. B. SEIGRIST, Sec'y.

NOTICES.

Notice-First Congressional District.

Notice is hereby given that a convention of the Republican party, to nominate a candidate 

TELEGRAPHIC!

From Washington.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 8th.-There was no session of the Senate to-day.

In the House the entire day was devoted to speeches.

The Reconstruction committee had a stormy session, but did nothing pointed.

Mr. Beck, of Kentucky, was added to the subcommittee on the President's alleged violation of the law in forbidding Gen. Grant to obey Secretary Stanton. Gen. Grant will be the first witness.

This evening's Express, says: The feeling among the majority of the committee is undoubtedly in favor of impeachment, and there is reason to believe that a resolution to this effect will shortly be reported to the House.

The National Bank statement shows no important changes.

Revenue to-day 333,000; for the week four and a quarter millions-for the year one hundred and twenty and a half millions.

A committee from Cleveland is coming here to secure the National Democratic Convention. 

The Senate Territorial committee will report in favor of Colorado's admission.

Before adjourning to-day the committee agreed to report a bill to remove the political disabilities imposed by the reconstruction acts, of Gov. Holden, of North-Carolina, Gov. Orr, of South-Carolina, and Gen. Longstreet, of the late Confederate army.

It is reported that Mr. Brooks moved to add the name of Gen. Beanregard, but the committee refused to include him.

Mr. Banks is sick.     

Mr. M. S. McKean, for thirty years disbursing clerk in the Treasury Department, is dead.

Washington, Feb. 10.-In the House the following was introduced: Instructing the Reconstruction Committee to report what further legislation was necessary to enable the late rebel States to resume their places in the Union, and continuing the Freedmen's Bureau in Tennessee. Also, to allow respondents in the United States Courts to testify in their own behalf in instances where such testimony is permitted in the local courts.

A large number of private bills were introduced.

The Judiciary Committee were directed to inquire into the expediency to amend the Bankrupt law to require a majority of the creditors to compel involuntary bankruptcy.

A resolution that the seat of Government should be removed to Mississippi valley. Disagreed to by a vote of 77 to 97.

The drawing for seats created some confusion and much merriment.

A long discussion occurred regarding the bridging of the Mississippi at Rock Island.

A resolution calling on Gen. Grant for a copy of the President's last letter, and referring the judiciary committee's impeachment evidence, to the reconstruction committee with privilege to report at any time, passed.

The House went into the committee of the whole. After some discussion, adjourned. 

In the Senate, after a number of private resolutions, bill and memorials, reconstruction was resumed. After which executive session and adjourned.

In the Supreme Court the old Georgia case petitioning to restrain Messrs. Stanton, Grant and Pope from proceeding under the reconstruction acts, decided adversely last term-reasons for that opinion was to day given as follows: The question involved and the right sought to be protected were exclusively political in their character, relating to sovereignty and the Government, and not to rights of persons or property, and that the Court has no jurisdiction thereof of the subject matter of the bill. They cite the cases of the State of Rhode Island versus the State of Massachusetts of the Cherokee Nation versus the State of Georgia, and other eases, to show that the Court

Transcription Notes:
Newspaper - I transcribed the [columns] from left to right.