The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1867-10-22
Thsse gsntIsmsn also say that Congress

mas done wrong, ana CndI ItlluSt reconSlQef
/ its action in relation to reconstruction J
They heidi chat they themselves, and not
| Congress or Won, sor the loval whites of the
South are the best judges of reconstruction.
Twice already have they put away terms of
settlement, and they are now refusing them
for third time. To them the rebellion was
only a little " onpleasantnessp daughter.
They are still disposed to be little unpleas-
ant in their manners, and talk about voting
down Republican Conventions and Constitu-
tions. Well, fellow-citizens, let them do so,
if they can; but we are determined to carry
out these acts in good faith, over all OPPOSE
cage the Devil of Rebellion that he will not
go out to harm this people any more for a
season. Applause and Iaughter.] We are
going to inaugurate an era of peace and good
government in the State of North Carolina.
Seventy-fve thousand colored voters will
register in this State and ninety five thous-
and whites. Of these latter, the Republican
party will. carry not less than twenty five,
and it may be fifty thousand [Cheers. Our
vote will be at least one hundred thousand,
with twenty five thousand majority. [Great
applause. And let me tell you, most of the
white people that will go with us to victory
will be the poor, over taxed, hard worked
men of the State, who are honorable and
high-minded in the midst of their poverty.
They have reason to be proud Of their scan
ty means at time like this, for they came
honestly by it. 1t is not their fault, but the
fault of those who led them on to the sham
bles of destruction. Then there are the col
ored voters. No power under Heaven can
detach them from the Republican party
That's So. So you see there is power in
this State strong enough and brave enough
to restore the State to the Union, fellow-cit-
liens. And we intend to do it, as l have said
before, in spite of all opposition, upon the
basis of loyal suffrage. [Applause.l
The fact is, fellowcitizens, all the argu-
ments and views of Governors Bragg and
Graham are based on false premises They
forget that North Carolina has lost, by re-
bellion, all her constitutional relations to the
general government. President johnson
himself said this in 1865, There has been
no charge Stree We are now as we were
then-a suhjugated territory, only State
in name and by courtesy, as it were, under
military law, taking our laws and shaping
our course at the will of the conqueror 1t
is true, We may do as we please about recon-
struction. We may accept it promptly with
all its blessings, or We may refuse it, and
take the consequences; but there is no pro-
priety, or reason, or truth in the argument
that we occupy the same footing and are
entitled to the same privileges with Penn
sylvania and Ohio. These gentlemen will
continue to argue at random until they see
and feel this great truth.
l once acted with Gov. Bragg in the
Democratic party. But seven years ago, we
dIsagreed-he went for secession and 1 adj
hered to the cause of the Union. TCheers
We have differed ever since, and find that
we are now as wide apart as ever before
[Laughter
What is it that the people are now called
upon to doc Registration is well-nigh COM
plete, and the day of voting will be soon
hxed-probably about the Goth of Novem-
Der. The first thing that is before the peo-
pie then is to vote for Il Convention. Then
we must nominate candidates for Conven-
ton. This must be done in a few weeks
We should call Convention in Wake
County, and have every Captains district
represented. Then we will nominate can
didates- men to be voted for in the
approaching election. A voice, "that's
right"
And now, let me appeal to you all in the
name of liberty, OF the Union and the Con-
stitution, to vote for Convention promptly
and cheerfulg. [Cnes. we will Our enc
mics charge US with being contiscationists,
but we stand here to-day, as we nave stood
for two years past, 6etaoeen them and c0pfsc0- |
ton. Let US go forward and do our duty. |
and replant the tree of liberty in the soil of
the old North State. They charge US also
with being radicals A radical is one that
goes to the root of matter-let us go to
the roots of the tree of secession, and tear it
up forever. Cheers
The cry against yankees and negroes" |
ruling the country does not move me. do
not want any Office. l want the Union |
and am anxious for all the aid 1 |
rot I'M Tn,
seemed to want the Yankees to come down |
here and settle among us, and help us build |
up the State. When office is at stake some
of our people don't want the Yankees; and
many among us, who still cherish the wicked
feeling of hatred that got up and carried on
the war, are in the habit of sneering at
g Yankees" No one is good Southerner
who does not hate the Yankees" Well
now, fellow citizens, the true test is charac-
ter merit. We are all in one sense Yankees.
for we are all Americans. Ia voice, that's
So The British did not like the Yankees,
but the Yankees whipped the British in two
wars, and made them respect them. Zap
plause. The Mexicans did not like the
Yankees. but they also learned to fear and
respect item. I want no American to fear
IN American, but those that decry the
Yankees and misrepresent and abuse the
arc cOnlpeilcQ 10 respect the
government. [Applause.] We ought to
cultivate friendly feelings with our Northern
brethren. We ought to invite them to come
down here, and bid them welcome when
they do come. They are just as good as we
are, and We are just as good as they are
Laughter and applause.] Let us put up
the sword, and pour out all the dregs from
the bitter cup of war, and then go to work
20 cultivate the arts of peace, and cherish
and promote the charities and amenities of
life, and make happiness, and good feeling
and prosperity where we have had for so
many long years the fiery scourge of war,
with all its train of sin, suffering, poverty
and sorrow. [Applause. l envy no man
the popularity or the offices he may get by
keeping up strife and bad feeling between
the North and the South.
Fellow-citizens, have faithfully warned
his people for the last seven years. Top
posed disunion as long as could, and beg
yed them not to rebel. I then urged
hem most earnestly and continually to
stop fighting and make peace on the basis
If restored Union. never counted slave
Y against the Union. TApplause1 I did