The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1867-05-04

to see that from the beginning. And then
Gen. Lee had to confess that negroes would
fight. And you, the Southern people, were
Inundated indeed when you offered your
slaves liberty, if they would fight for you,
and they refused to do it. And now you run
the negro down for his vote-you are as keen
on the scent as bloodhounds-and threaten
to turn the poor black man out of employ
mcnt, if he does not vote with you. (Ap-
plause.) I saw from Goldsboro' paper
that such language had been used in public
in this City. [ say it is an unmanly threat.
What, turn these poor colored men out upon
the world to beg and starve, because they
will not surrender liberty and vote for you
The laws have just been changed to secure
them freedom and yet because they evince
spirit to exercise their new privileges you
threaten to dismiss them from employment.
1t is a foolish thing. And no man can ask
the blessing of God upon himself, who says
to the poor, ignorant, poverty-stricken black
man, if you vote for your freedom 1 will dis
miss you from my employment. (Applause)
The terms of restoration are now laid down
and they are final, if promptly complied
with. Congress intended them to be final
But it will not admit the people of these
States, if they threaten and overawe the
proofs of such threats go up to Washington
City, you will not be admitted under this
law We say what we mean, and mean what
we say. (Applause.) In that event. terri
torial government will be established in this
State. And, further, let me tell you, if the
planter says to the negroes working upon his
farm, boys, if you go and vote for Re
| publican, I'll dismiss you from my service
and turn You out of your shanty," Congress
will say to him, Sir, you are traitor at
heart, we confscate your property" am not
in favor of contiscation, but in such a case
my vote will certainly be given for confsca-
ton. Since the war have never believed
in further taking of life or inf1icting of too
heavy punishment, but as for the man who
threatens colored employees in that manner,
[ Will vote for the contiscation of his proper
ty, and l stand not alone in that position.
(Applause.)
Our duty as Northern men and friends to-
wards you is this. We ought and will aid
in the education of your poor whites and
blacks. We ought, and our capitalists will,
contribute to that end and towards the de-
velopment of your great natural resources
The government ought and will be admins
tered in spirit ofkindness towards all men,
loyal and disloyal. l have always tried to
as have done In the past, all that can do |
to blot out the bitter memories of our COM
mon sufferings. You may scorn what say.
you may laugh at it, but l say and do these |
things because love humanity, education,
liberty, and equal rights because wish to !
see your great natural resources developed. |
| would do it, further, because know that !
time passes away and slavery with its lnfiu-
ences disappear. BY and by, one by one,
you will again return to the love of your
country, and cease to reproach the men who !
stood by the old flag in the hour of its peril.
The time will come when North Carolina
and South Carolina and Massachusetts, will |
sit down together as friends in united
country, if we act in a spirit of love and
charity towards each other Neither will
you have black mans party here or a white
mans party-but one great party in favor
of equal and impartial liberty throughout
the whole country-and il party opposed to
that. These will be the two great divisions
of men in our nation.
My friends have done. l thank you for
the kind attention with which you have lis
tened to me. (Applause9