The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1867-09-07
TcoNTINUED FROM FOURTH PAGE.
SECOND DAYS PROCEEDINGS.
THURSDAY. Sept. 5, 1856

Col. Peck moved That a state Centid
Committee of twenty-one delegates be ar
pointed by the Chair; three to be appointed
from each Congressional district. This mo
ton having been duly seconded, was put t.
the House, and carried unanimously. I'M
Chairman stated that as too much OF th'
time of the Convention would be taken "
Just now with the election OF the meupe:s
of this Committee, he would announce lhei'
names this afternoon. -,
Gen. Dockery rose and addressed The
Chair as follows:
Mp PRESIDENT Il ask leave to make
brief personal explanation. l DESIRE SIT, to
make an explahation that interests me If 1t
does no body else l wish to state some
thing referring to the time prior to this Con
vention. and some of the occurrences that
TRANSFERRED yesterday. l declare in advance,
that /. sir, am Republican; not to accom-
modate any class Or any people in any local,
1ty. am Republican on principle, and
if the whole Convention were disposed to
ignore it. then. if 1 have no reason to suppose
any thing of that kind could occur 1t could
not possibly drive me from the Republican
platform. l will accommodate no person
who may wish to injure me, or other parties
by deserving my principles.
Mr.. President might sir, with some pro-
prietv 90 back to the last thirty or forty
wears. and show my course, but it is not ne
cessary. The people of North Carolina know
nv course too we'll to need any explanation
of the general principles ofmy life, now, not
a very short one.
I sir, opposed notification, and I opposed
secession, at home and abroad in the public
counsel of the country and in private and So
clal circles. have uniformly and consis-
tently regarded it as proceeding that would
result in ruin; ruin, sir, shame and dis
grace.
But pass over all that sir. When the war
commenced still opposed it. Istill contend
ed that it was wrong, to be a fatal
error. All my influence was directed to CO.
operate with gentlemen in the State, who
wished to cut it off, in the language OF some
of the intelligent men in this State, at the
knee was willing to check it at any place
and at any time-but sir, my counsel and
advice was unavailng. l was III favor OF
the Howard amendment as it was called; in
favor of any endeavor of Cancellation.
always expected that we could gain nothing
from resistance shall accept any feasible
proposition before the country, and if that
proposition fail l shall be in favor of the
next: and should that fail, in favor of the
next, until we are restored to the Union.
Now, Mr.. President, | wish to make some
remarks upon my views with regard to the
abolition of slavery. 1 was Shareholder,
sir,-my loss in that respect was very great,
but l always contended that slavery was
destined to brief existence. l have always
commended that the progress of events-the
progress of intelligence and of information,
or any type of knowledge would termi-
nate it.
Now sir, do not ask any one to take my
to day-they can look at. the
record of my life, with which the people of
North Carolina are well acquainted.
Not long ago addressed an assemblage
of twenty-five or thirty hundred colored
people and some five or six hundred whites.
have addressed large assemblies at other
places, and have remarked at different large
though most of them colored,
that would not snap my fingers to restore
slavery was glad it was abolished; I wish
it had been abolished fifty years ago; it
ought never to have existed. (Applause)
have always entertained that opinion, sir.
entertain that opinion now, and expect
it to grow stronger with my age. 1 said at
the same time that 1 believed slavery had
never done the white race any good. But,
in the course of the providence of God, it
may have been benefit Tor the black race
Their ancestors were taken from a state of
where the Bible and Christianity
we're never known! They never even heard
If Christ or of the Father They were
brought here, and now we have an intelli-
rent race which in the providence of God
nay contribute in no small degree to en-
tighten their race in Africa.
However, sir, understand, and am sorry to
lear it, that there were rumors put among
he colored people here intending to preiu-
lice them against me, and it has been al
eyed among other things that l am unpop-
lar among the colored people of my county.
am wiling sir, to refer it to the colored
eople of my county. 1 am willing, sir, to
efer it to the colored people of Richmond
'ounty themselves, to say whether l am or
ct.
AS l said, sir, l am a Union man. am
u any measure that will best facilitate the
sturn of North Carolina to the Union, and
believe, sir, that the principles of the Re-
ublican party are the shortest and surest
lode of securing that. l, sir, am disfran-
lised that Is referred to, to show that am
rebel. That matter is not of much moment
, me, now. A few short years, and nobody
i'll hear anything as to whether I ever !
oted or not. But one of the most unpleas-
lC occurrences connected with my dlStran-
lisement is that, whilst am the only Union
ian in my precinct that cannot exercise the
ght OF freeman, by voting, others around
e who but a short time ago proclaimed !
lat ought to be shot for my Unionism,
'e no preparing to vote and to hold Office.
hat does not affect my devotion to Repub-
canism, however, nor shall it do so.
With reference to matters which transpir-
yesterday, Mr.. President, I believe it is
snerally known, and talked of outside, that
y name had been mentioned in Convention
it'll the position which you, sir, so ably and
satisfactorily fill. had no such desire I !
ave had the honor, sir, of presiding at
arious assemblies, and if these are honors,
r, I have had my share of them. I can {
cur to one instance, and perhaps the only
he which 1 care groat to have recorded
II the eye of my children-and that was. -,
r, the Convention held in the capitol of .,
lis City when John NJ. Morehead was NAM /
for Governor, and Henry Clay for Presi- i
emit. had the honor, sir, OF presiding at I
lat Convention, and of putting the ques- +
on, and announcing the decision, chat Hen !
Clay OF kentucky was placed, by North
arollna, before the American people for
resident of the United States, and for that :
r, am proud. !
1t was proposed to me when 1 arrived v
ire, to be President of this Convention. a
dn't desire it, and said as much. l stated
at there were Others who could fill it to Il
eater ADVANTAGE than 7 coul5 P,t =