The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1867-11-19
pru,Rks OF DR.. ]. T. LEACH,

1
ston County. t.gas.3 ..ss.a4l aaT
CITIZENS But for two reasons L /
shnnd consider that you were justly entitled to
sho noory from me for having offered you an
ah"aremeIit TO come here day: EFfH pr
lnITirst-I came here with an earnest desire of
efecting some soou' ~ .;...
Tnu have my fellow-citizens, done me the rare |
or TO say, told YOU the truth in by-gone |
i dsys, and that you desire to hear it from me
again. $500 :; +ha oooo,, nl;sh,,o,,t &c a. g.. |
Inject, that of doing good, depends upon two |
ooyysiderations First-whether am right in the |
irws that entertain upon the all-importaut and |
ar,mount subject OF the best speediest and most |
poresstul mode of our restoration to the Union;
o. in other words, the resumption o, our forfeit |
Cd rights by the attempt to secede from the Union
Secoudly-My success in convincing those who
a;arr with me of their error, and the fatal con-
SrTucnces likely to grow out of it.
Many Of you present will bear me witness when
1sgv that have never attempted TO practice off
, NON YOU a falsehood have always cndeavored
t5 DC honest with myself, and with you, and
whenever the interest, and general good of my
country my whole country, demanded it, have
never hcsitated, regardless of consequences, pre-
sent or prospective, to myself, to declare the
whole truth And to-day, prompted by like
motive, intend to declare the truth, the whole
truth and nothing but the truth to you.
Many OF you are, no doubt, anxious to know
the ground occupy in reference to the proposed
plan OF Congress for our restoration to the
Union; you wish to know what am for and
what am against r..
That is a part of my business here to-day; to
tell YOU am in favor of the Congressional plan,
as now proposed, in view of the fact that
have had Il better plan offered and rejected it;
| think if We reject the present terms that no
discretion will be offered us in the future, hence
l am Republican per Sc, the present and future
good, peace, happiness and prosperity of the
country, without regard to latitude geograph-
ica lines, without regard to race color.
Here l stand, and here l intend to stand, for
the good of all, come veal or come wo, come life
or come death.
Perhaps it might be we'll for me to remark
lust at this point, in assuming the ground that
occupy; l wear no mans or parties collar, as
has been charged. When become so obsequious,
SO serviie so craven spirited, as to wear any
mans collar, shall consider that am filter
subject for the halter than the collar-colars be-
hit slaves and not freemen.
After having said thus much upon what am in
favor of, think there is but little room for my
position to be Inexperienced, or my views
misunderstood.
Let INC now reverse the picture and tell you
what l am opposed to.
1 am opposed to any policy calculated to retard
or prevent our restoration to the Union upon the
plan now proposed by Congress.
am opposed to all political secret oath bound
associations upon principle; they stir up strife
in neighborhoods; they destroy political conf
dence, and if persisted in, Will sap the very
foundation of republican form of government.
If have not studied the principles of a repub-
bestow the greatest amount of good upon the
greatest number, without detriment to the
minority.
Ii gentlemen occupying different standpoint
can discern enough OF good in secret organiZa-
tions to neutralize the evils have enumerated,
will accord to them not only the right of enjoy
ing their opinions, but will accord to them su-
perior sagacty and craftsmanship.
The teverish anxiety, fearful Generalization of
the country and the many dangers that surround
us, requires the exercise of all the forbearance,
prudence, patriotism, and craftsmanship that can
be brought to bear in the amicable settlement of
our troubles. Therefore let us not forget that we
are in the hands and under the immediate eye of
Him who can supply all human defects, and that
We should ask His benedictions in behalf OF our
troubled country; that the liberties and happiness
of the people may be cnnsecrated afresh to the
cause of freedom.
Let us look little further into the terms pro-
posed offered US for restoration to our for
feited rights under the Constitution:
Upon close examination of the terms think
it is apparent to the mind of every thinking man
that Congress had a twO-fold object in view in
the terms proposed First. punishment OF the
guilty. Secondly, reward to those whom they
supposed innocent of the crime of secession.
think the law falls very far short of accomplish
ing either object; in thousands OF instances it
excludes the loyal men from any participation in
the restoration, and in as many instances rewards
crime by admitting those to participate in the
reconstruction of the government who were fore
most in its attempted destruction. don't speak
of these things complainingly, but simply to
show how little those in power know of the real
condition Of the people of the South. To say
the least of it, think there is great want of
statemanship shown in the reconstruction acts.
Notwithstanding there is not a just and proper
discrimination made in the reconstruction acts,
yet there is one feature in them that ought to
challenge tile admiration of the world, at the
same time disarm those who attempted 10 break
up the government of their hostility to 1t, many
of whom are now endearoring 10 defeat the plan
before the people
But one man held under duress; not drop of
blood shed a life sacrificed to expate the
crime of treason and yet the lenlency OF the gov
ernment seems only to intensity their hatred.
Let me admonish those who seem disposed TO
that the extreme lenieney of the governm, mt
accounts for the privilege that they now enjoy OF
insulting the mercy and forbearance OF that gov
eminent, no further discretion, i'll my opinion,
will be allowed us, we have to go back into the
Union, though many of us be left by the way
of the children of Israel in their pilgrim
aye from the land of Egypt to the promised land.
The Republican party suppressed the rebellion,
and they will restore the Union; they have the
position and the power, and they will eXerciseit;
mark the prediction.
Now, my black fellow citizens, desire to ad-
dress some remarks to you particularly, and while
do it, let me bespeak your strict attention
You arc now in stature but children in mind
the circumstances under which you have been
placed in the past, and the laws regulating the
relation between master and servant, accounts
for it; it is your misfortune, and not your fault.
With your limited capacity tor comprehending
your obligations, and the laws that are to govern
in the future, all ask your part is to
make good citizens you did servants, and
all will be well with us We commiserate the
helpless condition in which you are placed, and
are willing to assist you.
Your fidelity and subordination to your former
masters challenges the admiration of the world,
and might well put to blush the example of those
who claim higher degree of mental and moral
culture.
In view of the position that you occupy in
society," in view of the obligations that you are
under to the law, in view of the general good, in
view of the peace happiness and prosperity of
the country at large, make law-lovng and law
abiding citizens, use and not abuse your rights
as heemen; keep yourselves aloof from all en-
tangling alliance with political partizans, and
scavengers OF party; they have been the bane of
the country in the past, and will be more so in
the future if they can but secure your influence
Improve your minds and morals, give good ad-
vice and lay good examples in your families
impress upon their minds the Importance and
necessity OF like course of conduct; be polite,
be honest, be Industrious, be careful and success
will crown your honest efforts.
Those who wish you well, those who wish
themselves well, those who wish thei- country
well, deprecate the idea either of white mans
party, or negro party; they desire freeman's
party, without regard to race or past relations,
for the mutual good of the two races and for the
peace, happiness and prosperity, individually,
and collectively of the whole.