The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1867-07-11
For The Standard
REPUBLICAN MASS MEETING IN CONCORD

For The Standard.
REPUBLICAN MASS MEETING IN CONCORD.
The fourth of July was celebrated in an
appropriate manner in this village. Never
before have our people witnessed such a
solemn and imposing demonstration. There
were not less than two thousand colored per-
sons present and large concourse Of whites.
At eleven o'clock, the different colored
Leagues of the County formed in procession
at grove about half mile from the stand
and the long column moved slowly up Main
street. An old fashioned band, consisting of
bass drum, tenor drum and fife, marched in
front, and discoursed the stirring strains of
martial music and the glorious g Stars and
Stripes fioated to the breeze above at inter-
walls along the line. Eighteen Marshals on
horse back with their batOns andsashes ofred,
white and blue maintained excellent order,
and the procession moved to the factory of
Mr. John Mcdonald, where this gentleman
presented flag with an appropriate and pa
triotic speech. The flag was received and
the presentation was responded to by Mr.:
Samuel Partee in q few remarks which evin-
ced good sense, good feeling and warm de-
votion to the great Republican doctrines of
human rights and the equality of man.
The procession then moved to the stand
at Academy grove. When it arrived at the
ground, where large assemblage had al
ready collected, the meeting was organized
by calling Mr.. VIM. T. Blume to the Chair
and constituting DR.. John Fink, our worthy
Post Master, and Adam Means, colored, Vice
Presidents.
The exercises were opened by singing a
patriotic hymn; and prayer by Rev. John
Springs, colored. The Declaration of indie
pendence was then read by Mr.. Cornelius
Newsom Mr. VIM. NJ. Coleman then adj
dressed the meeting Mr.. Coleman, in
speech of something over an hour in length,
set forth the only terms upon which recon-
struction was possible; to-wit, that the re-
suits of the war must be accepted in good
faith and that among these results We're the
responsibility of loyalty in the South and the
absolute equality of the two races before the
law. Mr.. Coleman further showed that
free labor, free speech and free schools had
made the North great and powerful and that
such a system here would not only elevate
the colored people, but would give to our
poorer classes of whites who had been nom
shareholders a respectability and position
in society and an opportunity for usefulness
and distinction, which they never enjoyed
under the rule of the old slave aristocracy.-
Mr.. Coleman closed with pressing the claims
Of the Republican party upon all, aud espe-
Claliy upon Cnc cOlOre(t people.
Mr.. James Jones, of Raleigh, colored, next
addressed the meeting. and in an able and
telling speech showed what rights justice de-
manded for the colored race; that Congress
had made provision that these rights should
be secured; that resistance was unavailing.
and that its only effect would be to call
down severer measures. Mr.. Jones held up
to ridicule with no less severity than truth,
those who opposed extending any rights to
the black man for fear it would result in So
cial equality. Social equality would regu-
late itself The black man had never asked
it, although it was a lamentabe fact that
the complexion of things showed it lad been
fixed upon his race.
Mr.. Schenck, colored, of Lincoln County,
followed Mr.. Jones, and made few plain
and practical remarks, showing that the in
terests OF the whites and blacks were one
and the same; that the rights of the one
class would not be lnfringed without jeo-
pardiZlng the rights of the other Mr..
Schenck said he was North Carolinian that
all that was dear to him was here that the
welfare OF the State was matter of deep
concern to him, and he hoped that the whites
and blacks would live tremendously togeth-
er. The Republicans were not trying to ar
ray race against race. No party had ever
been so infatuated as to take course they
knew would result in certain defeat. The
whites were two to one to the blacks in
North Carolina. Could any sane man sup
pose that the Republicans expected to carry
the State by arraying the weaker party
against the stronger No. The Republi-
cans appealed to all, without distinction of
race or color, to unite with them upon the
platform of even and exact justice to all
men.
After Mr.. Schenck had concluded, bright
little American of African descent, seven
years of age, who had been at school only
seven months, was mounted on table, where
he read the dialogue) published by the Rep.
Eek. Conn., between a white Republican and
a freedman, entitled, "Why are you Repub-
lican 2"
The following resolutions were then read
and unanimously adopted:
1. ResoIoed, That the Congress now in ses-
sion should proceed at once to abolish
the existing rebel State governments, which
are taxing and expressing the people
for the purpose of keeping and supporting
men In office who are opposed to the plan of
reconstruction proposed by Congress.
2. That the wicked and perverse opposi-
ton of the President to the will of the ma
ton expressed through the Congress, has en-
couraged sentiments of disloyalty and post
poned the work of reconstruction
3. That in the present contest between the
President and Congress upon the construc-
ton of the Sherman bill, we pledge ourselves
to stand by Congress at all hazards in see
ing the provisions of the bill executed to the
letter.
4. That the truly loyal will not be secure
in person or property unless the State gov
eminent is reorganized upon basis unmis-
takably loyal and that we would chose an
indefinite duration of military rule in pre-
ference to reconstruction upon any other
basis.
5. That we are in favor of abolishing all
landed qualifications for Office, as growing
out of system of slave aristocrisy, and as
opposed to the spirit of American institu-
lions.
6. That we are in favor of Incorporating
into the organic law of the State provision
making it the duty of each Legislature
to make liberal appropriation for the sup
port of schools for both races.
Z. That we endorse the platform laid
down by the Republican Convention held in
Raleigh, on the 9th of March, 1857.
8. That the proceedings of this meeting
be published in the North Carolina Standard.
and that other Republican papers be reques-