The weekly North-Carolina standard., 1866-06-13
Speech of Robert P, Dick, Esq,
OF GUILFoRD COUNTY,

Speech of Robert P, Dick, Esq,
OF GUILFoRD COUNTY,
Made in the Convention on the I'd day Of June,
anon Mr.. MoDoNALDs Resolutions declar-
ing the State Of the Country, dec. =
Reported by c. H. Farrell of the n Y. Herald,
and revised by Mr.. Dick.
MIR. PRESIDENT This Convention was
called together for the purpose of restoring
North Carolina to full connection with the
government of the United States. We will
be recreant to duty unless that great purpose
is accomplished, or we make every reasona-
BILE effort to complete our work. Ii we adj
iourn and leave the State in her present
strange and anomalous condition, a deeper
gloom will settle upon the minds of our
people: and the difficulties and dangers
which now surround and embarrass us, will
be greatly increased One Of the most i'm
portant political contests ever known in his
tory. is now carried on between Congress
and the President, and we cannot be indif-
ferent spectators, as the issue of that contest
decides our destiny for veal or for woe. IT
we would aid our friend, the President, our
stern, stubborn and sullen acquiescence must
give way to a spirit of cheerful and heartfelt
LOYALTY. Any course of conduct that weak
ems the hands of our friends and strength
ems our political enemies, is impolitic, un-
wise, and even dangerous.
In entering upon this discussion, desire
to express my opinion upon many questions
of great public interest which may be legiti-
mately introduced into this debate These
are times when new and important questions
l. 1o1
We have no precedents to guide our action,
and we must be influenced by patriotic i'm
pulses, and calm and deliberate Judgment
We are the representatives of the people, and
we must endeayor fully to comprehend the
situation of affairs, and then rise equal to
every emergency. We must not follow the
promptings of selfish ambition, or lie con-
trolled by the passions and prejudices of the
past for vital interests are at stake, and
new destiny is before us. We must show
ourselves to be patriots and not mere parti-
zans. We are now arraigned before the bar
of public opinion and we must speak and
: act wisely, consistently and patriotically if
we expect to obtain the confidence and re-
gard of either the government or the peo-
pie. Great events have crowded upon us
with wonderful rapidity, and we must shrink
from 20 responsibility which they impose
/ feel fully the difficulties and embarrass-
ments of our present position. The dark
and bloody past is behind US, and it is hard,
hard to forget for it is so full of misfortunes
and sad memories Tie voices of nature
speak to our hearts and wake our deepest
and fiercest passions-but true wisdom tells
-ss -,ss e forget them, if we would have peace
full and prosperous future.
We must all know that there can be no
prosperity and freedom in North Carolina
until the State is completely restored to full
connection with the government of the Uni
ted States. This State was one of the gIo-
nous thirteen of revolutionary fame, and she
once occupied the proud position of equality
among her peers. Then she had all the ele-
ments of greatness and her people were free,
prosperous and happy. She had constitu-
ton which secured all the great principles Of
liberty. She had a system Of good and wise
laws that were speedily and justly admins.
tered. She had a public credit that held
high position in all the money markets Of
the world. She had school system that
was rapidly increasing public virtue and in
telllgence, and In every way she was moving
on in the grand march of educational, DO
litical and social progress. But in an evi
hour, controlled by unavoidable circumstan
ces and unwise counsels, she broke loose from
the government which she had so long pro
tected, honored and loved, and for four year.
her history has been full of sorrows and mis-
fortunes. Fifty thousand of her best ani
bravest children are now either the mutila
ted objects of sympathy, or they sleep il
untimely graves. Her government is almos
without vitality and power Her courts ar
no longer the forums of speedy justice He
munifcent school fund has vanished like
dream, and her public credit is bankrupt
Her labor system has been overturned. ant
her fertile fields no longer yield their abun
dant treasures to well regulated industry
The private fortunes of her people have beel
scattered like chaff before the whirlNind. an,
their energy and enterprise have been crush
ed by frequent disasters, and now in humili
alton and poverty they have to struggle fo
bare existence.
Our situation is certainly gloomy and de
pressing, but our future destiny depend
much upon our own action. What then. i
: our duty? We must restore peace. at homo
We are informed by high authority that
house divided against itself cannot prosper
We must cease to quarrel with one another
and cultivate kindness of feeling Venus
not indulge in elimination and recriminatio
for past differences Of opinion. We mus
forgive one anotherif we hopeto be forgiven
Iwant to see our people united on the broa
and enduring political principles of deyt
ton to the State and loyalty to the gener,
government. These two feelings are by n
means inconsistent, but together, they col
stitute true American patriotism. will sa
- here to-day, what / would say before Il
Congress of the United States, or any whe