The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1867-04-17

surrender the Southern press ana some pol
iticians have been strcnuously urgent In their
demands for constitutional 1igifs. What constltu-
tional rights can they justly claim under gov
eminent wi ich they made such gigantic efforts
to destroy? They Inady threw away these glo-
rious rights, and now that they arc conquered,
they at once claim equal powers and privileges
with the conquerorS. Justice demands that they
should first perform the duty oil quiet submis-
sion and sincere obedience to law, and when this
is done, they may then claim and they will re-
ceiye generous and magnanlmous terms. am
generally sanguine and hopeful, but must con-
fess, that have some apprehenslons for inc ~
ture, that party whose motto is : rule or
RUM is not yet completely conquered ms ter
rible work is not yet accomplishments may yet
bring many sorrows and disasters upon the South,
but we must make one moro brave ana noble Ell
fort TO rescue our people.
Mr.. President, think that We are making an
important movement here to-day, and in the 4
right direction. I feel that we are prompted by
patriotic motives but we will have many strong
and bitter prejudiees to encounter Inc preJu-
dices of centuries almost as filcult TO over
come as armed resistance The soldiers OF the
Union hazarded their lives in its defence, and
shall we fear to risk our political existence IN
noble effort to restore the Union OF all tie States!
We cannot fight this battle with success unless
we obtain the assistance OF powerful aires Let
us then hoist the brilliant banner OF the Re
publican party, and resolve under it to conquer
or go down with the Union and the cause OF hu-
man freedom. But feel assured that If we Will
fight ga good fight we shall triumph. The
banner under which we rally has been made I'M
mortal by maintaining the government, ana us
motto of g Union, Liberty and Equality Will
never appeal in vain to the American people,
"The Union is the security, the greatness and
glory of country and it will ever I'LL with en-
thusasm the hearts of patriotic millions.
The word "E5e,ty' has in every age aud CLINE
thrilled the human heart More than two thou
sand years ago,it rang'with eiOquence and power
around the Acropolis of Athens, and through
the forum of Rome, and it gave immortality 10
classic literature, and cOnsecrated in the alice
lions of mankind the history of those ancient re-
pUblics. 1t came echoing through the roll OF the
ages and it is now uttered by the voices OF Amer
| lean freemcn rs the watchword OF human pro-
| gross.
We are told in history that when Constantine
| the Great was leading his legions into Italy to
| contend with Maxentias for the supremacy OF the
Roman Empire, he was overwhelmed with the
responsibility of his position, and he prayed to
| the God of the Christians for guidance and sup
! port. AT noOn-day while at the head OF his ar
| my, he saw above the sun brilliant cross III tne
| heavens with the inscription Conquer 6y tts.
He placed the celestial sign and inscription upon
his imperial standard and be led his invnclble
| hosts TO victory; he sat without rival upon the
| throne of the Caesars and Christianity became
| the established religion of the empire; and soon
the creeds, prejudlces and rites of pagansm,
| which had existed for more than ten centuries,
! passed away before the brighter light of the
| Christian faith. On our banner are the magical
words Union, Liberty and Equality" and feel
| assured that we may well add the inscription
Conquer by this" for we will triumph, and the
| long established prejudices of slavery will soon
| pass away before the glorious light of universal
| freedom. .-.-.-.
Mr.. President, the prime object of the rebellion
was the perpetuation of negro slavery, but in The
| providence of God, it has resulted in emanclpa-
tion Obstinacy and perversity have now brought
| about civil and political equality, and if the same
blind and mad spirit is longer INDUCED in, we
will soon inevitably force upon the country ne
gro supremacy and confscation. For the people
| of the North are fully determined that the South
shall be controlled by the friends of the govern
ment, even if it is to be by black loyalists
| appeal to the people of my native State to pause
in their mad career before it is too late. Justice,
patriotism and sincere loyalty can alone arrest
| the progress of this great civil revolution, and
| avert many disasters from our people. The gov
eminent emancipated the slave turned him loose
| upon his new destiny without 4 home and penny
less, and he has right to demand that he shall
be treated with justice and genel osity.
Why should we entertain feelings of hatred
! and bitterness for the negro? He was the faith
full nurse of orr childhood the companion of our
! youthful sports and the firm and devoted friend
of our manhood. He had but little to do with
his emancipation. 1t was the work of God, and
| His guiding ana controlling influence in it. are as
fire to the 1sraelites in their desert journeyings
Shall the meekness and fidelity of our former
7 slaves awaken in our hearts no feelings of graft
tudc and kindness? At the commencement of
the war We had fearful apprehensi0ns of servile
Instruction, but the slave was true to his trust,
and he labored faithfully for the support of our
armies and families, when he knew that our sue
cess would but rivet the chains of his bondage
Many of them, with remarkable devotion, fol-
| lowed their young masters during the long and
weary marches. and with unfalteriug courage
stood by them amidst the storm of battle Many
of them on the red fields of carnage, performed
the last services OF affection for the wounded,
tine dying and the dead. They closed the glazing
eye,-felt the last throb of the wasting heart
placed with care the sod upon the humble grave
which they bedewed with the tears of affection
and then they sought the distant home of sorrow
to carry the last messages OF love- and administer
their simple, heartfelt consultations. Are so
lost to all the nobler and finer impulses of our
nature as net to return generous kindness Tor
love and devotion like this? Shall we now, in
the time of their destitution, treat them with
scorn and contempt, and strive to drive them
from the homes and graves of their fathers? If
we do, we can no longer claim to be enlightened,
civilized and Christian men. No matter what may
happen, the domestic ties of affection which
bound me TO my former slaves shall never be
broken. They are still my friends, and, SO help
me God, 1 will be true to them
Mr. President, / am satisfied from short ex-
pericnce that the negro is not rendered less SER
yiceable by emancipation. Slave labor produced
our individual wealth-enlarged our commerce;
gave employment to our manufactures; built up
our cities, and contributed greatly to our national
prosperity and greatness and can never believe
such strange doctrine OF political economy,
that the labor of freeman is not valuable us
that OF slave. Such theory is fully contradic-
ted by the rapid advancement and prosperity of
those countries where free labor prevails. We
once controlled the slave by fear; we can now
hold out more powerful incentives to labor to the
freedman, Ia Kindness, Justice and tie hope Of re-
irdld and we can make him more efficient in
dscharging his duties citizen by educating
him and eleyating him in the scale of being. This
is duty OF patriotism, and it is our high and
solemn obligation to God feel confident that
when all of our national difficulties are adjusted
| and settled the South will start upon new ca
reer of prosperity, and in ten years we will re-
gard emancipation, one of our greatest bless
ings Mr.. President, there is another question
of interest and importance which it is our duty
at this time seriously to consider. In the last
five years the people OF North-Carollna have be-
come greatly alienated and estranged from each
other This condition of things must not remain
if we would be prosperous and happy. There
are many wrongs, expressions and outrages which
can never be forgotten, but they may be forgiven.
| Our people should now become united with a
strong feeling of mutual dependence, knowing
that they now have a common country and the
same destiny can say in truth, for myself,
that have no feelings of malice to indulge, no
spirit of revenge to crafty, and l can promise
that the motto of my action shall be Good will
to man. | regard the first great duty OF the cit
zen to be-, devotion to his country and obedience
to her laws This is my political faith. The
sincere and true friends of the country are my
friends and all others are to me aliens and politi
cal enemies The man who does not pay heart.
felt allegiance to his country is unworthy of her
protection, privileges and blessings desire to
| see every feeling Of sectonalism eradicated by