The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1866-06-09
JUNE 8, 1866.
Speech of Robert 2. Dick, ESQ.,,

-AoAe H6 t"e Co"CeHtGOH on Cte 40 t0y ~ oUHe,
apon Mr.. MCDoNALD's Resolutions declar-
dng the State Of tile Country, dc.
Reported by c. H. Fa :rell of the n Y Herald,
and revised by Mr.. Dick.
Mr.. 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. If we adj
journ 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 If 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 inCif-
fcrent spectators, as the issue of that contest
decides our destiny for veal or for woe. If
we would aid our friend, the President, our
stern, stubborn and sullcn 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 impoiitic, 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 egiti-
mately introduced into this debate. These
are times when new and important questions
are to be discussed and promptly decided.
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 endcavor fully to comprehend the
situation OF affairs and then rise equal to
every emergency. We must not follow the
promptings OF fish ambition, or be con-
trolled by the passions and pref judices of the
past for vital interests are at stake and Il
new destiny is before us. We must show
ourselves to he patriots and not mere parti-
Zans. We are now arraigncd 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 no responsibility which they impose
1 feel fully the difficulties and embarrass-
ments OF our present position. The dark
and bloody past is behind u.s. and it is hard
hard to forget, for it is full OF misfortunes
and sad memories. The voices OF nature
speak to our hearts and wake our deepest
and fierccst passions-but true wisdom tells
us to 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 glo-
rious 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 system of good and wise
laws that were speedily and justly admins
tered. She had public credit that held
high position in all the money markets of
the world. She had a school system that
was rapidly increasing public virtue and in
telligence, and in every way she was moving
Oh in the grand march of educational, po-
htical and social progress. But in an evil
hour, controlled by unavoidable circumstan-
ces and unWiSe cOunsels she broke loose from
the government which she had so long pro-
tectcd, honored and loved, and for four years
her history has been full of sorrows and mis-
fortunes. Fifty thousand of her best and
bravest children are now either the mutila-
ted objects OF sympathy, or they sleep in
untimely graves. Her government is almost
without vitality and power. Her courts are
no longer the forums of speedy justice. Her
muniticent school fund has vanished like a
dream, and her public credit is bankrupt
Her labor system has been overturned, and
her fertile fields no longer yield their abun-
dant treasures to we'll regulated industry
The private fortunes of her people have been
scattered like chatf before the whirlN ind, and
their energy and enterprise have been crush
ed by frequent disasters, and now in humili-
alton and poverty they have to struggle for
a bare existence.
Our situation is certainly gloomy and de-
pressing, but our future destiny depends
much upon our own action. What, then, is
our duty? We must restore peace at home.
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. Wemust
not indulge in elimination and recrimination
for past differences of opinion. We must
forgive one another if we hopeto be forgiven.
want to see our people united on the broad
and enduring political principles of devo-
ton to the State and loyalty to the general
government. These two feelings are by no
means inconsistent, but together, they con-
stitute true American patriotism. l will say
here to-day, what l would say before the
Congress of the United States, or any where
else. that 1 love North Carolina better than
any other spot upon which the sunlight of
heaven has fallen.
In reconstructing our State government
we must adapt our constitution and laws to
the emergencies of the times, and then we
must faithfully enforce and obey them. The
wealth and prosperity of our people can only
be restored by labor We must all go to
work in earnest. With energy and intelli-
gent industry we must develope our agricul-
tural, mechanical and mineral resources.
We have the same great treasure, house of
God, out OF which our ancestors dug the
wealth which they transmitted to US, and if
we will labor we too can gather the rich gifts
of prosperity. In society and in legislation
we must create inducements to prevent the
emigration of our people and invite foreign
capital, energy and enterprise. We must
give glad and cordial welcome to all those
who come to help US. We must not treat
them as strangers and aliens, but we must
take them into our houses, and esteem them
as friends and benefactors.
We have great work to perform, and it
ought to call forth the highest qualities of the
mind and heart. Our noble old State cloth
ed in the sackcloth of mourning, is PROSTATE
in the dust of humiliation and poverty, and
we must restore her to the high position
which she deserves to occupy. If we will do
our duty as men, as patriots, and as citizens
the great work can and will be accomplish