The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1867-07-25

So unless the spirit OF secession SHOWS IISeii
to be SO strong and defiant that the govern
ment must resort to confiscation IN order to
crush it. do not say that there will not be
conference.-the past and future conduct OF
some NAV provoke it, but do not believe
that it WILDE general and indiscriminate.
will say to my colored friends that do not
believe they will ever be benefited by it,
Do not build your hopes and expectations
upon it.
But you want land, and want it cheap
Well. you can get it almost at your own
price. The Southern States are covered up
head and heels with debt. Stay laws and
military orders have been keeping off set
Element, but the days of grace are nearly
spent 1t is not worth while to inquire
whether we like or dislike it, it has passed
beyond our reach.
Bankrupt courts, voluntary and lnToiun-
tary, are now open, and property OF every
description will soon be for sale. You may
have but little money. Pray tel! Inc who
has much A little money will buy good
deal of land now. You are poor but out OF
debt, while majority of the whites, though
surrounded at present by property, are sink
ing under the weight of their indebtedness.
You are really in a better condition than a
large portion of the white people. Then
save your money and buy land, is my advice,
and it is the advice of such men as Senator
Wilson, of Massachusetts,, and Judge Kelly
of Pennsylvania. whose lives have been spent
in laboring for the elevation and advance
ment of mankind. do not believe that the
Republican party desires to contscate the es-
tate of any man. 1t IS true that Mr.. Stevens
and other prominent members of that party
have avowed that they did, butt speak of the
party and not of individual members Of that
party. know that the sccessionlsts are in the
habit of charging that the Republican party
is Niger party, and that it is seeking ex-
cuses to contiscate the land in order to degrade
the Southern white man, and am aware that
they are lniuring the Republican party more
with this false charge than they are with all
their arguments combined. Now | contend
that the government (Which has been admin
istered by the Republican partly has been the
most magnanimous government on earth to
rebels and that it is base ingratitude in men
who staked and lost all, to be disappearing
party who are offering them the hand of
friendship, and who are trying to pull down
none, but to elevate all. Twill merely remark
for the benefit of those who say that confs-
cation is IN enanation of infamy and base
ness, that in 1862 the Congress of the So
called Confederate States passed d confsca-
ton law, and Jefferson Davis approved of it.
By virtue ofthat law, was sued in Corfedcr-
surrender the property of Judge Douglas
minor children Ireceived no favors in the
matter though sought the interposition OF
a cabinet officer in Richmond, who had serv-
ed with Judge Douglas in the Senate Of the
United States. and who I supposed would he
moved by some magnanimity; but had that
been my only reliance, the personal property
would all have been gone. had to fight it
out and stave it off until the death of the
Contederacy brought relief.
only mention this to close the mouths of
those who seem to think that conlscation
is the sum of all villanies. and that it origin
ated with the Republican party. was OPP
posed to it then, and am opposed 20 it now.
| trust that the United States will not follow
the bad example of the Confederacy
Independent of other considerations, be-
lieve that the general decentralization follow
ing it would be of incalculabie harm to So
ciety.
The practical issue now before us is the
acceptance or rejection Of the reconstruction
plan of Congress 1t seems to me to be mad
ness and folly to oppose it. Unite, then,
and carry it over all opposition, the sooner
the better. for suspicion and jealousy will
exist till it is over and you can do but little
for yourselves or the country until you are
fully restored to the Union. You cannot do
it with every man pulling in a different direc-
ton, hence the necessity for organization
The Republican party is committed to this
plan, if the South but does its duty. Act
then, with this party; take its name and its
principles and stand by its men and its meas
ures. The Republican party was the instru-
ment in the hands of Providence make
all men free, for which the white and color
eel man ought to rejoice together, for both
are greatly benefited. 1t is the party of
progress, of education and development;
kind to all, cruel to none. Niger party
indeed See what 1t has done for the white
man in the Northern States, where there are
but few colored men. 1t will do the same
for all of us here, if we will only give it an
opportunity.
1t is the party of humanity. The govern
ment to-day, under the management of this
party, is literally feeding the hungry and
clothing the naked, without regard to race
or color Any one who is really an object of
charity can obtain food by making that fact
appear.
Some of you may say that am not con-
sistent. do not pretend to be. l trust
shall ever have the manliness to surrender an
opinion when am convinced that I am in
error The catch phrase, consistency is
good. 1t is human to err, and it is also hui
man to be heady and conceited. A great
many boast of their consistency. when they
are only consistent in errors which they
ought to confess and renounce at once.
Let me in conclusion say that have not
come here to speak for myself. Iparricipa-
ted in the rebellion and am disfranchiscd.-
1t is not worth my while even if I felt ambi-
tious, to curry favor with the white man or
the colored man. Of course do not pre-
tend that am Indifferent. I would rather
it were otherwise with myself and every body
else but let me tell you that if live till
grief kills me, because of disfranchisement,
history will record one older man than Me-
thusaleh. am at least in position to give
disinterested advice. True, have an inter
est to this extent. This is the land of nv
birth; do not propose to leave it. 1 have
home wife and children here; when I
am gone, want them TO have government
fit to live in. The object of my ambition
now is to see this country developed. have
witnessed the first great step. I have seen
freedom take the place of slavery. I now
wish to see Ignorance give way to intelli-
gence, vice to virtue, and penury and want
III