The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1867-06-05


scribblers are continually writing and wri-
ting, and if lam to reply to them all, it
would leave me no time for anything else. :
But will tell you about my halifax speech.
And will just here refer to my Wilmington
speech. Some said that was favorable to
rebels. but Senator Wilson endorsed it, and
the Union men of that City endorsed it. And
have not only been invited to Edgecombe,
Halifax and New Hanover, but leading Re
publicans have invited me to other places
Now would such learned men invite man
to address the people, when he was playing
into the hands of the rebels l have doz-
en- invitations. Leading republicans go
with me, and bear witness to what say
Yet around Raleigh here they say am un-
true to the Republican cause. Some OF these
Solomons laughter) still think that am
rebel. CA voice, they are mad because
you say they wont get any lands" laughter
Yes, that brings me to my Halifax speech
once more. Well, when 60 anywhere the
people, white and black, follow me around
like bear I can scarcely get any rest. So
when got to Halifax, l secured private
room. Then committee OF white gentle
men unknown to me, secured me the Court
house. The colored people desired me to
speak at the Church. 1t was not large enough
to hold them ALL But F-Yas on my way
there, when the committee overlook me and
offered the Court house. accepted, and as
soon as turned back, the colored people
got mad Naughter) Now such conduct
as that is childish. But went to the Court
house and spoke long and loud. Presently
one man cried out what about the lands A
man had been going around telling them
that every colored man would soon get 100
acres of land and forty dollars. Now tell
the truth. told them they would not get
any lands by confscation. One man imme-
diately said "I've got enough of you" An
other said the rebs have got you, Harris"
/ told the first man, had not got enough of
him, and if he would hold on I would give
him some more Now that is the way that
such colorcd men act. They got mad be-
cause I went to the Court house and there
expressed an honest opinion. Is that fair
(Cries of no, no.
Ialso told them at Halifax to form Leagues.
CA voice, then you told them more there
than you do here'O What's that9 wish
you would repeat that sentence. (Cries of
put him out) No, no, my friends keep
quiet. desire to answer all questions in
good order, and only hope that the person
who spoke will get up and repeat, so that I
can fully understand his meaning. CA voice,
the mans gonem Well, then let us talk
about something else.
Now some of you object to the term ne
gro. Well will call you whatever you wish
to be called Voices, "call us negroes. "
Well so will, and think it is right. The
word negro is a generic term-there is moth
ing more degrading in that than the term
Caucasian" tor white men, or Indian, or
Monaghan, or any other name denoting a
race of men. But if anybody calls you
"niggers," then they try to insult YOU
Why9 Because Niger" is mean man,
be he black or be he white. Uaughter)-
But call you negroes" am one-that is
my name But when have called some of
our people by that term, they have gotten
mad, and said that call them by the same
name exactly that their old masters and the
rebs used to call them. daughter, and a
voice, E" that is want of sense, sir.") Yes, so
it is. Now wish to be called what am,
and believe that you desire to be called the
same. After this explanation, let me hope
that none of you will be tender upon this
point any longer.
Well, will now dwell for short while
further on the Republican party. l helped
that party in its first struggles. 1 stumped
Ohio for Judge Chase, when he ran for Gov
erHor. voted for him also My friend Mr..
Brodie knows that the Supreme Court of
that State has declared that man, who has
tifty-one one hundredths of white blood in
him, is white man, and can vote. Now, 1 did
not have that in my veins, but I voted
When they threatened to arrest me under the
law, l said "arrest gentlemen, intend to
vote for Chasem (Cheers) Ever since that
time, have been acting with that party. I
hope that you now understand me. But
somebody says that 1 don't abuse the rebels
enough. Well, suppose were to make
speeches and tell you to knock rebels down,
if they got in your way. What would be
the effect? There would be. trouble wher-
ever went. Let us rather move along qui-
city so long as we can. am in favor of
keeping good order in the Old North State.
(Cries of yes, yes)
There are two elements in the Southern
States, one of them in favor of, and the 3D.
posed to, the government. The former are
the Republicans, and the later call them
selves Conservatives. Well now stand on
principle and with the Republican party.
Their platform is published to the world
Where is the Conservative platform Who
knows what their principles are So far as
we know they have none at all. But have
said there are two elements in the South,
and now say there is only one party-tbe
great national Republican party. Cheers
The other element is disorganize1, and split
into factions We stand with the Repub-
lican party. 1t has claims upon US. Espec-
tally have those friends of ours claims upon
us who have battled for freedom for thirty
years. This party in the process of time
(you know have some peculiar ideas as to
how and why our race was made free)-but
this party say, in the process of time, has
conferred upon us all the rights and priv
ileges of freemen. Not long ago it offered
the Howard amendment as a panacea for
all the difficulties that embarrassed this
nation. was opposed to it. Why9 Simply
because it did not give to my race the right
Cf suffrage. Now we have the Sherman bill.
and the act supplementary thereto. Thus
the Republican party has at last performed
truly great and noble work, and with all
its shortcomings is the only one to which
we can now adhere. But l have said that
the Howard amendment did not suit me or
my people. Although it was Republican
measure, we could not endorse it. was
glad when it was rejected. 1t fell short of
the mark. KNEW that suffrage would alone
ensure protection to the negro. told Pres
ident johnson so, for told him that the
negro could then vote his enemies out and
his friends into office, and this power would
make him respected and raise up friends for
him on all Sides (Applause.) Now, when
l went down to Wilmington, made speech
similar to those you have ever heard me de-