The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1867-05-04
SPEECH OF SENATOR WILSON,
OF MASSACHUSETTS,

OF MASSACHUSETTS,,
DcEireyed in the CapitOl Squire, in this CITY
TuesaaH A1,H 3OtA, ut - O'eIOc&, u.
The audience having assembled at the
North front of the Capitol Senator Wilson
mounted the platform, accompanied by Elk
Gov. Holden, who introduced him TO the
people.
MIR. Wilson then said,
Mr.. CHAIRMAN AND FELLOW CITIZENS
appear before you to-day, in compliance
with a pressing request made last night, to
address the people of this City to-day upon
| Capitol Square And in tile outset let me
say that l will speak frankly and freely
l do not desire or intend to misrepresent
any man or set of men, but to speak the
truth; and if any of my statements prove IN
correct, will take it as Il special favor II
any gentleman should question me, for then
will give him Il frank and fair answer; or
if any one desires to reply at length, he has
my hearty consent to occupy a position on
this stand and a portion Of the time. 1t IS
nv purpose to invite criticism in order to
develop the truth and the whole truth
Nor am l here as the agent or repreScn-
tative of any one. but only to see for myself
to speak for myself and to take care of
myself.
In the few remarks that shall make to-
day, shall attempt to vinGicate the action
of the loyal people and the government
against the rebels. That people and govern
ment have been magnanimouS. generous, lib
eral and just in all their dealings with the
rebeliouS States. God gave this magniti
cent empire to our ancestors. They eStab
!iShed a government which the people APP
proved and loved. and which they could
mould and fashion III their pleasure for ever
increasing good 20 themselves and all man.
kind. Here thr loving heart, the tender
Christian conscience and the free mind could
work o.; their most happy results. All that
he nations q earth had ls5ored and fought
ari hoped for through dark and bloody
Age<, was bestowed upon Our torefathers and
--.rScl;r:eA, by them 10 poSterity. Such my
:.,ow-ci:izen$ WAS cur condition in 1860
- happy aul free. that our people had al
IAo>s learned 70 believe that the government
WIS Immortal and in,ie>tsuctihle. Six years
have passed away-our nation has been rent
and torn and discovered BIZ civil war-our
green ieldS Redeemed with fraternal blood
our Young men in the pride and bloom of
manhood summoned from the pillow, the work
Shop. the counter and from school, to follow
the flag OF their country or the banner of
rebellion to bloody battle jacksonville their
mothers sisters and wives sat in sorrow
and mourning-and the country bathed
in the blood and tears of its children
What sad and sorrowful spectacle did this
once happy nation present to the world du-
ring that dark and eventful period of frater-
nal strife
Now, feilow-citizcns of North Carolina,
how came these things to pass In this
country of free institutions in this Christian
age when the light of knowledge is free to
all-how came it that this nation engaged
in six hundred battles, buried hall million
OF men, and now contains half a million
more of the MANNED and injured ? Some
body is responsible for this God and the
world will hold somebody or set of men re.
sponslbe for this-for the fears and blood
shed, the wealth destroyed, and all that civil
war has brought on this land.
have said that this was the freest nation
on the globe. So free that Alex. II. Stephens
in 1860, said that there was a srrfcit of free
dom and an eXuberance of blessings. He
then challenged any man to show where
or how any one section had infrinoed the
constitutional rights of the other And
there is not a man, who now dare say that
before the rebellion the government ever
designedly infringed the rights of any man
or any section. The whole people of nv
section had no such Intention, and to-day
around an hundred thousand Christian fire
sides prayers go up to Heaven for the unity
of this nation and for the liberties ofthe whole
people. This is and this has ever been orr
position.
When Congress assembled in 1860, there
came into those halls bold arrogant, domi-
D1pD WI N +boir - I
lg that if the Republican party, then four
years old. should dare to elect President
in favor of keeping the territories free from
the poisonous institution of slavery. that. in
the language of Kcitt of South Carolina.
they would sliver the Union from turret
to foundation stone" Clingman went SO
Ear as to lay down the doctrine that the
election OF Republican to the Presidency
was an overt act justifying rebellion and
declared further that when il came to blows.
the fight ought to be commenced in the halls
OF the Senate of the United States. I could
but take occasion then to remind him that
we dld not propose to commence a contest
OF that character, but that if it were to come,
we should be the last to begin it, and
the last to end it. (App!ause.) And
as we were the last to begin it. we were also
the last to end it. (Applause.) But what
Is responsible for this war? 1t was human
slavery. That was the enemy which shed
all this blood. Secession was born Of slavery,
for if slavery had not existed then the doc
trlne OF secession would never have been
known. So also slavery influenced class
of men who came into power, to extend,
MAINTAIN and perpetuate that institution.
But In spite OF the threats of these men. our
people went to the polls and elected Abra-
ham Lincoln. (Applause) When he was
elected, it did not enter into his heart or
brain to interfere with the existence of slave
ry in the States. He merely held to the
doctrine OF the fathers, that slavery was a
local institution, existing by local laws
and only within the verge of those laws.
But he was opposed to slavery, for as have
said he held to the doctrines of the fathers.
In the Convention that framed the Consti-
tuition there Vas not man outside of South
Carolina and Georgina that favored slavery
Washington saw its direful effects; jefferson
said that IN contest to keep men in slavery,
God had no,attribute that would take sides
with the master; JAS Madison said it should
not go into the Constitution, and it did not 90:
Jas. Monroe said that it eat out the vitals of
these States and prayed on their prosperity:
John Jay said that slavery was sin of
crimson dye; Gov. Morris said that it was
an outrage on human nature; and George
Mason. one of the grandest characters in
history, said that slavery brought the curse