628 



NORTH CAROLINA. 



in reestablishing the militia of that State, and to the 

 fact that the President of the United States had ap- 

 proved and confirmed such action. He believed he 

 would pursue the same course in relation to North 

 Carolina should it become necessary to do so. 



Judge Howard explained that the bill only pro- 

 Tided for the raising of the contemplated police in 

 counties where it was deemed necessary for the pres- 

 ervation of law and order, and that in case of any 

 serious outbreak, it gave the command of the force 

 to the United States officer. If Gen. Ruger abides 

 by the opinions expressed by him to the committee, 

 there was nothing in the ordinance which could come 

 in conflict with his opinions or wishes. 



Col. Ferebee read an extract from President John- 

 son's proclamation in relation to the Mississippi 

 militia, wherein he says the people must be trusted 

 with their own government, and if so trusted, he be- 

 lieved they would prove deserving of the confidence 

 reposed in them. 



A number of other ordinances of less general 

 importance were adopted, when the Convention 

 adjourned, to assemble again on the fourth 

 Thursday in May, 1866. 



After adjournment, the President and other 

 members proceeded to Washington, on behalf 

 of the Convention, to present their more im- 

 portant measures to President Johnson. On 

 November 10th. they appeared before the Pres- 

 ident, when Mr. Eeade stated, among other 

 things, that the first act of the Convention was 

 to declare her uninterrupted connection with 

 the Union, and that the ordinance of May, 

 1861, by which she was attempted to be sev- 

 ered, was null and void. This was done by a 

 vote very nearly approaching unanimity, and 

 thus the first issue in the late war was yielded. 

 The next thing done was to prohibit slavery, 

 and this was by a unanimous vote ; and a com- 

 mittee of able lawyers was provided to prepare 

 wholesome laws for the consideration of the 

 Legislature ; and thus the second issue in the 

 late war was yielded. The Contention having 

 yielded what was involved in the war, and 

 being of the opinion that the State was, and 

 always had been, in the Union, and that her 

 relations had only been disturbed and not de- 

 stroyed, respectfully asks the President to de- 

 clare, on the part of the authorities of the 

 United States, as the State has done on her 

 part^ that her governmental relations have been 

 reconciled. The Convention instructed the 

 Legislature to provide for the payment of the 

 debts of the State ; declared all debts contract- 

 ed in aid of the rebellion to be illegal, and pro- 

 hibited the payment of the same. Mr. Reade 

 continued : 



We have heard that, notwithstanding the State 

 might yield, and as she understands it has yielded, 

 all that was involved in the war, and notwithstand- 

 ing pur people were submissive, well disposed, and 

 anxious for fraternal relations, her delegation in 

 Congress would not be admitted unless they had 

 qualifications not prescribed by the Constitution; 

 that they would be required to take an oath which 

 few men in the State can take, affirming not merely 

 that they are right now, but that they have never 

 been wrong. The exclusion of her delegation upon 

 uny such test as is suggested would be felt by our 

 people universally, as such a deep wrong that it would 

 put their strong devotion to the Government, and 



their lively hope of perfect reconciliation, to tho 

 severest trial. They can understand the bitterness 

 of strife and the aversion to treason ; but they will 

 be confounded at the repulsion of offered friendship 

 and avowed loyalty. The Convention, therefore, 

 respectfully asks Congress to repeal the test oath. 

 I have thought it respectful, both to you and to Con- 

 gress, that this request should pass through your 

 hands, with the hope that your Excellency s mag- 

 nanimity would add to it some reflection which 

 would avail that body. 



After further remarks by Mr. Reade, in which 

 he spoke of the confidence reposed in the Pres- 

 ident by North Carolina, the latter responded 

 as follows : 



Hon. Mr. Reade : I receive from you, with pleas- 

 ure, a copy of the proceedings of the Convention of 

 North Carolina. I reciprocate cordially the concil- 

 iatory spirit in which you have addressed me. The 

 Convention of North Carolina has done much and 

 well toward restoring that State to her proper 

 national relations ; but something yet remains to be 

 done to render that restoration immediately prac- 

 ticable. An acceptation of her Congressional amend- 

 ment abolishing slavery throughout the United 

 States, >bv the Legislature of the State of North 

 Carolina, is, in my judgment, practically important 

 to the successful restoration which is so much de- 

 sired by all. Without answering specifically the 

 questions you have proposed to me, it will be suffi- 

 cient to say that my action must depend upon events, 

 and that Mr. Holdeu will be again instructed to con- 

 tinue the exercise of his functions as Provisional 

 Governor until he shall have been expressly relieved 

 by orders to that effect. 



The ordinances referred to the people were 

 ratified on the day of election, and Jonathan 

 Worth was chosen Governor, by a majority of 

 6,730, over W. W. Holden, the Provisional Gov- 

 ernor. The total vote at the election was 58,- 

 554. In 1860 the total vote for President was 

 96,230. 



On November 27th the President sent the fol- 

 lowing despatch to the Provisional Governor : 



WASHINGTON, D. C.. November 27, 1865. 

 To tlie Eon. W. W. Holden, Provisional Governor of 



Kortli Carolina ; 



Accept my thanks for the noble and efficient man- 

 ner in which you have disharged your duty as Pro- 

 visional Governor. You will be sustained by the 

 Government. The results of the recent elections in 

 North Carolina have greatly damaged the prospects 

 of the State in the restoration of its government. 

 Should action and the spirit of the Legislature be in 

 the same direction, it will greatly increase the mis- 

 chief already done, and might prove fatal. It is 

 hoped the action and spirit manifested by the Legis 

 lature will be so directed as to repair their increase of 

 difficulties, under which the State has alreadv placed 

 itself. ANDREW JOHNSON, 



President of the United States. 



Meanwhile the Legislature which had been 

 elected held a brief session, during which it rati- 

 fied, with but six dissenting votes, the amend- 

 ment to the Federal Constitution abolishing 

 slavery, elected three judges of the Supreme 

 Court, and John Pool and William A. Graham 

 United States Senators, and adopted other meas- 

 ures suggested by the Provisional Governor. 

 On December 15th tho newly elected Govern- 

 or was duly inaugurated. In his address he re- 

 frained from subjects upon which the Provisional 

 Governor only was authorized to act, and said : 



