The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1867-09-17
An ELOQUENT and Timely spesch..s

An Eloquent and Timely speech.
We give below the speech delivered by
Mr.. Senator Wilson, on taking the Chair as
presiding officer of the recent Republican
State Convention of Massachusetts,: -
/ Z After the organization of the Convention
Senator Wilson, the President, spoke as fol-
| lows .-s.
Is it not gentlemen of the Convention,
source of patriotic pride that We are men,
bers of that grand Organization that sternly
resisted the extension of Slavery, the domi-
nation of the slave power, and ever met the
demands of slave masters with prompt,
peremptory, and emphatic No IAN organi-
zation that accepted the bloody issues OF
civil war rather than compromise away the
enduring interests and renown of the repub-
lie, or the sacred rights of down-trodden
humanity-an organization that built the
most powerful navy that ever rode the
waves, and marshaled more than two mill
ions of soldiers to battle-that emancipated
more than four millions of bondsmen, cloth
ed them with citizenship and civil rights,
and gave and is giving to them the right to
vote and the privilege of being voted for q
Is it not matter of profound qualification
,, that we belong to a political, party that
never gave traitor to the ranks of the coun-
try's enemies, never fired upon the dear old
flag, never sent one shot into the bosoms Of
its defenders, nor shed one drop of loyal
blood2 We may sink into the bosom of the
land ourideas made free and our policy saved
in the assured consciousness that the present
age, all coming ages and Almighty God, will
hold US guiltless of the crimes, the blood,
the tears of sorrow or. agony of this dark
and troubled era, through which the nation
has struggled to preserve its menaced life
In this grand conflict for the unity of the
Republic and the liberties of the people the
sons of Massachusetts have borne no undis
tinguished part Her sons, and her daugh-
tiers. too, in the morning of the conflict
when Slavery cast its baleful shadows over
the land, tainting the very sources of moral
principle-gave genius and learning, eloquent
thoughts and selfsacrificing labors to the
cause of the lowly bondman. What a no.
BILE muster roll of thinkers, writers, speak
ers, voters, who hoped on and struggled on,
through that night of years, amid obloquy
and reproach, for the emancipation of a ha-
ted race, and the redemption of a nation
stained with great crime; when their
voices were UNDECIDED, in the madness that
ruled the hour, when the conflict of ideas
war, her statesmen in council halls proclaim
ed her ideas upheld her principles, and vim
dicated her policy of equality of rights and
privileges; and her soldiers on battle-tields
illustrated her fidelity, devotedness, and
heroism. But, gentlemen of the Convention.
the grand work to which the sons and
daughters of Massachusetts, have during
thirty years, in peace and war, contributed
SO much, is incomplete. The equality of
men in the States, and the equality of States
in the Union, are not yet established by ire
versible guarantees. There is an obstacle at
the White House. That obstacle has been.
now is, and will continue to be an 1nspira-
ton to reactionary hopes and strivings, ma
lignant passions and cruel deeds Had An
drew johnson co-operated with Congress,
needed the voice of the people of the loyal
States, and met the needs of the loyal people
of the Rebel States, the equal rights of the
freedmen would have. ere this, been assured,
the insurrectonary States restored, the ma
ton united, and his name would have been
forever associated with the martyred Lin
coin in the love, gratitude, and admiration
of LOYAL America The masses of the Re-
publican party turned trustfully and hope
fully to him, when their great leader was
stricken down, to lead in the grandest work
of the age. These loyal masses were willing to.
forgive, if they might not forget, the terrible
humiliation of the Inauguration, and to fol-
low him in the work of unity and liberty
When he faltered-when he fell from the
van, and sank to the rear, these loyal masses.
generously continued to hope on even against
hope. But, when he went over to the camp
of the men who had fought against their
country or sympathized with them, they re
solved to go on, without him or in spite
of him, to the final accomplishment of the
mighty task imposed upon them by thsir
endangered country Into the keeping of
traitors Andrew johnson put the Rebel
States, into the keeping of unrepentant
Rebels he has striven to keep those States
Every measure to protect the loyal white
men of the Rebel States every measuEs-to
secure the rights of the freedmen, every
measure to weaken the rule of the Rebel.
chiefs, Civil Rights bill, Freedmens Bureau
bills, Suffrage bills, Reconstruction bill, and
Amendatory bills all have been vetoed by
him. When the Republican masses ip their
magnanimity refused to demand imp6ach-
ment, when the Republicans IN Coagness
forebOre to press the impeachment they knew
he merited, trusting that they conleG save
their country and vindicatc equal rights in
spite of his misconduct, he detiantly Contin-
nation-dared his fate-and now hundreds of
thousands who have held back from his i'm
parchment are sternly demanding it. Ed
win M. Stanton, the trusted counselor of
Abraham Lincoln during the bloody CON-
f1icts of civil war, that statesman So true to
freedom, so devoted to his country, has been
rudely thrust from that position, where he
had rendered services to the endangered ma
ton that will be gratefully remembered in
the years to come. The Senate of the Uni
ted States, that has witnessed his intense,
passionate love of country, his Titanic ener-
gy, vast labors, integrity and purity, will
not cease to remember that he was, struck
down for fidelity to the country and! to the
rights of the people. Not apseasedl by
striking down the great War Secretary, An,
drew johnson has laid his hand of violence
on that brilliant, honored and loved soldier,
Phillip H. Sheridan, whose record in the
field glitters with glorious achievements,
whose record in the Fifth Military District is
instinct with patriotism and justice. This
brilliant hero of the Valley of the Shenan-
doah, and of battle-fields made Immortal by
his genius and valor, is sent from his Depart
ment, hurried away to the distant plains-to
the gorges of the Rocky Mountains to, chase
the wild Indian, with an admonifiomth athis