The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1867-03-28

not know what to do each with the other.
Laughter and cheers. How is this WHY
Is 1t that the white man does not know ..
what disposition to make of the negro, or
the negro of the white man, after theV have
lived together in the same country for 40 .
many years can tell you, gentlemen, it is /,
because they become strangers to each other.
Let US get acquainted once more. GENTLE
men, and all the difficulties will be removed
tApplause.]
But it is said by some that it will never
do to enfranchise the colored man. They
desire to see him colonized-sent back to the
wllois of Africa, beyond the blue waters of
the greatocean. How is that, gentlemen Has 3.
the surface of America contracted-prown
smaller so that there is no room for those.
who have lived here for centuries? SbalI<
we be e1patriated for lack of broad acres
the acres which our torefathers cleared and
have rendered beautiful and fertile I ap-
peal to your reason. Is it possible thas
such o thing has been seriously considered
III this country, where the bones of our an
cestors are laid, and aronnd whose altar tho
warmest affections of our hearts are en-
twineda [Applause.l
! But let me illustrate the objection to the
Embarrassment of the colored man in nv
feeble way. 1t reminds me of the young
man, who owns fine horse, which he is in
the habit of driving although he is very
much afraid of him so that he cannot con-
cealit. All, says friend to him, that is a
fine horse of yours, but you seem afraid
of him, will you sell him2 No, re-
plies the young man, I'm afraid of him,
but he is valuable and 1 can't sell him. So
they seem to be afraid like the young man
of this horse, that if they put US in the po-
htical harness We will run away with the
concern and damage the body polite
Laughter and applause That is the way
they regard us, they are afraid of us-but
we are not going to fulfil their fears We
are going to work in the political harness
with good will-ws are going to help to
pull the State back into the Union-but all
we now ask is that the buckles may not be
drawn so ight-[sensation and cheersl for
we have grown little corpulent politically
speaking. Continued applause)
But we have these prejudices to overcome.
Yet one moments candid reflection would be
sufficient to remove these wrong impressions,
so much INDUCED. Now let us look at it.
What has been the history of our race during
the late rebellion? Can any nation on earth
present so grand records With all their
wrongs and sufferings upon them, with
knowledge that their Union friends
were battling for their freedom, they
staid at the homes of their masters. who
were absent fighting to keep them In sla-
very, and protected the defenceless females
with wonderful fidelity What other peo-
pie under the canopy of Heaven would have
done this thing2 What nobler exhibition of
seltsacrifice can be furnished in the history
| of mankind2 True to their instincts, they
continued on their farms, tilling the soil
and in doing so, they raised to themselves
monument high rs the Heavens and deep
as the great seal [Great applausc.] What
man now tolerate unworthy preudices
against our race!
So you see, sir, that we understood each
other in our old relations and if we get tho
roughly acquainted in our new, we shall sue
coed as well in the future as We did in the
| past. In conclusion allow me to repeat that
| this is the proudcst moment of my life
When behold these Star-Spangled banners,
| spreading III beauty above an assemblage of
| people without regard to race or color, this
motto of Union, Liberty, Equality" carried
into practical operation, sir, upon this the
! first occasion in the State of North Carolina,
my heart swells with emotions, which can
scarcely find Ineligible utterance! (Cries
| of go on go on and loud cheers)
Well, Mr.. President and gentlemen will
trespass while longer on your patience.
hold, sir, that the sin of slavery was
national sin. But l hold, sir, in addition
| that we must bury that dead past. Let us
sink It's memory a thousand fathoms in the
| future! (Cheering)
Recently have travelled in the Northern
States and consulted with the first gentle
men of the nation. One thing is f1ed.-
| They have determined to reconstruct these
States on thoroughly loyal basis. They
| have aided me and sent me here to CONSOLE
date my people and organize them. Fer the
colored people are a loyal race. They are
not too ignorant to be so. Go to any planta-
| cf,,
| him if he loves liberty, and he will an
swer you, yes Cheers Now do not run
| the ignorant ticket. l tell you the negro
knows enough to distinguish friend and foe
| The man who goes on the ignorant platform,
will certainly go down! [Applause.] The
colored people will vote all right-for they
| will stand by the Union and its friends.
Mr.. President, I have said that the future
| is bright can see, sir, the beacon sun of
liberty rising overthe dissolving storm cloud
! of war, gliding the whole nation with the
| light of its splendorI [Cheers.] Though
| the political waters have been disturbed and
! shaken to the dregs, can behold the old
| Ship of State still breasting the pillows tri-
umphantly, her prov pointed homeward
over the now subsiding waves of great
| commotion, no longer bearing the foul car
cass of slavery upon her shining decks, but
| which, thank God, has been washed over
board in the tumut, and sunk forevermore
in the fathomless waters! [Great sensation.l
| can behold the Eagle of America, the free
| bird of the freest government of earth, she'd
! ding from his pinions over every section OF
our beloved country, peace, protection and
| prosperity! Whence come these visions of
| glorious future? 1t is the work of Goblin
| self, who has resolved that all men shall be
! free and equal! Tremendous applause.]
Mr.. J. w. Hood, colored, of Cumberland,
| proceeded to address the meeting. He fail
| ed to perceive the magnanimity of the Con-
| situtional Amendment, but he could per-
ceive the greatness of the present bill. An
everything Providence has brought US our
| freedom, and has conducted the whole at
| fair. Let US unite with the Republican party.
1t is the only true party in the country. 1t il
| the champion of liberty-and it has ordain-
! ed, under God, that when this State be re-
admitted to the Union, her Constitution
| shall be absolutely pure, wherein the rights
! of all should be guaranteed. [Applause.1
The Convention then adjourned to Thur
day morning, 10 o'clock.
rTJrYTJ DT nYTloD"