National Republican., 1878-01-25
Governor Vance and Freedom.

Early in January we received what pur-
ported to be the report of n srosch deliv-
cred on New Years Day by Governor
VANCE, of North Carolina, to the colored
militia who were celebrating their eman-
cipation from slavery. In review of that
speech we said:
He showed his reconciliation and paciAca-
tiOn spirit In = very unmistakable manner, for
in this case the abundance of the heart gave
u,terance of an implacablc hostility to the re.
suits Of the war. He Informed the colored
people that he had no sympathy with them in
their freedom, as IL was secured by unconsti-
tutional means, and hence was null and void.
But he did gaciously condescend to tell them
that for the present, as they thought them
selves free they should share his august pro-
lection. OF course they were grateful, for
under existing policies II Is great privilege
for Il cOlored citizen in the South to be per-
mitted to hold on to doubtful tenure Of life.
Governor VANCE is among the pacifed and
rccOncilcd who nurse the rirUs of rebellion in
their hearts as fondly to-day as when in arms
against the Union.
The Raleigh Register took us to task for
these remarks, contending that they were
not justified by the text of the speech
Having mislaid or lost the copy upon which
we based our remarks, we called upon the
Register for copy of what Governor VANCE
did say, and we have been kindly furnished
a copy of that journal containing it. W,
give it entiY, though according to oui
recollection, it is a good deal toned down
from the copy which We saw in another
journal, and upon which we took occasion
to remark. But, nevertheless, we are dis.
posed to give the Governor the full benefit
OF it as it comes to us:
My FRIENDS: appear in your meeting to,
day simply to acknowledge the respect you
shave shown me by inviting me as Gov,
ernor Of the State TO visit your assemblagc
You cannot. Of course, cJpsct me 10 join Tih yOu
IN celebrating this day, he anniversary Of tha
emancipation Thrch struggled so long TO prcrsni
and Thich J. in common Tih almost all the peOpi,
Of my race IN The SOUTH regarded as an act Of uh
constitutional rOieUcc 10 thc one party, and as "A
INJURY 10 the other.
Bnt you have right to expect that, having
acquicsccd with the people of the entire Soutl
in the results established by the revolution,
should, as Governor Of the State of North
Carolina, recognize you rs citizens, and SHOULD
respect all the rights with which the laws have
invested you. This | cheeriuly do, alway,
have done, and always shall do. | believe thai
every promise contained in my inaugun
address in this respect has been observed
during the past year of my administration
and now that we are entering upon u new
year, have nothing to add TO or take from III,
former utteranCcs.
| Ii Is u matter Ofcougratulation that the pas
year has been one Of some progress to tn,
cOlOred race in North Carolina. The cause o
education has receiveda consideration impulse
their industry has on the whole been com
mendable, no riptOus or disOrderly viOlenC,
among them has been reported to me, ant
kind feeling toward the white people has mani
festly increased. The training of your chill
dren to labor and honesty is now your grca
duty. If you do this you may rest assured
that all other temporal blessings will follow
in due time.
Assuring you again that as a portion of tn
people over whom ! am put to rule and VIII
are protected by the laws | have sworn to sup
port, | am sincerely anxious to promote you
welfare and thanking you for the cOurtes,
you have shown me, wish you all u new yea
of prosperity and peace.
We think the italicised portion of the re
marks OF Governor VANCE given abov,
fully justify the suggestion that he had n
sympathy with the colOred race in thei
freedom, which he "had struggled long t
prevent" and which he regarded as AN ac
of constitutional violence TO the one party
and as an injury to the other"
1t will be noticed that in the paragrap
which gave otlense, we admitted that he ha
given them assurance of protection during hi
rule but after all, il the act of their emanc
patton is unconstitutional, and that opinio
prevails in the South, how long will it u
respected? This is the Point we made q
the time, and il seems to us now that il
sustained by the utterances of the spcec
a. hirh uo oiya nhnya