The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1913-09-02


pittsboro, at the reunion Of ex-slaves
here August IA. and which has never
before been presented to the pubic
IN print:
MY friends, it gives me much
pleasure TO be with you to0ay, ano
to unite in the exercises OF this most
novel and pleasant occasion. ao-
sYress YOU as friends, because in North
Carolina there lie 4 greater friendly
feeling between the races than IN any
other State in the American Union.
This same assertion was in the mind
Of the leading colored man OF the
south, Booker T. Washington. when
he so declared it at the State Fair
I'm Raleigh several years ago. And
1t is true. This occasion today is an
evidence Of the fact.
There has been, ever since the close
Of the war, a most kindly feeling be-
tween the former slaves and their
masters. And today the same kindly
feeling exists among the sons and
daughters OF the slaves. and the sons
and daughters of their former mas
ters. and I pray God hat it may ever
continue.
Made His FIRST Speech to Darkies.
The first public speech l ever made
was to an audience of cOlored peo-
pie. 1t was in the Spring of 1867,
1alfA AN 80
when there was IN act of Congress
giving the right of suffrage to the
colored people. They held a large
meeting In my town Of PittsbOro, and
although l was almost a boy. they
honored me with an invitation to ad-
dress them. On that occasion l said
TO them what l say now to you, that
the best friend OF the colOrcd man in
the South, is the Southern white man.
Those Of you who have gOne North
have experienced the truth of that by
painful experience. Why, up North
they will not even allow a colored
mechanic to work with white me
chanics Down here colored men
and white men work together. IN the
same building for instance, or ir
partnership, each knowing his re.
spective place. Blu up North they dc
not allow that.
Il say that I am called to be witt
you on this occasion, most novel as i
IL. / do not remember another sucl
occasion in this State, at least. 1
does credit to the men. both whit
and colored. who started 1t, and Their
is no reason why it could not be a
annual reunion. and bring them to
gether. and the presence Of these OIL
gray heads will be of benefit to tn
young men of your race, If the ris
ing generation will TAX you as thei
e~xemplars. the country Is saved, an
there is no fear of the future.
Who Freed YOu?
II wish to give YOU q few points i
history for YOU to take home and re
member. Every one OF you. nc oub
thinks that President Abraham Liz
coin freed YOU all. Well, now /
me give YOU a few points in histOr
and then you can decide that Il
yourselves. When Mr.. Lincoln VI
~inaugurated as President Of the Unite
States on the 4th Of March, 1861.
stated:
1T is not my purpose directly
Indirectly to interfere with the inst
tuition Of slavery in any of the Stat
where il exists. l believe that l ha'
no lawful right so to do, and l ha'
no inclination to do So
Now those were the words of M
Lincoln, when he stood before t
Holy presence of Almighty Coo, 81
too the oath to execute the laws
our country.
Congress when it met in spec
session in July, 1S1, soon after t
battle of Manassas, passed a resol
ton to this effect:
""Tha this war is being prosecute
no for the purpose of interfering w
any Of the institutions in any of
States
$50 that the President, the CO
xreSs, the Legislative. and Executi
Departments of the Government VIZ
not wagipg a war for the purpose
freeing the colored people. +
from, II.
"ln August. 1851, John G. Freemo
Major General Of the Federal An
with he adquarters at st. Louis,
sued q proclamation declaring free
the slaves of men engaged in
(reOellion.) AS soon as Presid,
Lircoln heard of that. he issued
declaration, declaring that proclan
nation null and void.
Agar on the 9Th OF May. 1S
General David hunter of the Fede
Army. with headquarters in So
Carolina issued a similar proclar
ton, declaring free all the slaves
North Carolina South Carolina,
Georgia over which he comma
"a soOn a President Line
heAr4 Uf that proclamation. he at @
tseued another proclamation.
XhAch he decla lad that ordar MIL