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

oo1oI ociore Gue convention. tue hon. nos.
Settle was loudly called upon for speech.
Mr.. Settle said that through loss of sleep !
and weariness, he was scarcely able to do
justice to himself or properly entertain the !
Convention but there was SO much to talk |
about, that he would proceed to say some !
thing. The rebels, he said, had time and |
again spurned the terms offered them by the |
general they had especially re
fused to adopt the Constitutional Amend |
ment, which to rebels was the most magnan- |
imous offer in all the history of the world |
from the conqueror to his fallen foe But |
owing to their stubbornnsss We were here
to-day to break dirt and lay the corner stone
of the Republican party in North Carolina.
lApplauss.l The war, he said, was COM
menced to perpetuate slavery. 1t went the
other way, contrary to the expectations of
all the leaders of the rebellion Therefore,
! slavery is forever dead in the United States
of America. This has been tile work of God,
and can say that it is for the best [Great
app!ause.] We have been educated up to
the true point of republican liberty-we are
now willing to see every man clothed upon
with all his rights. immunities and fran
chises without regard to race or COLOR
Some of the Northern States-Ohie is be-
hind US. We hope she may catch up
Laughter and cheering With us the old
crust of ideas formed by the institution of
slavery is broken up in thousand frag
ments. They are floating off-passing away,
as everything must pass away not founded
upon the eternal rock of justice. [Applause.1
We are called radicals Why. all great re-
formers are radicals, they go to the root of the
matter. Franklin, Morse Fulton and Field
were accounted radicalsin science. So all great
men, who show to the old fogies something
new under the sun. Look at the progress made
in this country in railroads in every kind
of improvement. Shall our laws stand
still The old ideas were good in their time.
But we live in new era-of revolution,
where one month filings greater flood of
light upon the world than fifty years ordina-
rily. Sir, allow me here to refer to the adj
dresses of the colored gentlemen, to whom
I listened in committee this evening. Mod
crate, intelligent, patriotic in all their views,
such utterances would reflect credit upon
any man or set of men. We have also
agreed in that committee to unfurl the BAN
ner of the great Republican party to the
breeze! Tremendous applause. Without
party of that kind, all our efforts will be
wasted. There can be no display of practi-
cal patriotism until we form party of true
men and exert ourselves for the cause of
Union, Liberty and Equality" systematl-
callyl [Applause.]
I was a Democrat prior to the war. I en-
tered that party fighting for reform-for free
suffrage among whites. At the opening of
the war, joined the Union party. Since
then we have not been able to do much
But to-day 1 enter this new party battling
for reform-for free suffrage Let us stand
fairly and squarely upon that platform. We
are now Republicans-our banner is to the
breeze-let us rally for the conflict.
+ Mr.. Grissom, of Granville, asked permits
| 70 ipfr nj fn fho nm
vention. He was federal officer, and he
hoped would be welcome by ALL
Col. Dewsese advancing was greeted with
applause. He said that when he came into
this Hall to-day, he expected to remain 81
lent but what he had seen and heard i'm
PEELED him to express his sentiments of graf
ification. This Convention was alive-ani-
mated with the true spirit, buoyant with
hope. shall go North in a few days.
There l expect to meet with distinguished
public gentlemen. He could bear glad tt
dings with him. He could tell them that
North Carolina was in earnest in this attempt
at reconstruction. was born a Southern
man and wear the federal blue. When vo-
ted for Fremont in Arkansas, they expelled
me from that State. I then owned slaves,
which had inherited, but now thank God
they are as free as 1 ami Applause.
was ever opposed to that institution. When
they sent me away from Arkansas I told
them 1 would return, and so I did. I went
back in 1868 at the head of 1000 cavalry,
and when left that town loyalty was at a
premium What do we behold here too day ?
The practical display of the principles IN
scribed in the declaration of independence
that all men are created free and equal.
| What radical could have reasonably expect
ed this six years ago2 1t is 4 glorious right,
sir to US all. And I would say to these col
ored gentlemen beware of rebel influence
The men who massacred your brethren at
Fort Pillow, New Orleans, and Memphis,
who burn your sehool-houses, and prosecute
YOU to-day, would tear down the fabric of
these free institutions, which you are tonight
engaged in erecting, and re-enact the horrors
of Laurel Valley in every county of the State.
Beware especially of those who proclaim that
they are merely ovsrrun, not subjugated.
Gentlemen, the whole North is looking
upon you. That people will scrutinize your
every action as carefully as does the mother
her baby, striving to walk for the first time.
I appeal to you to do your whole duty, and
ere long the members from North Carolina
will be re-enrolled on the books of the Con-
gress of the nation. / have some desire to
settle in your beautiful State. 1t will make
me a pleasant home, should the principles of
free speech and human liberty become the
recognised right of every man. do not care
for ridicule and neither do you, but I warn
| YOU that in a week so this Convention will
be the best abused set of men in this part of
District No. Q.
After some further playful remarks, Col.
Deweese thanked the audience for their at
tention and retired. His speech was fire.
quently interrupted by cheering and other
demonstrations of appropriations for such
well timed and well-worded effort Let US
hope the Colonel may become citizen of
North Carolina, redeemed and purified.
Mr. Jas. Henry Harris, of Wake, colored
orator, was next called upon to address the
meeting. He said that so many able speeches
had already been delivered, that he felt
somewhat diffident upon this occasion. But
he would venture to speak, and utter the
true sentiments OIL his heart, at this the prou-
dest moment of his life, when all men meet
tree and equal for the first time beneath the
dome of the Capitol of the Old North State.
What is the real object of this Convention,
gentlemen Why are we here assembled?
Not to devise the machinery of reconstruc-
tion but to enquire into the best means of
working under the supplemental bill, which
| Congress has enacted for our benefit. To
| oruanize for that Durnose gentlemen ia the