The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1867-06-04
IMMENSE MASS MEETING OF THE
COLORED PEOPLE.
ADDRESS BY MR.. HARRIS

hall of Mf. Juppers Church WAS hlleu ny az
immense asseniblage of colored people CT
this City, in order to hear an address rom
Mr. J. Henry Harris. ~
On motion Of Mr.. Hunter, Rev. Mr.. war
wick was called to the Chair. and Rev. MI
Brodie was appointed Secretary.
The meeting being called TO order DR.
Hunter oneucd the exercises with prayer,
when
Rev. Mr.. Warwick introduced Dir. Harris
TO the audience in an appropriate address
Mr. w further announced that dlstur-
DANCES at the doo,, by both white and black
bows. had been customary hitherto. and such
conduct couI1 not be longer tolerated
Afr HarIs then said: appear before the
peonle o<tbis City for the one hundred and
frst time, and for once really | scarcely
Low what to say where to begin. sup
nose that YOU have assembled to hear what
have to say in answer To vague accusations,
inucndoes and rumors that are floating
about in this community. and elsewhere,
derogatory to myself Now, it has been my
habit to let my record speak for me. | had
deemed that record, which is written in
deeds and not in words, sufficient vindica.
ton against any calumnies that may have
been circulated 10y my enemies, if have any.
But rs distinguished individual said to me
the other day, so it is. He said, Harris, you
are now public man and everybody Will
be shooting at you. Your troubles have
Just begun Many years experience has
taught me the truth Of what now say TO
you. Thus you see, my friends, continued
Mr.. H., am being shot ut continually. Oc-
cupying n public position, can expect no
more nor any less But as there seems to be
doubt in the minds of some as to my
;nh I ,,iI =, ,,,lIio
one and target for every man, perhaps 1t
would be well for me to define it. Where
clio / stand politically? That is indeed
remarkable question to be propounded at
this day. appeal to you-how much labor
and time and means have | expended in the
past--how many sacrifices have made, and
in nhat cause2 But let me answer more cx-
plicity--I stand to-day where ] stood two
years ago-(applause) when returned to my
native State determined to share the bur-
dens and responsibilities of freedom with
my race and my kindred-where | stood,
when l came back to establish the Equal
Rights League among you. Applause.)
am not to be moved from that position
by the breath of every wind that blows
neither am to be moved from it by parties,
or persons or personal considerations. Put
your finger upon q single act Of mine, or I.
word that has ever fallen from my lips, de-
rogatory to the interests of my race. /
challenge any man to show such word or
point to such an act Why then have these
seeds of political discord been sown? Why
this mischief and trouble among the people
of Raleigh? There are too many SOlomons
among us-too many men, wiser than Danl
Webster ever dared to be, and who have al
ready forgotten more than Mr.. Sumner ever
learned Oaughter) These Solomons say
that Harris is playing into the hands of the
rebels. 1 defy any man to show the proof
of any such conduct on my part. Now,
where are my accusersl Icame here to an
swer all charges that might be brought |
against me. If there are persons here that |
have accused me of wrong doing, let them |
stand forth now, or go home, and say their |
prayers and let me alone Uaughter)
Oh, but there is my great speech made |
down in Edgecombe. Well, what is their
authority for that speech, and where did |
they see it printed In rebel newspaper. !
They say that they don't believe what rebel |
newspapers say, and yet hold me response
BILE for what such papers print. Now is that |
fair? (Cries of no. Well now will tell !
you what I said in Edgecombe. 1 said |
down there exactly what have always said |
in Raleigh said the truth. Upon that
1OCh IL 10 NY lOUlIldIlOu. DIS uIIu
as the stone of Gibraltar. No man shall
swerve me from the truth, or allure me from
the path of principle. There am grounded
and there l am established! (Applause)
Now this Edgecombe speech appears in a
rebel newspaper. The report of hat said on
that occasion was written by a Conservative,
a copperhead or a rebel, just as you please
to call him. Of course it was favorable to
his side and unfavorable to mine. had no
friend there to report me On the OCCASION
But what did I say? What was the tone of
my remarks? Just what it has ever been
moderate, but firm and decided. Now there
is no more thoroughly rebel County in the
State than Edgecombe-it is also rich and
powerful. But I said there what l say in
Raleigh-what said in Guilford and Rowan
and Meckenburg- what said in the recesses
of Wake and other counties. Now those
who make charges against NE, linger around
the streets of Raleigh shedding their venom
against me and blowing off their gas
Uaughter) Why don't they 60 out and
abuse the rebels on all OCCASIONS like they
wish me to do? 1t is not fair (Cries of
no, no.)
Now let me read you the following ex-
tract-you see this paper only processes to
give extracts from my Edgecombe speech 1t
does not give the whole of my speech, and
you know that it cannot be correct, or only
so in part, when that is the case (Cries of
yes, yes, and go on) Then let me read the
following:
(Mr. II. then read from the Progress the
report of his speech taken from the Tarboro'
tSomheraser, inclusive OF the following para
graph)
"He (Harris) warned the colored people
against the selfish schemes and ambition OF de- |
signing politicians, both North and South, who
wished to them mere tools for their own |
advancement and political supremacy and who
whilst protesting for the time being, the utmost
love and respect for the race, were apt after at
tanning their own ends, to forget the promises so
layishly bestowed when seeking their votes
Now deny the truthfulness of that report.
continued Mr.. 81. Disseminated in nv re-
marks, in favor of philanthropists and the
friends of the colored people in the North
and in the South. did warn the colored
people against designing politicians. I re-
peat that warning here tonight But no
man has higher regard or deeper love
than myself for those in the North, who
have braved all difficulties in behalf of our
race and the cause of humanity. No man is
more antagonistic to those, who have ever
and still continue to oppose the great princi-
pies of liberty, equality, humanity and JUS
tice, than myself. Ihave warned the colored
people against the smiles and fattery of such
Y,OEfioionc In IN, |