The Portland daily press., 1867-04-06
The Hep"bIienn Party in Norih Carolina.
IT'S ORG ANIZATIoN AND PLArFoR,t

ITS ORGANIZATION AND PLATFORM.
The New York Eoening Pest publishes a
letter from prominent Republican of North
Carolina, a participant in the recent conven-
uon, giving an interesting account OF the
organization of the Republican party in
'hat State We reproduce a portion oft:
RALEIGH, N. c., March 90, 1867.
b,. He Republican party of North Carolina
ma,i-a ~ o'ouShiy organized. Such an event
I. n,i, q ne" era IN history. low was il done?
ny Mhoms propose to tell Won.
d,''io,.' usult W 70 The call issued by the loyaI
iucii,oels ,o: ~ tue North Carolina lepislatiIre
NeAPi'incu in previous letterl. one hundred
white and fifty black delegates cn,unS noiiIieu
the Commons Hall in this citv on ~ a,ii ~
inst. Fitty-hve counties of the s,a4o In I'm
represented, and all would have been L,,. Ga,
the scarcity OF money and lack OF aceommoda.
tions tor travellers in Iemote districts
There were fifty colored delegates. They
sat upon the floor beside the whites, parlici.
pated in the offices, honOrs and debates, and
achieved for their race the highest eneomi-
ums from both friend and foe. l am not stat
ing one thing beyond the simple truth.
The white delegates were Gentlemen of
stamina-good old-iashioned farmers, a few
lawyers and a few professed politicians. In
many respects it was upon their part a most
remarkable assemblage. Ii was almost en-
lrely composed Of middle-aged men, in the
habit of indulging sober second-thought upon
political matters, and exercising sounu judg-
ment in preference TO prejudice or passion.
Among the colored people there we've many
untutored sons of the ploueh-others were
shopkeepers, mechanics, few preachers, and
one or two politicians, if l may so speak of
the few, who since the surrender have deyot-
ed tner time TO the happy consummation of
all ITS troubles, upon the basis of Justice aud
equality.
The majority were middle-aged, and few
We're young men. The blacks prevailed over
the muiatoes in number, and excelled them
in oratory but all deported themselves with
courtesy which reflected honor on their
good breeding.
The convention was called to order, and
Hon. All. Dockeray, the Union candidate for
governor last autumn, unanimously chosen
temporary president. On taking his seat,
Mr.. u, made an appropriate address, replete
with patriotic sentiments, which were greeted
with loud bursts OF applause. From this
moment a new confidence seized the hearts
OF all; we were to2ether-the former slave
and his master, equals and friends: both
min9ling their voices in appreciation OF senti-
ments OF loyalty, and yieing in the expression
Two gentlemen were appointed temporary
secretares--one colored and one white; and
the convention proceeded to effect perma-
msnt organization.
This was done, alter the delegates names
were enrolled, by appointing a committee OF
elsht-iour OF each race, who reported the
officers as follows: Hon. A. Ill. Jones of
Henderson, president; o. p Hadley, Colonel
ID. HeatOn, ON the part of the whites; j.
IL. Harris, and }. L. Goode, ON the part of the
blacks, Vice-presidents; and III. j. Mennenger,
white, and j. Il. OHara, coioIed, secretaries.
A committee OF twenty was then raised ON
resolutions, consisting OF ten whites and ten
blacks. "l
This was all that was done in the morning,
except the speaking, and the convention ad-
journed until evening" e...
When the body assembled il was entertain
ed by addresses from SentIem9n OF both col
ors, and adjourned until ten O'Clock next
day. ttlt re fftH
When it reassembled ON the 28th instant.
the platform and resolutions were reported
and adopted, and the banner OF the Republi-
can party OF North Carolida uniurled amid
the enthusiastic cheers of delegates and spec
Jator5. Alter providing Tor the appointment
oi an executive and subcommittee, the con-
sentiOn then adjourned sine die.
During these entire proceedings the utmost
harmony and enthusiasm preyaiied. The gal
leries Were crowded with a dense assembaqe
OF colored people, and the lobbies lfequently
became impossible, while the commineled as
OF whites and blacks, wondering reb-
els and elated lOyalists, protruded tar into the
main aisle. 1t was a strange sight 10 all pres
ent-to federal officers and Yankees who were
assembled here and there-as well as TO the
gaping chivalry. Yet there was no disturb
ance, and good order prevailed on every hand.
There were many participants in the con-
vention among the whites who are excluded
from office and voting by the Sherman recon-
rtruction bill. But they did not presume to
simply co-operated with the others.
Every officer OF the convention was IAN Isra-
elite, in whom there is no guile" for each one
could subscribe the oath OF July I'd 1862. As
10 the excluded gentlemen. their position was
in the back seats They took them yoluntari-
ly, in order TO lend their infueuce to the 81
loyalists for good. They did this
thing, to THEN honor be it said, ana arc Coop
Grating with the Republican party like true
men. Under the circumstances, who can cav
ii at their presence? Who viii say, drive them
off?-throw their influence away Or turn it
away by so doing? Such course would endt
in disaster as 1t commenced in folly.