The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1867-09-11
IcoNTINuEp FROM FOURTH rAeE.]
SECOND DAYS PROCEEDINGS
THURSDAY, Sept. 5, 1867.

10 Tf1UH s1ftN
THURSDAY, Sept. 8, 1867.
The Convention was called to- order at ~
o'clock A. NJ, by the President, General
Col. Peck moved that State Central
Committee of twenty-one delegates be APP
pointed by the Chair, three to be appointed
from each Congressional district. This mo-
ton having been duly seconded, was put to
the House, and carried unanimously. The
Chairman stated that as too much OF the
time of the Convention would be taken up
inst now with the election Of the members
of this Committee, he would announce their
names this afternoon.
Gen. Dockery rose and addressed the
Chair as follows:
MIR. FREsIpENT II ask leave to make
brief personal explanation / desire, SIT, to
make an explanation that interests me II 1t
does no body else. I wish to state some
thing referring to the time prior to this Con-
yention. and some of the occurrence that
transpired Yesterday. dechlre in advance,
that /, sir, am a Republican, not to accom-
modate any class or any people in any local.
1ty. am Republican on principle, and
e the whole Convention were disposed to
ign,ee it, then, if have no reason to suppose
any thing Of that kind could occur it could
not possibly drlss me from the Republican
platform. / will accommodate no person
who may wish to injure me, or other parties
by deserving my principles.
Mr.. President might sir, with some pro-
priety go back to the last thirty or forty
years, and show my course, but it is not ne
cessary. The people of North Carolina know
nv course too we'll to need any explanation
of the general principles Of my life, now, not
very short one.
/ sir, opposed notification, and opposed
secession, at home and abroad in the public
counsel of the country and in private and So
cal circles. / have uniformly and consis-
tently regarded it as q proceeding that would
result in ruin; ruin, sir, shame and dis
grace.
But pass over all that sir. When the war
commenced still opposed it: Istill contend
ed that it was wrong, to be fatal
error. All my influence was directed to CO.
operate with gentlemen in the State, who
wished to cut it of, in the language of some
of the intelligent men in this State, at the
knee i was willing to check it at any place
and at any time--but sir, my counsel and
advice was unavailing. / was in favor of
the Howard amendment as it was called; in
favor of any endeavor of Cancellation. /
always expected that we could gain nothing
from resistance / shall accept any feasible
proposition before the country, and if that
proposition fail shall be in favor of the
next; and should that fail, in favor of the
next, until we are restored to the Union.
Now, Mr. President, wish to make some
remarks upon my views with regard to the
abolition of slavery. was Shareholder,
sir,-my loss in that respect was very great,
but i always commended that slavery was
destined to brief existence. l. have always
contended that the progress of events-the
progress of intelligence and of information,
or any type of knowledge would termi-
nate it. s
Now sir l do not ask any one to take my
statements to day-they can look at the
record of my life, with which the people of
North Carolina are well acquainted.
Not long ago addressed an assemblage
of twenty-five or thirty hundred colored
people and some five or six hundred whites
/ have addressed large assemblies at other
places and have remarked at different large
assemblies, though most of them colored,
that would not snap my fingers to restore
slavery; was glad it was abolished; wish
it had been abolished fifty years ago; it
ought never to have existed. (Applause)
/ have always entertained that opinion, sir
entertain that opinion now, and I expect
it to grow stronger with my age. l said at
the same time that believed slavery had
never done the white race any good. But,
in the course of the providence of God, it
may have been benefit Tor the black race.
Their ancestors were taken from state of
barbarism, where the Bible and Christianity
were never known! They never even heard
of Christ or of the Father! They were
brought here, and now we have an intelli-
gent race which in the providence of God
may contribute in no small degree to en-
tighten their race in Africa.
However, sir, understand, and am sorryto
hear it, that there were rumors put among
the colored people here. intending to preju-
dice them against me, and it has been al
legged among other things that / am unpop-
ular among the colored people of my county.
am willing, sir, to refer it to the colored
people of my county. am willing, sir, to
refer it to the colored people of Richmond
County themselves, to say whether am or
not.
AS l said, sir, I am a Union man. am
for any measure that will best facilitate the
return of North Carolina to the Union, and
/ believe, sir, that the principles of the Re-
publican party are the shortest and surest
mode of securing that. I, sir, am disfran-
chised that Is referred to, to show that am
rebel. That matter is not of much moment
to me, now A few short years, and nobody
will hear anything as to whether I ever
voted or not But one of the most unpleas-
aut otx,6
chisement is that, whilst am the only Union
man in my precinct that cannot exercise the
right of a freeman, by voting, others around
me who but short time ago proclaimed
that / ought to be shot for my Unionism,
are nov preparing to vote and to hold Office.
That does not affect my devotion to Repub-
licanism, however, nor shall it do SO.
With reference to matters which transpir-
ed yesterday, Mr.. President, ! believe it is
generally known, and talked of outside, that
my name had been mentioned in Convention
with the position which you, sir, so ably and
so satisfactorily FILL had no such desire. I
have had the honor, sir, of presiding at
various assemblies, and if these are honors,
sir, / have had my share of them. I can
recur to one instance, and perhaps the only
one which careSa groat to, have recorded
for the eye of my children--and that was,
sir, the Conyention held in the capitol of
this City when John M Morehead was NAM
ed for Governor, and Henry Clay for Presi-
dent. / had the honor, sir. OF presiding at
that Convention, and of putting the cues
ton, and announcing the decision, chat Hen
~ Clay of Kentucky was placed, by North
Carolina, before the American people, for
President OF the United States, and for that
sir I am proud.