The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1867-07-31
s7EECH DELIVERED BY Hon. THos. SETTLE,

Estme a Republican Mass Meeting at Spring |
Garden, Rockingham County, June %, 1867. |
FELLow-C1TlzENs:- Many of my
neighbors and friends, especially a.
mongst the colored people, have ex.
pressed desire to hear my views on
public affairs. | am here to-day to
comply with their request, and I am
glad to see both races represented in
my audience, for I have no arguments
for the one that cannot he properly ad.
dressed to the other. Your rights and
duties are mutual, and the sooner you
understand them the better for both.
This is novel scene in Rockingham.
You who were lately slaves, and you
vao were lately owned them, are here
TO day, equals before the law, inquiring
'as to the best policy for governing your
common country. How has all this
happened? 81
1t is the result of certain causes,
which were intended to produce an en-
tirely different state of things.
The politicians of the cotton States
had for long time contended that cot
ton was king, and that if they could
divide the Union and separate the South
ern from the Nouthern States, they
could build up the richest and must
powerful government on earth, upon
the foundation of slavery.
l In 1860, and 81 they had succeeded
in firing the Southern heart, to an ex-
tent that enabled them to precipitate a
rebellion, which has worked out results
little different from their programme.
In the first place we did not exactly
get out Of the Union, though I confess
it is somewhat difficult to define pre-
cisely where we are. Of one thing I
am sure, some of us are trying to get
back. In the next place, instead of
perpetuating and extending slavery, it
is dead forever, and you are here to-day.
with more powers and privileges than
your most zealoas and sanguine friends
ever expected to be able to confer upon
you.
5 At first the contest on the part of the
North was for the Union, and if Jeffer-
son Davis had surrendered at any time
during the first two years of the war,
you would in all probability have re-
manned slaves.-You are under no obi
cations to the secessionists for your
freedom, although they were instru-
ments in accomplishing it, for they in
tended just the reverse. And although
the Republican party, who conducted
the government during and since the
war, have proved themselves to be your
hest friends, still at the outset they had
no idea Of being able to set you free.
True, g party at the North have for
many years, through much tribulation.
opposed the principle of slavery, and
have fought hard to keep it out of the
territories, and to abolish it in the Dis
trict OF Columbia, and generally to al
leviate its rigors and hardships. but
even this gallant band of pioneers, in
the army offreedom, never proposed to
invade it in. the States where it existed.
and no party in this country ever grasp.
ed and couaprehended the grand idea of
universal freedom until the necessities
ofthe war prompted President Lincoln
to issue proclamation, which will Sc.
cure for his name place in history Sc
cond to none.
So it seems that the nation was led
up to this point without having set out
to attain it. -
To whom then are you indebted for
freedom? To him Gin whose hands ID
power and might" at is not in man
that walketh to direct his steps,
Mans goings are of the Lord.n
You are freemen and citizens of the
greatest government on earth, clothed
With power to protect that freedom
and If you use it Alright and not abuse
It, the government is on higher road
Of prosperity to-day than any she ha.
eyer yet travelled. For whatever ma,
nave been said in other days, it viii