The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1867-11-12
n,ss INSERTING n wasHIyeros, NC.

A mass meeting Ga s1Ho CioI1SasA VI
Washington, N. c., was held at Che
Courthouse ON Monday evening, Nov.
a. 1857, for the purpose of listening to
theviews of the candidates for delegates
to the Constitutional Convention,
Mcssrs. Col. VIM. B. Rodman, William
Stilley, ESQ.,, Jos. B. Stickney and G.
Gorham. Esqs.
Mr.. Stilley declared himself to be IN
favor of the Congressional plan OF re-
construction; of equal rights and PRIV
ileges to all without regard to race or
color. He referred to his past acts
while a member of of the Legislature as
a proof that the interest of Beaufort
County, had always been paramount
with him and pledged himself if elected
to work for the same interest in the fu-
ture.
Mr.. Stilley did not claim for himself
any great amount of talent, but he knew
of no reason why plain farmer like
himself was not as equally we'll quail
fed to act under present circumstances
as more talented man. For the ques-
ton was whether we will make Con-
stitution to suit Congress or not
Congress had laid down the terms and
all we had to do was to act and govern
ourselves accordingly.
Col. Rodman's remarks were listened
to with marked attention as his form
er position gave greater effect to his
present course. Col. Rodman had been
q Confederate officer; had fought and
worked hard to uphold the Southern
cause; but now that the battle had
been fought and lost, he was willing
and ready, after serious reflection, to
abide by the result.
He urged in feeling manner upon
ton, but to vote for Convention, aud
to comply with the law as prescribed
by Congress, as that was the only
means left us to once more get back
into the Union and restore peace and
prosperity to our State.
He was willing to give the colored
man voice in the affairs of the State,
not only because it was required of us
in the terms laid down by Congress,
but also because. in his opinion, it was
right, and that the fact of our having
$4,000 citizens within our borders with
out the right of representation would
be an anomaly on our institutions and
fraught with the danger to the peace of
the commonwealth.
He warned the people againstplacing
any dependence on the Democratic
party Of the North, and referred to the
acts of that party during the war, to
show that it was unworthy of conf
dence. He did not believe that the late
Northern elections showed any evil
dence of reaction of the people on the
policy of the country as regards the
South; but it was local issues only that
the people had spoken against. He
also stated from the New York World,
that the Radical majority in Congress
could not be changed in four years,
even if every Northern State voted the
Democratic ticket during that time
and that the Southern States would in
crease that majority by the representa-
tives sent there by the negro vote of the
South. He therefore saw no way of es-
cape but by yielding to the reconstruc-
ton measures.
He did not approve of the disfran-
chisement clauses; but he thought Con-
gress would modify them, as they will
have found that they were mistaken in
their views, and that the disfranchise-
1nent clauses did not reach the men in
tended, but kept out large numbers
who had been firm supporters of the
Government, and allowed others, like
himself, who had fought against it, to
vote.
On the subject Reputation, he was
in favor of the passage of some act |
whereby the collection of old claims
could he delayed in order to give an
impoverished people time to recuperate.
He would, therefore, urge upon the peo-
pie to vote for Convention.
Col. David M.;Carter being called on,
came forward and addressed the citi-
zens. He opened his remarks by say
ing that he had no idea of speaking at |
this meeting until he was called out.
That he was DISTINGUISHED had nothing
to do with putting any candidates be- |
fore the people; and should not even
if the candidates wished it, advocate
the claims of any of the four gentlemen
in the field. That he was opposed to
Convention, and proceeded in an elo-
quent and forcible manner to give his
reasons for the same. 1t is not necessa-
ry to repeat his reasons here, as they
will be published in the Raleigh |
Register over his own signature, where
all can read them. Col. Carter alluded |
to the fact OF his being one of the first
to urge upon the people peace measures
that he had been instrumental in OBJ
tanning for the negro the right to testify
in courts; that he was willing and |
ready to give the black man the right
of citizenship; but while he was willing
to free the black man, he was not
willing TO enslave the whites. And he
stated in an earnest manner that if we
by our votes sustained the Congression-
al plan, we would with our own hands
bind the letters on ourselves. +
Col. Rodman then replied in an able
manner. T. o. w.
Neacbern Republican,.
BRING OUT EVERY VoTE.-To every I'm
ion man and Republican, white and colored