Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1867-09-27

NJ Odon, OF northampton, for Preslden
OF the Convention, and expressed the opin
ION that native Unionist should be pre-
ferred to Gen. Abbott. Mr.. Miller, tn
fcolored delegate from New Hanover, re
sponded to the manly and generous senti
ments of the General, by denouncing hin
las Northern copperhead, as follows
" While Northern copperheads, and
think we have some of them, even in thi
Convention, to-day, were ready to tear tina
old flag from the mast head, there arcre me,
in the Slate Of NORTH Carolina arAo aUer
called Union men, achO arere Too cOar0rdEy tt
go off to the field of battle. Mr.. Abbot
went off, and battled for the cause of the
Union - &c. And again : "There are
men in North Carolina that have pretended
to be Union men,-look at their deeds
what have they done They were too COW
ardly to go off as rebels ; they were toe
jcoWardly to go off as Union men they
shirked the thing and stayed at home. Mr.
Abbott was q man of different character
He was a man who, in the day of battle
took his sword and went off, and did mighty
work, and I hope, Mr.. Chairman, that
when it is put to a vote, this Convention
will vote down Northern copperhea1ism
and Southern sympathizers, and that we
shall vote Gen. Abbott ia as the permanent
Chairman OF this Convention" This sweep
ing disparagement OF North Carolina 10y
atty was fatal to the prospects Of NIessrs.
Dockery, Odom, and others of the
class to which they belong. The
credulous coIored delegates, who con-
stituted three-tourths OF the Convention,
were not slow to suspect men who had once
been shareholders, and the election of
Gen. Abbott was & foregone conclusion.
We must say, that the department of that
L. ! J A,I-,
chair, present him in a favorable light to
the public OF North Carolina and we shall
be slow to believe that he is party to u
scheme said to be projected by Northern
men, for riding into power by pandering
to the prejudices of the colored people, to
the injury of the loyal native white men of
the State. We will not even say that such
a plot exists but we hear of it on all sides;
and the rejection of the resolutions asking
Congress to release l0yal men from disa-
bilities, together with the choice of tempo
rary and permanent Chairmen, and other
officers from among the few Northern men
present, are circumstances which have
causcd Il dcep-seated jealousy and suspicion
to take root III the minds Of our best and
most loyal citizens.
Mr.. ". T. Henderson, Of Davidson,
white, replied tiercely to Mr.. J. Il. Har-
OF conciliatory speech, and proposed to
90 seal up the book Of the past, and bury
everything that is past in the sea
Of oblivion he was for letting "by-
cones be by-gones." TO this Mr.. Hender-
son replied /" In the name Of God, I ask
you here-I ask the old gray headed men
in this Convention-wil they let by
cones be by-gones We have passed
through a bloody war. Let by. cones be
by-gones. Don't the blood sOf these men
cry out? They ought to be taught that
treason should be made odious. Then"
children oatght 10 sag, Ny father ecaS diStia1a-
chised cnhe ground Ofe2dear0ring to destroy
tie best government that ecer tie Saafr0mA igh
Hearen looked dorm up0n.' applause. u
This is the kind of Republican [ am" He
be by-gones is, for them to acknowledge
their sins If they say we'll, I have com
mitted this sin the government has been
very magnanimous in not hanging me
and all / ask of you is l am going to be
after a while. They will have
to live five or six years and swear every
year on the Bible, that they are going to
be Republicans, and may be they will re-
move the disabilities" (Applause.) IF
this rule were applied by the colored peo-
pie to all those members of the Conven-
ton who have been the enemies of their
rights-whO have been the champions of
slavery, who have threatened a dissolution
Of the Union if Fremont or Lincoln were
elected President-where would stand some
Of the foremost Of Mr.. Henderson's friends?
Must they, too, serve a probation of five
0r six years ? Or is it less q crime to sin
against the rights of black men, than white
men? We see no difference
I'll \ Al
same probation of six years, for men who
Dartici pated in the rebellion. Indeed, the
dea is first presented by him, and Mr..
(white,) only re-echoes it
says: ''Some say, how is 1t, if a
man fought against you? Suppose he
comes into the Republican party. Now I
say these men must consent to come in on
probation; and If they prove faithful in sic
years. then will not object to their being
admitted for life"
1t is proper we should state that all these |
extracts are made from the IStaadar0rs |
'eport of the proceedings of the Conven-
ion. They leave no doubt as to what was
he Gsinaoss of the controlling majority Of |
hat body. It cannot be doubted that a
sentiment of distrust Of the great body of |
he whites was in the minds of the speakers, |
md that they We're too successful in in
lIoIu}S5 IL HUI Il1OSc Vi the more ignorant
,olored men present. We could not, with
out being false to every sentiment of hu-
nanity and self-respect lend ourselves to |
he success of such bad principles and bad !
PASSIONS.
Valiant as the words Of the speakers were,
when referring to TIE people of the South,
oval and others, they all breathe spirit
u humble Difference 10 the will OF Congress,
uch as animateS the Obedient subjects of
Russia or Austria. It may be becoming,
n at least prudent, for conquered rebels
nus to address the conqueror but for
Convention of loyal freemen, who know
heir rights, and dare maintain them, such
,ervility is, to say the least, uncalled for
We stand 10y the acts of Congress because
We believe they are, everything considered,
sbout the best thing that could be DONE
We hold that Congress, not the President,
lad the right to prescribe the terms of re-
toration of States which voluntarily left
he Union; but we reject the siavish
maxim, that we must approve every
hing Congress has done or may do
For greater reason, we reject the Stand
u'ds idea Of the obligations of partizan
State or National That journal
'ays We cannot seEre the party and at