Journal of freedom. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1865-186?, 1865-10-07

from town and county mass meetings be
entitled to seats in the convention, with
ont regard to the legislative representation
of the different counties.
The committee on permanent organiza-
ton reported the following nominations
for permanent officers of the convention.
President-Rev. j. w. Hood-Vice
President, J. p. Sampson. Secretary,
Randolph, Jr.-Assistant Secretary, VIM
fCawthorn-Treasurer, j. r. Caswell,-
Chaplain, o. Bass.
On motion the report was amended by
substituting the name of j. T. Schenck for
that of j. P. Sampson. as Vice President,
and as amended the report was adopted.
! On motion, the number of Vice Presi-
dents was increased to seven, and the fol-
lowing were elected in accord ance there
with 81. 81. Harris, j.. F.. Sampson,
Isham Sweat, VIM. Smith, Stewart Eli
son, Serg't. Thos. Littlston.
! A committee Of two was appointed to
conduct the President to the chair. On
taking his seat the President addressed
the convention as follows -
Gentlemen ftke Conveattion Il hardly
know how TO express nay thanks for the
high hoHor you have conferred upon me !;
an honor could scarcely have dreamed
of enjoying, for consider that there
has never been and never will be more
important assembly than this now con
vrnel here. We have met here to de-
liherate on the best interests of our peo-
pie. We come from the hills, from the
mountains and from the deserts. We
cnme t6gether as one man ,and our watch
word ia .'equal rights before tile law. !"
/. Ne have come together, / presume, with
the understanding that It is necessary
that we should act, indoors and 0rlt a.
t..o,rs. respectfully to all men, whether
t:pv he gentlemen or whether they be
: liberations which hope will be guarded
2 against, aud that is, harsh .anxuage to-
war.ls any person | myself am an Adopt
ed citizen of The State, having lived here
: for some two years, and II am not
. citizen here, am not cit zen OF any
t State. i say that we and the white pe"-
ple have to live here together: Some
!. people talk of emigration for the black
race, snme Of exp"trlatiOn, and sone o
colonization. regard this az all non
: sense. We have been living together
r for a hundred years or more and we have
II got to live together still and the bes
way is to harmOnize our feelings as mucl
: AS possible, and to treat all men respect
> fully.
il spect: not from rufians, it is true, ou
from gentlemen, and am convinced tina
the major part of the people OF N9r.l
Carolina are gentlemen and ladies. a
not mean one class alone, but the maJH
u part of the people, both white and olacK
ID Phat being the case, believe it we re
spect ourselves, we shall be respected.
We NAV not gain all we want at once
~ i. is true although think we ought
- for we have waited long enough tor ou
ce rights. People used to say it was nc
IN the time toabolish slavery, and used
ne tell us to wait until the, proper tin
= arrived: but it would only seem reasoh'
bile that the more slaves there were, Itf
more difficult it would be to set them ire
n The best way is, to give the colored me
he rights at once, and then they Will pra
n, ti6e them and the sooner know no"
". use them. as.s.... ,4I
;. There are three things we want, ,whl'
'Ao ve have not got before the civil courts,
under.the civil law. First, the Tsght,
ily testifu an courts otjxstice, in order tn
ng we may defend our. property and o
nd rights. Secondly, representation IN
on iuTv boz. tt the right Of every m
md accused of any offence, to be tried oy
iury of his peers. claim that the bla
the man is my peer, and so ] am not trleo
for NV peers, unless there be one or m'
a black men in the jury box. lbells
on also that black men should be allowed
esi;, act as counsel In all courts OF Law
geo Thirdly and finally, the black man gro,
on haze the right to carry has bGttot to ths
the lot boa. These are the rights that
want-that we will contend tor-a
70 tnat by the help Of God zoe .oA hove''
me being our defender. Iond spplauI
.na .ne On motion Mr.. Lee Jasper was appol
the ed First Marshal and Mr.. J. d. Jot
Second Marshal, and instructed to
ade delegates and visitors and preserve orc orc
hts, On motion, committee OF three .
ned anno;ntsd to invite Gov. Holden, {
q "'ni ~ Rnsor. Oommandant Of the Departm
ing O.,l Whittlesey and Col. Clapp 'of
hey Frsed,nen's Bureau Co be present at
session of the convention, AMI exsen
'ern n then, its privileges and favor It VIII
rain an address. Messrs Galloway, dibhle
T,;tflaton were appointed. =