The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1868-04-15
Great Republicans Rally in Raleigh.--
Great Enthusiasm. .-HOn. John Pool
ON the Platform.

:
The meeting was organized by calling W. |
R. Richardson to the chair, and appointing
Capt. Pritchard Secretary.
Mr.W M. Coleman was called upon. who
rose and resigned the floor in favor of Col.
John T. Deweese, the candidate for Congress
for this District.
Col. Dewcese made one of his characters
tic speeches He gave some of his expert
ences in the campaign, and brought down
the house. This Congressional district was
going Overwhelmingly Republican.
Capt. Lee was then called upon. He made
few remarks in which he gave Moses such
u terrible costigation as few men have ever
received. This same Bledsoe had advocated
raising the black flag and the massacre OF
prisoners at the time when the Federal army
held two prisoners to one held by the Con
federacy. He denounced this man Bledsoe
as man who would have thus murdered the
children of his neighbors. This man Bled-
soc had not changed. He was as bloody
and vindictive as ever And he was the
great rebel leader in Wake County.
Capt. Lees advice to the colored people
was particularly good. While he urged upon
them the most repectful and peacable deport
ment, he told them not to allow themselves
to be intimitlated and if any one should at
tempt it, to report them.
Hon. John Pool then took the platform.
He began by saying that until he had arriv-
ed in this city he had not been informed
that he would he called upon to address the
people here. He hoped to have had the
pleasure of meeting those from whom he
might hope to gain some votes. He had
en- inf
where votes were to be gained. The audience
before him had been so often addressed that
he had no hopes of making any gains here:
But he would let no opportunity slip OF
speaking word if that would be of any
effect in restoring our State to her old posi-
tim under the old flag. Was there any Sc
curity for any citizen of the State? In look
ing over the history of the world where has
there been revolution which had not up
turned the foundations of society, and too
often ended in scenes of blood? We were
| in the midst of revolution. No one could
see its end; no one could predict the final
result. We were upon volcano with the
| fires boiling beneath u.s. There was one es-
cape Congress had proposed a plan by
which the danger could be averted. He
saw some light before us. Although we are
in worse condition now than when the war
! closed, yet we had something tangible, some
thing positive This was reconstruction and
restoration Men who were in favor IF the
! ratification of the Constitution were now
only liable to insult The peace men during
the rebellion had harder things to undergo.
In those days opposition to the Confederacy
did not only mean insult and vituperation
it meant bayonet and prison. Those
men who had put this oppression on Union
men then. now said that they were wrong.
| The men who oppose now will say they are
wrong hereafter The South had been sub
| iugated. 1t was no small matter that this
| land had been drenched in blood no small
matter that treasure had been poured out
/ like water; it was no small matter that
scenes of horror had been perpetrated in this
| land which must make humanity shudder !;
it wasno small magnanimty that the nation
had passed all this by and offered the hand
of forgivness and reconciliation to those who
| had brought so much ruin upon u.s. When
terms were first offered, instead of accept
ance, the jubilee of the Confederacy was
sounded and one would have supposed
that Grant had surrendered to Lee, and not
| Lee to Grant. Thus the first opportunity was
/
rebel States were restored that there
should be some guarantee for our future
| peace and security. This was reasonable
How was this reasonable proposition re-
sponded too Instead of making loyalty re-
spectacle it became odious. The Vice Pres
ident of the Confederacy was chosen for the
U. S. Senate. Those who could boast the
most ardent devotion to the Confederacy
and prosecution of the war; those who had
hunted down the most conscripts were the
men who were honored. Loyalty was obi
| Gus. This proved to the nation that the
feeling of hostility to the government was
still burning in the hearts of the people. and
it was just IN the nation to demand guaran-
tees which would secure peace and make
loyalty respectable. Our condition Was
worse than it was two years ago. Now we
have Il military government The civil law
is dead. The laws are executed, but still
those laws are under the control of the mill
tary authority. The dangers which threat
ems around us are alarming. But there is
one thing which can come which is more
terrible than any thing which has come yet
That is CIVIL WAR. To see the hand of
brother raised against brother, friend against
friend. True the military were here. But
who were the military to fght9 There was
no organization. 1t would be murder and
arson. If reconstruction was not effected
this terrible evil would be upon us in less
than three months. The men who reject
this Constitution would reject any Constitu-
ton that could be offered. Therefore, let
the nation take the rod into its hand, and
drive the State back, and save these people
from the horrors of interminable war.
Mr. Pool then took up the Constitution
Some things he did not like were in it. 1t
would be a miracle if Constitution could
be framed to give perfect satisfaction to all.
But the advantages were overwhelmingly in
favor OF it. There Was one thing which the
adoption of the Constitution would remedy,
and that was the intense bitterness which
now existed. The Constitution not only
secured all rights to individuals and all
rights of property, but when this Constitu-
ton was adopted this bitterness would sub
side, and public sentiment wonld begin to
grow up which would recognize the rights
of all citizens before the law as matter of
right and justice This was necessary for
the colorel race to enjoy the rights which
had been conferred by law for their protec-
ton. Take away the ballot from fifty thou
sand men in North Carolina and the State
is no longer republic, it is dcspotism.-
The ballot was the shield and the protection
of every citizen against oppression. Give to
any class the ballot and where their interests
come in question their vote would be given
solid; and though they might be in help
less minority, yet they would hold balance
of power which would always secure them
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