The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1867-07-20
GEN. sICKLEs' SPEECH.

A the close Ol Gut GilS
stand on the the Citadel Green on the
4th of July, the procession moved to
the residence of the Commanding Gen
eral on Charlotte street, and in re-
sponse to loud and repeated calls from
the assembled multitude, General Sick
les appeared and addressed them as fol-
lows:
My Friends Il am happy to re-
ceire your demonstrations ofregard. 1t
is gratifying to observe your hearty ap-
probation of this anniversary. For
you the declaration of Independence
had peculiar significance. To the ma
ton it brought liberty; but to you it
restored manhood. It is trae enough,
your race has awaited almost hun
dred years for the fulfilment of the
pledge made to civilization by the i'm
mortal authors of the Declaration of
Independence Jefferson and his col
leagues had more faith in humanity
than their Immediate successors. The
statesmen of the epoch Of the revolu-
tion desired to form a permanent union
of States, to establish justice, to insure
domestic tranquility, and SECURE the
blessings of liberty to all the children
of the Republic. To day the musical
bells of St. Michaels celebrate in fitting
chimes our progress in the work, begun
a century ago by the fathers Of the Re
public. To-day, the flag which floats
unchallenged throughout the Carolinas.
is the symbol of justice and liberty to
all, loud cheers.)
Your old masters and you begin to
know each other better. 1t is with
you and them, as with North and
South, better acquaintance promote
good understanding. Every day more
kindly feelings are expressed towards
you as freemen, as free laborers, and as
citizens. Errors and illusions are pass
ing away. In 1865--66, IsWas admon-
ished not to permit you to celebrate
your holidays in multitudes, with pro-
cessions and banners, and music, and
marshals, and bonfres, and firearms,
and fireworks. Why? Because it was
said you would rise in insurrection.-
Against whom for what? I demand
ed. Not against the authority of the
United States for that authority has
made them free. Nor against their
former masters fer as slaves they did
not rebel. Not against me for [ am
here to protect them from injustice
No; | was told the colored people
would have land, and they would seize
it, and drive away the lawful owners
of the soil. Times have changed, insur-
rection is only remembered as a night
mare. Whenever a colored man
wants land, it is seen that he buys it
from any one willing to sell or hires
land, if he can find any one willing to
let it to him. (Cheers.)
Here I will offer suggestion. There
are many plantations in these States
not cultivated at all, or only half culti-
waited If the owners, who can neither
plant nor afford to keep their lands idle,
would divide their useless lands into
small farms Of twenty acres each, and
sell them at fair prices to honest, indus
trlous and thrifty laborers, the cry of
,contiscation'' would soon be lost in
the glee of busy labor-the noise of
Iandless agitators would be hushed in
Sne repese Of a contented, happy peas
1htry. (Cheers)
4, neh was sent to the Carollnas, In
tne autumn Of 1865, was told that the
iieeo people would never work for wa
sesLthat they could not be made to
alnaefstand unn stan what it was to work for wa
ses; NOW, L hear a different complaint
,u;th Itha1 the freed people would not work
iaughtero
a. was told, also, that it would never
10 to admit colered people to the courts
Mpstice to assert their rights by suits
w ~ol Jaw; OR to give testimony in contro-
was a,,sles between man and man for it
mas mas SAID you could not comprehend the
tbe tlb,eanlng p and obligation of an oath, or
fbor fIe lorms ofjudicial proceedings. Now
on near that unless colored man has a
s;dyr sS;nyer and lawsuit, he does not con-
Taah Taer himself respectable citizen.