The weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1869-18??, 1870-05-18

= ~ - - y. 81 Z. = ~ e. t.
sJohnstoa County Williams. John poo,
W. Rue. - - no massey ano
Granville County.-Messrs. ]. ]. Moore p
B. Royster, Thomas J. johnson. A. P. Ia.
ton, Junius Daniel, R. b. Hobpood David
Spenser, d. T. Hughes LA. Williams.
Chatham Coxnty.--Mesvs. john A, Nc.
Donald, Silas Burns james Peace, Geo. W.
Steadman and N. W. Wooten. 'Al ~
Orange CoantH-H. B. Guthrie. W.N
Harris, Samuel Murphis, H. c. Thompson.
Lewis Jenkins and A. J, King. r1A
On motion of Mr.. Donald. the Couyen-
tion agreed to vote for nominees by counties
tho chairmen of the county delegations to
cast the votes .sut,o a. T9vii
The number of votes allowed each county
is as follows: Wake 4, Granville 8, Frank.
lin z, Orange 2, Chatham Q, Nash 1, John
ston 2, Warren 2. .5f''a!
Mr.. Holden moved that the members of
the Convention pledge themselves to the
support of the regular nominees. are
4hc motion was adopted.
Nominations for the long term then be.
ing in ordersthe following named gentlemen
were placed in nomination, viz: Mr.. James
II. Harris of Wake; Mr.. RW. Lassiter of
Granville; Mr.J. B. Cook of Johnston and
Mr. J. B. Mason of Orange.
The delegates then proceeded to vote, as
agreed upun, and the resulf.wss as follows
For James 81. Harris 10; for R. W,,Lassi-
ter s. tor J. B. Oook:2 for j. B. Maseu2.
n I! tzaxEis M then ananiaanusay nemiua--.
NrsnifIIs sdlilsssed lis oosss6tios, bss
We can only give xdbrief isynopsisfo 81 lis
speech /" He thanked the delegated repre-
| sentatives of the counties composing the
fourth district for the honor they had seen
fit to confer upon him, and it should be his
constant endeavor so to act so as to merit
the rich reward of the peoples appreciation.
Three years ago he was honored by receiv-
ing similar nomination, but he had de-
clined to accept it, and for that reason was
censured by some and grievously misrepre-
sented by many, and he regretted to say that
some of his misrepresentors were men of his
own color. Why did he then decline to &C.
cept the nomination9 Because his friends
thought it inexpedient for him to accept it.
He was not influenced alone by the advice
of his friends; but he knew that the time
had not yet come when it would be sound
policy for him to endeavor to attain the
high position in which his fellow-citizens
wished to place him. The time was now
come when he could conscientiously do so.
and he felt assured that if honesty of pur-
pose and truthfulness of speech could avail
him anything he would be the representa-
tive of his people in Congress. sud
MIR. Harris reiterated that he felt grieved
to know that he was suspected by some of
having previously declined nomination for
pecuniary motives. No such consideration
ever influenced him. Duty alone was his
monitor. If money could have Influenced
him to swerve from the path of what he
conceived to be his duty, he would have ac-
cepted President Johnson's offer Of five
Thousand year to serve the government in
Hayti. He had been slandered and malign.
ed; but the SANDER bore the brazen imprint
of fakehood upon its face, and the melignity
with which certain persons had assailed his
character could but rebound to wound his
enemies. -...,f ..,.1 4-.,sI,l1I :
Mr.. Harris said that he declined to accept
the nomination three years ago because of
the unreasonable prejudice then exist
ing against his race He knew full we'll
that at that time his color was made a pre.
text for unkind and mean appeals to the pre-.
JUDGES OF large class of people. He knew
that thousands of persons susceptible to such
appeals were not ungenerous or vile by ma
ture, but had become the unfortunate dupes
OF vile lmposters or unmanly men. He knew
that, under the then existing circumstances.
if he had accepted the nomination alluded to
he would have: been sacrificing the interests
| of his fellow citizens, and that the charre of
personal welfare might then have been just
lypreferred against him. Now he was in.
duced to accept the nomination rendered
MIN by purely patriotic reasons Reconstruc-
ton was now an undoubted success. The
Fifteenth Amendment to the Constitution of
the United States was now ratified. The
happy fate was sealed. Men Of his race
had been promised that, at the proper time,
their rights should not be ignored. He
now thought it judicious for him to become
candidate for seat in the national Con-
gress. He knew of the prejudice that exists
| against his color. God chose to make him
what be was, and if he was not proud of
his color he was certainly not ashamed of
it; but he felt ashamed Of all persons, espe-
cially Of an educated class, whose sole OBJ
lection to him seemed to be the hue of his
skin. No one had charged him with incom-
potency. His color alone seemed to be the
pretext for abuses. He challenged any one
to say be was not true and tried Republi-
can. The conviction of the right and JUS
tice of the true Republican party was not
in his head, but deeply anchored in his
Heart. He deeply regretted that the young
white men, or majority of them of the pre-
! sent day, were brought to hate men because
! he was not white. What constitutes man
Straight hair, fair skin, q Roman or q
: Grecian nose, or an aquiline mouths How
( | ridiculous! No, regardless Of features, if q
; man has not honesty or virtue in his soul
he is akin to the brute. He hoped that the
; time had come when men, and especially
Republicans, would see that if his race was
: oppressed, oppression would meet sturdy
foe. a3
> Mr.. Harris adverted to by-gone days. Up
;. to 1885 the ballot-box was not closed tc
men of his color. The illustrious Badger ol
this State had voted with colored men and
; CASTOR and Graham had voted with, and
) been voted for by them. Sometimes thi.
age seemed to be one of folly and great in
gratitude 81 500 '1H ~ ~
, In conclusion, Mr.. Harris said that hi
chiet object was to be useful, not only to hi,
own race, but to all the people of the State
We regret our inability to produce th,
! entire speech of Mr.. Harris; but we suppos
> that our failure to do so is palpably excusa
able, as the time of our writing is very lin
!, tied. i. e. ..t.....,,..f.-
The Convention proceeded to vote for
, nominee for the short term, the foilowin,
!, named gentlemen having been nominated
!, as candidates, viz: h. ) 81
4 Mr., j. B. Mason of Orange, Mr.. R. W
!. Lassiter of Granville, and Mr.. Madison
: Hawkins of Franklin. f sis %
: First ballot: For Mr. Hawkins g.; for MI
!, Mason g.; Tor Mr.. Lassiter 4. ~ i0ig
/; Second ballot: For Mr.. Hawkins Is; 70
!, Mr. Mason 2; for Mr.. Lassiter 1.
= Mr. Hawkins was then unanimously nom
y mated by acclamation. . d': iie1f'9ai q
!. Mr.. Hawkins briefly addressed the Con
% veDtion, thanking the delegates for the hon
or they had conferred, &c. He said that b
q fully appreciated and accepted in goo,
faith the principles of the platform occu
al pied by President Grant and Governor Hol
Il den that he was honest in his declaration
and would never be found wanting in de
fence of the principles of the Republical