The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1867-06-12
REMARKS OF s. FOUNTAIN, ESQ.,,

q JuUe, lou.
FELLow-C CITIZENS The questions to be
discussed before the American people at the
present time are fraught with interests OF the
prayest Importance to us all-because they
involve the perpetuity of human freedom
and manhood rights in their broadcast sense.
Under the workings of our government in
former years, these rights and privileges were
not enjoyed by large portion of our peo-
pie. They were absolutely denied to the
colored man, and instead of disposition to
loosen the cords of servitude, they were
drawn closer every year by those who held
the doctrine that human slavery was indis-
pensable.- But the rebellion inaugurated
and carried on by bad men to continue
slavery, was oyerthrown, resulting in the an
nulment of human slavery. And can stand
here now, warmed by the burning blaze OF
freedom and say what wished, but could
not say with any safety twenty-five years ago,
that l am heartily glad that the right to
compel absolute servitude, except for crime,
is blotted from the organic and statute laws
of every State IN this Union. This much
accomplished in the beginning OF great
moral as well as political reform, 1t becomes
us to ask what is our duty as citizens Ut
common country under the new condition OF
affairs? Let me say our first and highest
duty is to stand by the government. How
shall we do this faithfully By attaching
ourselves to the National Union Republican
party-that party which amid dangers, per-
lis and blood, effected this great fundamental
change. And then cooperate with it to
achieve the reforms needful to place us upon
the sure foundation of Union, Liberty and
Equality" When Ispeak Of slavery and its
liberation, mean that white men as well as
black men were in the condition of slaves in
the South. What rights did the common
working classes of the white race enjoy
here? The poor men, sO-called, in this coun-
try were under the influence of the few large
land and Shareholders. Thus, ballots were
not used as their own, because they were
given to them before or on the election days,
and they dared not change them for fear of
their leaders The poor common working
classes in the South were duped, controlled,
managed to effect legislative schemes to
the interest of the few and to the dispar-
agement of the many. By this means, the
powers OF the State governments We're given
d. into the hands of those that held the great
est body of lands and slaves, and they legis-
lated in favor of corporations and monopolists
to the entire neglect of the non-slavery hol-
ders and the white laboring interest. The
interest of the mechanic was never thought
of or cared for. Why2 Because slaves con-
stituted capital and labor to the owner, and
to whom the interests of capital in this way
was the main object with all representative
men South
So completely were the masses of the white
laboring people South blinded with this sin
gle idea and purpose to perpetuate the slave
system, that they yielded passive obedience
to policy which laid the foundation to sap
their very vitals as laboring people, and
entailed upon their children bondage that
would under the old system, have reduced
them to hewers of wood and drawers of wa
ter for the slaveocrat and land aristocrat for
all time to come Hence, instead of Legislation
operating to encourage industry, skill and
genius of white men, it operated to increase
and perpetuate the slave system and the sup
planting in every branch of industry white
with black or slave labor. In word, the
interest of the slave owner was mostly con-
suited, who in consequence held the balance
of power, enabling him to regulate at
will the price of labor and produce
Thus it was so few lahoring men gained
riches, and so many remained poor What
and legislation directed to the development
of our resources. The millions of treasure
imbedded in the lands of our State would
years ago have been brought into use by
men of our own section, making themselves
benefactors to us and our children. But in
stead, the policy pursued locked the door to
enterprise on the part of our people, and
these rich resources lie to-day in natures beds
Of 70, &c
provldent legislation. Are not these facts
fully illustrated in other States in their pros
perity. compared with our adversely But
seeing the folly of the past, and having the
great incubus to our future prosperity re-
moved, in that all men are now made free,
let US begin to improve our condition in re-
gard to their best interests. How shall we
do this First, by carrying out the recon-
struction measures promptly and faithfully
in our State. Secondly, by forming Re-
publican State Constitution. Let the Re-
/ publican idea be broad, full and complete.
That is, let every man twenty-one years old
vote, white and colored, unless disabled for
crime. Let every freeman be eligible to Of
flee in the State, and let the people of his
district be the judges of his qualifications
when they go to the polls to cast their
votes Let the government be based upon
intelligence and industry, and the voters can
and will be the judges of the fitness and
qualifiedness of the electors. Then it is pos
sible that all the varied interests of the peo-
pie will be represented.
Let this be done without distinction or
determinations further than what the voters
may determine with respect to brains and
the honesty of the electors. Let all the of
ficers be elected by the sovereign people, and
then you establish sufficient check against
what some few oligarchs fear, may lead to
agrarianism. We have some men of such
views in our State. They are against free
dom. They must be voted out of the way
or they will give us trouble in our forward
march to equal rights under popular govern
ment. The enterprise of our laboring peo-
pie South, has been kept under in conse.
quence of this heresy against freedom. The
doctrine has long since become obsolete in
the minds of progressive men under popular
government. 1t has long since been found
that the interest of the American people was
one and the same. And all that has been
wanting to develop the full resources of our
great nation was to let freedom expand from
shore to shore. Not that any men ever hon
estly proposed, or ever will ask an equal
distribution of property by legislation No,
this idea is based, if based at all, upon ig-
norance in regard to the true character Of
, cur honest laboring and common yeomanry,
or on the fact that its promulgators fail to
comprehend the depth of patriotism which
prompts the people at this time to urge the
principles of equality upon the broadest
basis to any freeman. This argument may
alarm the timid. 1t is intended to check the
shirt of freedom It is the nnlicu To tax To-