The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1867-04-11
REMARKS OF HON. r. p. DICK,
Delivered in the Republican Convention in
Raleigh, March 2Sth, 1867.
OF GUmFoRD COUNTY,

will depend the future destiny of the State. .
plan for the reconstruction OF the rebel State
has just been devised by Congress, and we az
the pioneers at the South in carrying out its i'm
portant measures. Every thing is SO new, s.
strange so contrary to all the ideas and expert
ences of the past, that am flied with astOnish
ment at the rapid progress of events; and boy
with reverential awe as witness the march o
this grand, civil and political revolution as i
sweeps over the strong prejudices of centuries
The terrific storm of war has passed by, but tn
great political ocean has moi yet become CALM
Its waves still roll on with majestic and resistes
| power, and in the wonderful changes which arr
effected, 1 can almost hear the divine mandate
uttered by the inspired Psalmist-" Be still ant
know that am God" We have no precedent'
| to direct us in this trying hour. Wemust not al
low pride Of CONSISTENCY to tetter our action, fol
| no one can be consistent in the midst of revolu
| tions. As well might we expect a city to retain
its original proportions after it had been shak en-
| by q violent earthquake. With firm, prudent
and wise craftsmanship we must meet the great
issues of the crisis they arise. We can trust tC
the guidance of God, and yield obedience to law,
and then we can feel assured that we are in the
| pathway of duty.
| Mr.. President, this movement will complete
the work of our political forefathers, and carry
| out the great principle which they enunciaed
'that all men created free and equal" When
they commenced the great work of establishing
free institutions in America, they had many diff
ficulties to contend with, and they were deeply
impressed with the responsibilities of the under
taking The solemn voice of history taught
them that man incapable of selfgovernment,
but they dsregarded this warning of human ex-
perience They felt that a new era had dawned
upon the world; that people had come
into existence; that this continent was q new
arena for the development of human progress;
and that greater nation than ever before eXis-
ted was about to be born. Their ardent and de-
voted patriotism gave them dauntlesS courage,
and almost inspired wisdom, and with unfalter
ing trust they labOred on until success crowned
their efforts. They passed triumphantly through
the ordeal OF revolutionary conflict through the
threatened anarchy that followed, and at last eS
tablished the Union of the States, which for
eighty years furnished the most brilliant epoch in
the history of man.
In the year 1860, the splendid career of our
nations greatness and glory was for Il time ares
ted by the madness and wickedness of rebellion
against that government which our fathers form
ed, and which had SO long insured prosperity
and happiness. will not dwell upon the dark
of ratrcidal strife for they are still fresh
in our memories. Three hundred battle-tieds
drank the hearts blood of our bravest and best
Our homes which were once filled with domestic
contentment and peace, and where often the
voices of Thanksgiving and joy we're heard, have
become the abodes of poverty and SORROW
This bloodiest picture in the book of time has
been yelled, the terrible conflict is ended the
cause of the Union and human freedom has tri-
umphed, and we are again under the old flag of
the g Stars and Stripes" and can look with hope
and confidence to the future.
Mr.. President, we have met here to-day to assist
in the reconstruction of those free institutions
which the rebellion has overthrown. The corner
stone of the new editice is Union, Liberty and
Equality" We pour not upon it the emblems of
the mystic builders, but we will conSecrate it
with our hearts best affections, and feel conf
dent that against this foundation the storms and
floods of secession and rebellion will never pre-
vail We are not invested with any power of
fixed and definite action, but still we can do much
good by directing Alright public feeling and opin-
ion. We can by our conduct show that We have
completely given up the spirit Of rebellion that
We cheerfully submit to the issues decided in the
tribunal of arms. We can manifest a heartfelt
loyalty for the government, a sincere desire for
the restoration of kind and fraternal relations
between all the citizens OF our country; and we
can make an honest effort to heal up divisions
and dissenSions at home. If we succeed in these
things weWill do much towards a restoration of
the Union. Politicians may have their fayoritc
schemes to accomplish, and for that reason NAV
throw many obstacles in the way of reunion
but believe it we faithfully do our duty the peo-
pie OF the North will meet us with noble and
generous magnanimity. 1 formed my belief in
this respect upon the experiences of the past
When the Confederate forces surrendered to the
superior power of the federal armies, there was
great re- action in public sentiment at the North
inc bitter luminosity which long years of bloody
strife had engendered, was rapidly giving way to
returning feelings of brotherhood, and there was
strong manifestation OF sympathy for the pow |
erty, wretchedness and desolation of the South |
If the magnanlmous policy of the President had |
been promptly and cordially accepted and carried |
out in good faith, itwould have been sustained bv
public opinion. 1t was accepted in name, but
rejected in spirit, and it has proved a failure As
soon as the fear of punishment was removed by
an almost universal amnesty, malcontents be-
gan their walls for the dear dead Confederacv
ana at Its funeral pyre they kimdled aresh the fires
OF sectional hatred. As soon lis the right of sui
frage was restored, the old Confederate leaders
became exceedingly popular, and they were hail
ca as glorious chiettans worthy of heroic immor-
tallty The surest passport to official position
was prominence i'll the rebellion. and hostility to
the government was dignifed with the honora-
Die name OF fidelity to the Statc. Unionism was
regarded as q SYNONYM for puSlanimity and
meanness, and even the faint OF it seemed to pro
duce social and political leprosy Northern inen
VINO mad come into our midst with intelligence |
energy and capital to assist in building mn tie
1allGn fortunes of the country treated with {
GOODNESS, and sometimes with contempt, and l
every where they felt the influence of social os-
tracIsm. The public press which claimed tn he | t
the peculiar defenders of Southern RIGHTS and t
the opponents of Southern sentiment were con t
SANITY teeming with the btteres diatrbes against
me Representatives of the people of the Ioval Q
states. The whole language of ridicule and in b
'ectlve was exhausted against the Yankees and Fl
Yankee sylnpathlzers. Such influences as these u
'tlrred up and increased the fires of sectional ba d
req, and the fierce and demoniac spirit of re- II
1elllon was too often exhibited by the pistoI shot is
u the assassin the torch of the incendiarv and 81
ne bloody hand of massacre These evidences W
u disloyalty could not escape the ewes of the a
l0rthern people, and corresponding feelings of IT
bitterness were aroused aresh. They felt that e
generosity and magnanimity were not 1 he infu- il
noes by which the South could be controlled o
M That the safety of the government required al
ne sternest means of policy and we at the South fl
mould fully realize the fact that we are conuuer
q, ana 1t Is presumption in us to dictate terms o
the conquerors. A spirit of cheerful acuuies if
ence TO terms proposed, and quiet submission al
M obedience to law is the surest way for rebels
. win the favor of the government which they o
tempted to destroy. Thus far only political ST
uarantees Tor the security of the government Il
ave been demanded. These guarantees have 81
eretofore been Indignantly rejected, and if this tt
range ana suicidal course of conduct is persis- 81
u III, lne sternest requirements of indemnity I'll
II past injuries will inevitably follow am per tt
GUY astounded at the madness and folly which Il
'ems 10 urge so many Of the Southern people tc
10 utter ruin. The recent elections at the 81
orth nave shown that the people are terribly in r
lrnest They demand, and it is their patriotic CO
uty 10 demand that the spirit of rebellion shall fe
given up completely and forever We can p
ever be admitted into the Union until we by our sc
onauct manifest heartfelt loyalty for the gen al
al government. Events have shown that the in
ortn can live and prosper without union and DO
llcal Fellowship with US, but the South without III
lie Union is like a limb torn from the body-it Is
rs not the needful currents of life, but must fl
aste away and die ~
Inc old Confederate leaders have now become IA
cry jealous aGvocates for the Constitution as er
Is, and the Union as it was" Upon this sub hi
Gu they certainly cannot claim the virtue of con- iii
stency. few years ago the Constitution and eli
he U mon were in their eyes so odous and on | tr
reSSlVe, that in their nj |