The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1867-04-20
For the Standard.
The Mass Meeting.


The Mass Meeting.
MEssRs. EDITORS AS there seems 10 o'
inc misapprehension as to the circ''n stah
) +ha ,,nrnoses and the authority undel
6;cb the meeting was held in the CITY o.
Ie;ab ON the 9th ult., permit me to re
=, that it was volunteer corps from tht
a nnJe at large for the common good, and
If il is alike due to the members that
mnosed the meeting and the community
l,roc TO state the facts in the case. As a
,n,I,cr OF the meeting have no regrets tc
nress or apologies to make for the part
took in its proceedings AS to the clrcum
onces they are too apparent for misappre
tnsion. We all have and are now realizing
he hand of oppression brought about by
,ur own folly We have denied ourselves
he right of citizenship by our attempt to
bull down the pillars of the Constitution
and destroy the Union. The God of battles
has decided the contest; the verdict has
been rendered up against us by the tribunal
of military power.
The purpose. as I conceive, was patrl-
,tic one. 1t was to consult together for the
common good by devsing or adopting such
measures as were most likely to restore us to
our forfeited nights.
After mature deliberation on the subject
the meeting, through its committee, came to
the unanimous conclusion that the plan of
fered by the Thirtv-ninth Congress, known
"a the Sherman plan, was the best terms upon
Which the Union can be restored and the
one most likely to meet the approval OF Con-
gress.
Tue authority under which the meeting
WAS held is undoubted. The Constitution
guarantees the people the right to assemble
together and consult for their common good
The meeting was preliminary to meeting
that will shortly be held under the authority
bf Congress for the purpose OF enabling us
10 resume our forfeited rights, by compil-
lnce on our part to certain prescnbed terms
Is proposed by that body. Taking INTO ac-
count the enormity and magnitude OF the
BRINE with the bloody train OF SIN, am
forced to tile conclusion that the terms Of
{ered, compared with the offense, and the IN
1ratitude manifested towards the vlctors
ince our suhjugation. are such as ought to
Il eet the appreciation of every thinking and
list man.
There WAS one feature ir the meeting IN
receolented in the history of the State. The
hegro was permitted to participate in the
proceedings. The meeting was held ire
pective of color. This might we'll chai-
ious persons hut when we look at the sub
iect more closely and view it as it is presen-
led to us, sensible men will have no Difficult
ty in seeing the reasons that influenced the
meeting. Though, black the negro is no
3opoer slave. The shackies of slavery
.have been burst asunder. The freedom of
1.-THE negro stands in bold relief as one of the
results of the war He constitutes now
an element of society. hc has been pro-
claimed a citizen by the decision of the iu-
+ dicial department of the government. He
is now afnenable to the law as other citizens
-suhiect to its penalties. He pays his taxes,
performs public service, and is liable to he
+ called upon 10 hear arms in defense of our
4 common rights In view of these facts l ask
! the question in all candor, why not permit
him to participate in the administration of
the government!
After the preliminary action, usual
on such occasions, the President Of the meet
4 ing appointed a committee whose duty it
4 was to report platform of principles which
was unanimously adopted. The platform
consists of three planks- Union, Liberty
Il and Equality. We were not unmindful of
the fact that the inscription ON our banner
] would not only be distasteful, but often
\ sive to those who are responsible for the war
l.
\ If we consider an apology due those gentle
men, we might well refer them to the 18th
chapter of 1st Corinthians. We assure
them we are ever ready to spread the man.
tie of charity over them after repentance on
their part, and now ask them to ground
their arms of rebellion, eradicate hatred
from their hearts to the Union, and assist
the friends of Uniea, Liberty and Equality, in
restoring themselves again to their forfeited
rights as American citizens. They are house
hold words-stern reaEties-and 1t is Meth
er creditahle to the heart or the head to OPP
pose them. The terms are a dose prepared
by our own hands. and if it should nauseatc
little. perhaps it may be for our future
good
Just at this point 1 beg leave to notice
more particularly Equality, the third plank
in our platform. 1t may be that there are
those in the exuberance of their prolific
minds, who will attempt TO torture the pur
port of the term into social equality. In re-
Z ply to all such let me remark that social
equality is settled and administered by pub
lie sentiment and not by legislative enact
ments 1t involves no principle, but is gov
erncd exclusively by the caprice of public
sentiment. Where is the man who gives
the same cordia. greeting to the poor, that is
extended to the man of aff1uence and posi-
ton in society? If you claim and exercise
the right OF discrimination in social point
4 OF view between the different classes of your
own cast, you need not fear the right of dis
eliminating between the white man and the
negro. An opposite view of the subject i'm ,.
Plies either ignorance of a custom sanction
eel by the civilized world, or a depravity of I
mind and corruptness of morals we'll calcu
lated to put decency to the blush Social I
equality as interpreted by some is corroding q
to the mind and deJasing to the morals Of
refined society. 1t is an insult to chastity, v
blight and mildew upon virtue. a
J. 7. L.