The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1867-05-16
SYNOPSIS on rHE sPEEcH
SYNOPSIS OF THE SPEECH
Of DIR. S. G. BRUCE, Carthage, Moore County,
Delivered April goth, 1867.

>O''SSf
Delivered april Goth, 1867.
DR.. s. C. Bruce was called to the Chair by
reclamation, and allowed, by rule oil courtesy, the
privilege Of presiding without leaving the Chair,
owing to his very feeble health. The Doctor,
seeming to forget his feeble condition, took up
description of the subject of the day, as one full
of novelty and presenting theme calling for all
the consideration OF the oest heads and best
hearts in the entire country. We are here to-day
assembled under public notice, met together
without distinction of color, as free citizens, to
take intiatury steps looking to q reconstruction
of the government, and we are here in the name
and character of free citizens, regardless of color
of the government of the United States of Ameri-
ca. The Doctor reviewed, with astonishing re-
collection, the history of this country of matter
derived from the teachings of such men as Clay,
Webster, &c, on the subject of emancipation,
gradual ncpation, which would have avcrted
all the evils and horrors of this rayagng war from
which we have just emerged. He reviewed the
days OF excitement on the subject which has
brought this assemblage here, and showed that
the lessons OF all the wise and good men of the
country were thrown together to devise the best
means of disburdenng the country of all the
evils SO much complained Of And while by Mr..
Ciay's bills we would have saved the horrors of
war and loss of lives quiet would have reigned
throughout the land, while the colored population
would have en- oycd their freedom and privileges,
though gradually, yet safely.
That it was matter of congratuation, on this
important occasion, after the warning elements
had expended their fury, and great calm had
succeeded the storm, to behold such men Capt.
Ritter, DR.. Brown, Jesse Bean, ESQ.,, Col. Rich
ardson, A K. Mcdonald, and host of Others
who were Union men before the war, and main
tanned their integrity during the dark and trying
days OF the rebellion, now earnestly and digent-
ly cooperating with him, in gathering up and
endcavOring to reconstruct the broken fragments
OF that once glorious government, established by
Washington and his illustrious compeers; and is
unceremoniously disrupted by the unbrdled
malice and superlative folly Of wicked and I'M
patriotic men. That language failed to express
the emotions of his heart, when he behold, in
that crowded hall, the Blended forms of many
fathers of the land who had stood side by side
with him, contending for the immortal principles
of Republicanism enuneiated by Washington,
jefferson and Madison at the formation OF this
government, and ably defended at later day
by such great ann good men as Webster, Clay and
CIR ttenden in the lr2lmiesf days of the Republic
Had the lessons of wisdom and experience,
taught 10y these illustrioGs patriots, been digent-
~ studied and properly heedrG the United States
government would be the pride of every American
citizen, and would challenge the admiration of
the world. But history will record the fact that
those who were guiding the ship of State, en-
deavOrng to shun the charybdis of Capitalization
made ship wreck OH the scylla OF secession, and
many of the crew are now floating ia separate
crafts on the surface of all unknown sea, without
4 compass to direct or rudder TO guide their
Irail harQues through the trackless deep; already
they the verge of whirlpool that will
engulph then, unless they put forth great eXer-
ton; and yet, through the influence of some
strange intatuati0n, they remain Inactive though
the crew OH board of the old ship of State calls
them to return, and stands ready to grasp tight
the hand of friendship when they come.
! Let net sit still and float needless along on
the deceptive current. but let put forth all our
might, and haste to aid i'll demonstrating the
seeded States, that the glory OF the government
may be greater hereafter than heretofore. And
| let our motto ever be Liberty and Union, now
and forever, one and inseparable-"