The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1867-04-24
For the Standard.
Great Mass Meeting in Williamson.
600 PERSONS PRESENT.

According to previous notice, the citizens
of Martin County, both white and colored,
assembled in Williamson on Saturday last,
to see what was to be seen and to hear what
was to be said. At an early hour they began
to pour in from all quarters, and by 10 o'clock
the principal thoroughfares of the town
were literally jammed with human beings,
all ANXIOUS to learn something of the politi-
cal condition of the country and hear the
great principles of the Republican party ex-
planned. #t. rr
At 10 O'Clock the Loyal Union League
turned out and marched to the grove of the
Male Academy followed by an immense
crowd of colored people, where they were
addressed by Col. S. W. Watts in speech
| of two hours and half in length. ia3
| The Colonel commenced by referring to
| the present situation, and the ruin and dis
tress that had been brought about by an un-
| fortunate rebellion. He showed in unmlsta-
kable terms, who originated the war and who
| were responsible for all the blood and treas
ure that had been so foolishly spent. He
| dealt hard blows upon the principal leaders
| of the rebellion and skinned the small
| fry secession politicians. He then held
| out in bold relief as 3 solution of our diff
culties the olive branch, that a magnanimous
Republican Congress had offered to the peo-
| pile of the South in the late reconstruction
act. He implored the people to accept in
good faith the situation, and to rally around
the flag of the Union, and to stand fairly
and squarely upon the platform of the Re-
publican party-and all would be well. He
then discussed the principles of that party
and thp I,la ttnpp, .,f i>lao oil a1 Inv
the Loyal Union meeting that assembled in
Raleigh on the 9th March last, and especial
ly dwelt on the motto of the party-Union,
Liberty and Equality.
After giving description and minute his
tory of the meeting that had unturled the
rof Liberty, Union and political Equal
ity in the State of North Carolina he closed
by an appeal to the colored people to stand
firm in the Liberty wherewith they were
made free" to look well to their own in ter
est, and that in his opinion their safety now
and their prosperity and happiness hereafter
depended upon their devotion to the Union
and an unalterable attachment to the Repub b.
lican party; which was pledged and will
ling to do them exact justice The Colonel's
speech was frequently applauded, and cheer
after cheer rang out from the delighted au-
dience.
The following resolutions were then pre-
sented and unanimously adopted:
Resolged, That we fully endorse the plat
form of principles enunciate.l and set forth
by the Loyal Union meeting assembled in
Raleigh, on the 9th of March last.
Resolced, That we with proud satisfaction
this day unfurl the banner of the Republican
party, believing that the great principles of
Union, Liberty and Equality are the only
ones founded upon justice and the only So
luton of our present political difficulties.
Bes0lced, That upon our broad platform
We invite all fair-minded men, without dis
tinction of race or color, to unite with us to
make long pull, a strong pull, and pull
altogether, to restore North Carolina to her
position in the federal Union. 7- 81
Res0loed, That we will support no man for
office that does not stand fairly and squarely
upon the platform of the Republican party
Resol0ed, That the Editors of the Raleigh
Standard be requested to publish the pro-
eeedings and other Republican papers copy
April 10th, 1867. -....5rf ,.s, b.,