The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1867-07-04
SPEECH OF ". J. ARMSTRONG, ESQ.,,

FelloaO- Citizens Of North Carolina The
whipping post having fallen into disuse IN
North Carolina, understand that free speech
is coming into use. / congratulate you, but
particularly myself, upon this happy change.
Acongratulate you because l believe that in
communities which pretend to be free, the
sting of the human tongue is more effective
against injustice than the cat o'nine tails.
And the whipping post here by your Court
house, is performing just now the function of
a grave-stone over Il buried custom in North
Carolina. believe that North Carolina
will soon behold such reign of peace, Or
der and general prosperity as she never be-
held before. congratulate myself, because,
though fond of the luxury of opinions, 1
am not inclined to the delicacies of the cat
o'nine tails, and l ain of the opinion from
some things 1 have heard during my short
stay in your State, that had come down here
some time not very distant in the past to say
to the citizens of Raleigh, what probably
shall say tonight, had found certain
institution here performing function some
what different from its present one. l con-
gratulate North Carolina, that here in the
capital of her Commonwealth, an American
citizen, cherlshing the doctrines of universal
liberty and equality, can discuss these
doctrines without fear.
The presence here tonight of all classes
of citizens to discuss political principles as
those of interest to the citizens of a COM
mon government is the evidence of a fact,
now not only in the South but in America,
not only in America but In the civilized
world.
1t is evidence Of truth as old as the his
tory of human government, but of fact as
new as three months ago, when by an act of
the United States Congress the stars on the
American flag became for the first time the
symbols of liberty to all men, and for the
first time caught the light OF those that shine
in Heaven. For the first time in the history
of our country we breathe the air of pure
Republicanism. We meet Eere tonight to
discuss its doctrines.
When Madamoiselle Rachel the great ira
gediene of France, entered the gates OF Pa
ris, chanting the song OF the INnrSelaise. the
song of French Republicanism, the popu-
lace crowded tumultuously about her. They
said it was the breath of the future blowing
over regencrated France. Fellow citizens,
I tell you that the Cry of Republicanism
which now sweeps over these States North
and South, is the breath of liberty which
shall regenerate and make anew divided
America.
hear it said that a colored orator of your
State has asserted that the doctrine of the
Republican party was Christianity ITSELF
That colored man knew the truth by his own
experience The doctrine of Republicanism
in this country had done and is doing unto
that black man and his race as the white
people of this country would have that black
man and his race do unto them, were they
each in the others position. Every body of
men however great or however small or
holding whatever sentiments or opinions.
has its corrupt representatives and leaders,
has its faults and errors. But l am here to-
day in behalf of the nation itself, to assume
that black mans statement, that Republi-
canism is not party or a creed OF party,
but the principle of Christianity carried into
practical effect. Republicanism does not
mean this man for a representative in Con-
gress or that man for the President of the
United States, nor these for the State officers
of North Carolina. 1t does not mean Sum
ner nor Stevens, nor Helper. 1t means the
equality of all men and of all women, be-
fore the law 1t means the unrestricted
right of every man to do what he chooses,
so long as he does not infringe upon the
rights of any other man.
admit in spite of churches all over this
broad country, in which men and women
with trelcherous lips repeated the golden
maxim of the Christian religion, that this
doctrine is practically new one South and
North. Here, with a prayer to Heaven
upon your lips you kept blaff men, men
with like endowments as yourselves, in slave
ry. In the North we helped you to do it,
and kept the black man from civil rights,
making his condition almost as despised as
it was here AS a Northern man, do not
presume to cast the first stone against my
brother in the South, though he held thou
sand slaves. We have sinned alike If he
was criminal, then l was an accomplice.-
Not until the second year of bloody war
did we talk of liberty to the negro, and then
we did it because we were compelled by ne
cessity. Now at length when that war is
over and two more years are past, we enter
tain the doctrine of justice to all men as a
sentiment. That sentiment is Republican,
ism. This Republicanism in spite of all
hindrance and opposition, in spite of what
ever names of parties or ambitions OF men,
is bound to become the fundamental and
controlling principle of the American gov
ernment. When the world or a nation has
taken a step forward in moral sentiment, it
does not again go backward.
To-day, in the present issue of the nation,
in the present issue and canvass in North
Carolina, this sentiment, this doctrine of the
equality of all men before the law is held by
the Congress of the United States, held by
the great body of the Northern people, held
by all loyal and true men, white and black,
in these Southern States, and these we name
the Republican party. But when this party
shall have grown corrupt or have fulfilled its
mission and passed away, the principles of
Republcanism will still prevail and shine as
brightly as your Southern sun at MONDAY.
Fellow citizens of North Carolina, there lies
before you certain specific works and duties.
The Congress of the United States has
temporarily established in your midst the
military force of the government to secure
justice and protect the rights of all men
until civil government can be restored.-
Government by soldiers is inconsistent
among people who understand how to
govern themselves 1t is inconsistent with
the fundamental principles of democracy, at
the bottom of this nation. How then can
you remove it2 Congress answers the ques-
ton and shows you the way; by rendering
it unnecessary by showing yourselves ca
pable of self-government; by proceeding ac-
cording TO law with one heart and will in
the State of North Carolina to form gov
ernment which in good faith shall protect
and foster the rights of every living human
heino IF North Carolina and the South re-