The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1867-08-31
For the Standard
nrpre1IC.N MASS MEETING IN MORGANION

The 9th day OF August 1851, was a Gay
which will long be remembered by the peo
ple of Burke County. On that day, early ii
the morning, according to previous notice
the people, white and colored, commenced
assembling in Morganton to attend public
meeting called for the purpose OF appolntlng
delegates TO represent the County in a Re
publican Convention to be held in the City
of Raleigh on the 4th of September.
BY 10 o'clock the streets were thronged by
a crowd larger than any that has been con-
gregated together At any one time since the
DAYS of log cabins and hard cider" All
seemed cheerful and happy.
At12 o'clock from 1900 to 1000 assem-
HE'D in the beautiful grove in the public
square, when Tod r. Caldwell, Esq, ascen-
ded the stand and explained to the assem-
bled multitude the objects Of the meeting
He spoke about three quarters of an hour
and knowing his audience WE'LL he admins
tered to their intellectual appetites such food
as satisfied all except few. who came de-
termined not to relish the repast. During
Mr.. C's speech and at its conclusion he was
frequently and rapturously applauded. AT
ter silence was restored, Mr.. G. then offered
the following resolutions which he had pre-
pared for the occasion:
WHEREAS, 1t is the interest of the whole
country that the government shall be recon-
structed at the earliest moment practicable
on the terms proffered by Congress, so that
peace and quiet, and law and order may once
again reign supreme in the States lately In
rebellion against the United States.
Therefore, be it resolced, by the loyal peo-
Die of Burke County, in mass meeting assem-
bled, That we deem it the duty ofevery pat
Il. - 10 I'll, full
acquiesce III, all laws passed by the consti
tuted authorities of the nation, and in good
faith to assist in the execution OF said laws
until they be repealed, modified Or declared
unconstitutional by the proper tribunals OF
the country.
Resolced, That it is right and proper, and
we earnestly desire and recommend, that the
government, in all its departments, shall be
administered by those who revere and love
the Union, and not by those who contemn
and despise it, and who, in their hearts, de-
sire its destruction.
ResoIcel, That it is Just that political and
civil equality under the law, shall be extern
ded and guaranteed to every citizen irrespec-
tive of color, but that no sensible person of
any complexion desires or expects social
equality and that we do hereby denounce,
as base slanderer, any man whether he be
of high or low degree who insinuates that
it is one of the objects or purposes of the
Republican party to bring about social
equality between the white and colorcd races.
ResoIgetl. That we deem it due to ourselves
to declare that the charge, which is continu-
ally made against Us, of a desire to induce
the general government to deal harshly with
those who participated in the rebellion, is a
foul cIa 1)rOna ora tnH for ,)ortv CIIrD0Spc
that we have constantly and deeply regret
ted the contumacious spirit of hostility to
the government Of the United States which
has survived the overthrow of the rebellion
and which has manifested itself by the OPP
position of many of our leading men to its
measures: that We earnestly desire to see
spirit of concord and brotherly affection re-
stored among all the people, but that we will
make no further attempts by concession or
compromise Of our principles to conciliate
our political enemies and the enemies of the
national government.
ResoZUed, That it is the Christian duty of
every good man to advise, to assist and to
instruct those who have lately been freed
from bondage, and to encourage and strength
en- them in all their efforts to improve their
condition either mentally. morally or politi-
cally; and we do unhes1tatingly declare any
man, be he whom he may, as unfit to be
trusted with the ballot himself. who by
threats or otherwise endeavors to intimdate
the freedmen and debar them Of the great
and inestimable privilege of voting accord
ing to the dictates of their own bestiudgment
Res0lred, That we are profoundly grateful
that the time has again come, when we as
people are at perfect liberty. without fear of
molestation, to assemble and consult togeth-
er for the good of our country. and publicly
to give utterance to our sentiments without
being subjected to prisons and bastiles.
ReSotCed, That We approve of the Repub-
lican Convention to be held in Raleigh on
the 4th of September, and that we desire to
be represented therein, and do hereby APP
point the following persons delegates there
to to wit, w. NJ. Winters, James Morrison,
James Hidebrand, Noah Speagle John S.
Parks, Joel Cloud, Christopher Happoldt,
John G. Colgrove, Joseph B. Hunter, J. W.
Comfy, S. E. Poteet, and T. r. Caldwell,
whites, and James McElrath, Thomas Ruth
ertord, John W. Woodland, VIM Little, AL
fred Avery, Theophilus Philips, Alfred Cald-
well, Scipio Comfy, Alexander Jarvis and
Swami Mcdowell, colored.
Res0lred, That Lewis Thompson, ESQ.,. of
Berthe, Hon. Thos. Settle, of Rockingham,
Joseph W. Holden and James +. TAYLOR.
Esqs., of Wake, whites, and Mr. James H.
Harris and MIR. j. II. Jones, colorcd of Wake,
are hereby appointed alternate delegates for
Burke County to said Convention.
Resotced, That the foregoing resolutions
be transmitted to the Raleigh lStandaya for
publication, and that the Raleigh Regis-
ter, Newbem Republican and Asheville Pio-
meer be requested to copy
After he read the resolutions he extended
an invitation to any one present, who might
not approve them, to occupy the rostrum
and discuss them freely; that this was a fl ee
meeting, no gag laws were now in exis
tence, and that he would guarantee protec-
ton to any man present who desired to dis
sent. After waiting a considerable time. and
no one presenting himself in opposition.
MIR. Z. put the question on the adoption of
the resolutions and desired the audience to
speak out so they might be heard and under
stood: When the affirmative side of the
question was put it made the heart lean for
Joy to hear the almost universal 1" Ayen that
mace the Weikln ring, and which could be
heard to the farthest limits of the town
When the negative was put Mr.. G. requested
that all who desired to vote against The rae
olutions should do so in the same emphatic
manner, and one voice behind the stand an
swered "Nay." Mr.. G. asked This man
whom he did not see, to come forward and
snow himself, that the crowd wished to see
ana TO look upon man who exhibited 50
mucn determination. The individual voting
nay then stepped forward and said tbot he