Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1867-08-23
For the Journal.
s.sssssss as.zs e. For the Journal
Public Speaking at Long Creek and Rock,
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good old county, while true now to the
Constitution ar d the Union, cannot be in
duced to turn q cold shoulder to those true
and well tried public servants in the past
who have never deceived nor betrayed her,
and whose sacrifices in her behalf are emit
tied to her gratitude. AS an evidence Of
this just appreciation of her public servants,
the views of the members of the Leglsla-
ture from New Hanover county have re-
Gently been called for by their fellowciti-
zens, on the all-absorbing political topics
of the day. Two of them, Gel. E. d. Hall
and Major G. W. McClammy, have respon
ded, in able and effective speeches at Long
Creek, on Friday, the 10th, and at Rocky
Point on Saturday, the 18th instant. The
people, both black and white, turned out
in large numbers, and paid great respect
and attention to these patriotic and honor
ed gentlemen. Col. Hall is known in the
county as the &c war horse of Democracy"
as the Napoleon of stump-speakers in New
Hanover, and on these occasions fully sus-
tanned his high reputation. He enjoys the
entire confidence of his old constituents,
and crowds seek to hear him wherever he
speaks; while the younger member, Major
| G. W. McClammy, who is one of our rising
young men, gains upon the popular conf
dence and affection with every speech he
makes. He is prudent, talented, of fair
Judgment, and speaks well. Another of
our talented young men also, Mr.. Samuel
A. Ashe, was present at Long Creek, and
in response to call made upon him, de-
livered fine speech, which was we'll recelv-
ed. His numerous friends in New Hanover
will not in the future forget the services
he may now render them in this their day
of poverty, of distress, of tribulation, and
sorrow. And the same remark is applica-
BILE to Col. Hall and Major McClammy.-
The main burden of these several
speeches was an appeal t0Me people to register,
and thus prepare themselves to vote &C
cording to the provisions of the military
reconstruction bill. While all these gen
tlemen were sincere and oft-repeated in
their expressions of allegiance to the gov
eminent, of devotion to the constitution
and the Union, they portrayed in eloquence
the gross injustice, mighty wrongs, uncon-
ruinous policy of the Radical or Republican
party, and how all these grinding exertions
and expressions and high tariffs are sap
ping the remaining life blood and motive
power of this prosecuted Southern land
In this way, as the speakers clearly showed,
the Radical majority in Congress, while
crying peace, peace, are to all practical
purposes still carrying on war upon the
South, and while they promised emigra-
ton, capital and property, to follow quick
upon the passage of their military recon-
struction bills, business is more depressed,
trade is more stagnant, and the South worse
off now under the operations of their bills
than ever before.
Colonel Hall was the only speaker at
Rocky Point. In addition to the whites,
several hundred blacks, from different
points, assembled to hear him. He insist
ed here as at Long Creek, upon registra-
trion, of both blacks and whites. He adj
dressed himself at length to the negroes,
detailing to them in plain terms their rights
and duties, their origin and history, and
compared their civilization with that of the
negroes in Africa and various other coun-
tries. Colonel Hall showed himself we'll
acquainted, not only with the character
and wants, but with the whole history of
the negro race, and gave to them advice
which if followed would best advance and
| promote their moral, physical, educational
and religious interests. Unlike so many
radical orators, he INDUCED in no fiattering
nor solicitations for votes. but talked to
them only in that candid, truthful, kind
manner which every true friend of the race
will use in his intercourse with them. He
warned them in emphatic language against
| the efforts, now SO common, to ALLEVIATE
them from their former masters and friends
81, No
whole speech was sound and practical, and
easily understood. I wish every Radical
in the county could have heard it.
Let these gentlemen go on in their ad-
dresses to the people, and let others like
| them go and do likewise. Our public
| speakers are too backward, too Indifferent
in this terrible crisis through which we are
| passing,
| The people are tired of politics and need
to be reminded by those in whom they
confde of the magnitude of the crisis
The enfranchisement of the negro, how
ever much it may swell the Radical vote,
has so excited his brain and demoralized
him as a laborer that very little dependence
can now be placed in him as a hirehng,
and in this as in other respects the present
is as uncertain as the future is gloomy.
| The whites of the South would freely &C
cept the Radical policy, if it would best
contribute to their prosperity and happiness
and to constitutional liberty. But they
have no faith in Republican measures for
amehorating their condition. Every bill
now passed by Congress, bearing upon the
South, seems but the forging of a new
chain to bind our oppressed people more
and more in degradation. slavery and ru-
in. All these varied modes of punishment,
are not only entailing more and more pow
erty and distress, but adding still more of
depression and despair to brave and no.
BILE people. The mechanic feels it as he
shoves his plain with a less vigorous hand,
the merchant knows it as q necessity COM
pels him to contract or wind up his bust
ness, and the farmer as he returns daily to
his tolls in the field shows it, as with heavy
signs and more laggard walk, he yields to
the pressure of the times.
| PINEY WOODS.
August 20, 1867.
A short undated letter from Burns to
Mr.. Stewart Gladstone, Capenock, Dunn