Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1867-04-18
RUTLAND III ERALD
FRIDAY, APRIL II, 1867.
Political 0PIni ~ in North Caro-
Iina Ian 1865 and 1867.


MAJ ihs,td and the sentiments uttered
show q dteidtd chan. of opinion on
some OF The political issues If the hour,
on the part Of some OF The leading men
In the old North s ate. The Convention
was composed o; 81 white delegates and
40 colored deli gates. The history OF
the progress o! political opinions as de-.
Veloped In the convention may be in
terestiDg to thoughtful men as signs OF
the times. On the 18th OF October,
1865, q convention assembled under the
name OF the Presidential Reconstruction
Convention, and among the delegates
was Gen. Alfred Dockery. He was an
open and avowed Union man during the
war, and has a record untainted with
treason. In the meeting he advocated
and voted for the declaration that the
ordinance OF secession was null and
void. He ever spoke kindly Of the col
ored men, but was doubtful as TO the
policy that should be pursued on all
questions affecting their political rights
and power, as will be seen from ex-
pressiens in his speech in which he
saws: 1.-THE blacks have ceased to be
producers and the whites cannot support
them, and therefore it is best for both
races to be separated" In 1867, we find
this gentleman presiding over conven
ton of which one third are black men =,
and in assuming the chair saying "to be
selected as your presiding officer is a dis
tiDguished honor, gentlemen, for which
l tender you my heartiest thanks" Mr.
Dockery is an old man and it must have
cost him something to speak these brave
words at this time Of life.
One Of the Vice Presidents was Mr..
Goode of Newbern, (colored) a man
who is said to be Of Thoughtful heart,
and simple, gentle manhood" who was
one of the most sensible advisers and
cou nsellors, standing the peer of the best
talent among the whites Of the State.
We find the Chairman of the Commit
tee to be Hon. Thomas H. Settle, one of
the leading public men of the State, who
has been three times speaker of the lower
no use Of the legislature, and who was
also a member of the convention Of '65
when he persistently advocated the re-
pudiation Of the rebel State debt, and
the I, cord shows that he brought that
boty up to his radical declarations on
fhis subj CT, but not without a severe
. ruggle, though on matters affecting
she colored people, he was very tender,
and expressed the belief that the coun-
try would finally rest upon the basis
of colonization and white suffrage. In
the last convention he reported series
of resolutions which say, "we do this
day, with proud satisfaction unfurl the
brilliant and glorious banner Of the Re-
publican party" "We cordially assent
to and accept the reconstruction plan
recently adopted by Congress" and con-
Guiding with 1--WE heartily endorse the
great measures Of civil rights and i'm
partial enfranchisement conferred with
ont property qualifications or distinc-
ton of color !" In 1866 he said during
the debates, "this is white mans gov
eminent and intended for white men
only" yet we find him in 1867 uttering
this language;
1--WE have been educated up to the
true point of republican liberty we are
now willing to see every man clothed
with all bis rights, immuDities and fran
chises, without regard to race or color.
Some o! the Northern States-Ohio is
behind US; we hope she may catch up.
With US the old crust of IDEAS formed
by the institution Of slavery is broken
into thousand fragments. They are
foating of-passing away as everything
must pass away not founded upon the
eternal rock Of justice. Sir, allow me
here to refer to the addresses of the col.
0red gentlemen to whom / listened in
committee this evening. Moderate, in
telligent, patriotic in all their views,
such utteraDces would r, feet credit up.
on any man or set of men. We have
agreed to unfurl the banner of the great
Republican party to the breeze. With
out party of that kind all our efforts
will be wasted. There can be no display
OF practical patriotism until we form a
party OF true men, and exert ourselves
for the cause Of Union, Liberty and
Equality systematically"
We find, in the proceedings of this
convention of March 2lst, some six or
eight speeches of some length, three or
four of the white speakers being men of
much experience In public life, in whose
ability the people of North Carolina
have pride. Yet the speech which spoke
most boldly the sentiment of truth and
freedom, was made by selfeducated
Slaves teacher,-and which is COM
pllmeDted by the Raleigh papers, by
publishing extracts of it. We seem to
see him, as be stands in an assemblage.
where all meet for the first time free and
equal, beneath the dome of the capitol
Of the old North State, utteriDg in vivid