The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-07-09
MR.. F. Il, BUSHELS Spec h.
A Statement by the Committee Appointed 10
Isvite Speakers

To the Editor: The brief report of
your special correspondent in your Sat-
urday's issue of the +. II. Busbee's
speech at the veterans reunion here on
the 4th inst. is calculated, not intention
ally we feel sure or the part of the
writer, to mislead and as the committee
appointed to invite the speakers on this
occasion we feel it incumbent on us to
make public this statement
Mr.. Busbee as reason for not confin-
ing his remarks entirely to the war; stat
ed that Gen. Carr had so CLEANED the
field that were a Ruth present she could
not gather anything worth carrying
away. He then went on to say that he
wanted to talk to Democrats, not as a
politician, but on the high plane of the
best interest of the State; that he wish
cd it to be distinctly understood that his
remarks were not intended to be politi-
cal, but he felt he was privileged to
speak candidly to his Halifax county
comrades In every case since his early
manhood in which there had been any
controversy about the elections in Hall
fax county, his professional services had
been at the command of the interested
parties and always without remunera-
ton. He especially discIaimed admitting
that there had ever been any just cause
for criticising the election methods in
Halifax county. What had been done in
the past had been done under the SUI.
preme law of preserving good govern
ment and the supremacy Of the white
race, with which he entirely sympathiz-
ed and had done his part in securing,
and should a time ever come in the flu
ture when a similar necessity existed,
the same methods would be justifiable
1t is impossible in a report of this char
acter to do justice to Mr. Busbce's
speech. A great deal of the speech was
taken up with illusions to the history of
Halifax county and of her distinguished
men. He spoke of her revolutionary
history of the old town of Halifax. the
birth place of our State Constitution.
He then spoke in high and most appro-
pirate terms of VIM. r. Davie, Willie
Jones and other revolutionary patriots
He spoke of the noble women of the
county. Passing on he spoke of Judge
Daniel, of the Supreme Court, of Bat
Moore, of Mr.. Coningland, and especially
then made touching and eIooucnt
tribste to Gen. Junius Daniel, Col. VIM.
A. Johnston. Carey Whitaker John
Whitaker, Col. F. M. Parker. and es-
pecially to Capt. Werting Gee, killed at
Five Forks a few days after his mar
riage. He paid a noble tribute to the
private soldier in the ranks who fought.
endured and died not for glory and fame,
but for his love of liberty and devotion
to his country. He then spoke of the
citizens of the county whom
he knew when a bay, useful and honor
able men, Nicholas Long, Rich
ard H. Smith, VIM. Brickell. r. B.
Pierce and others. He alluded patheti-
cally to his marriage in Halifax and all
the lovely associations and influences
emanating from it. He then spoke of the
virtues of the people of Halifax; their
invincible courage and love of country;
of the unspeakable sufferings, political
and social situation since the war, but
he said their virtues had redeemed them
They would not submit to wrong They
first waited for others to deliver them.
but finally they took their fortunes in
their own hands and at all hazards re-
covered Ddch IHelr liberties, rights and
social safety. Too much praise could
not be spoken of them in these respects
His heart his soul, his hand had been
with them at all times in the efforts
they had made, and always would be
should danger threaten them again. He
touched on the subject of public educa-
ton, saying it was the duty of the State
to furnish every child, white or black
the facilities for learning to read and
write; that this education should be along
such lines as would subserve the best
interest of the State. He finally spoke
in advocacy of honest elections and in
favor of more freedom of thought and
action on the part of the voter: that he
was not in favor of an independent par
ty, but now that the fear of negro domi
nation had been removed by the recently
adopted constitutional amendment. q
man should no longer be ostracised he
cause he differed in his political views
from others of his fellow citizens: that
he believed in parties and government
by parties, but that the time had come
when the white people of the State
should see to it that the election
hereafter held should be so
conducted that there Gould no NO 70,