Year: 1867




This distinguished gentleman addressed
the people at three points in this State on
his way through-Charlotte, Salisbury and
Greensborough We learn from the papers,
and from friends who heard him, that his re-
marks were liberal, conciliatory, and indeed
satisfactory to the great body of the people
of both races. He spoke precisely as he did
in Mobile He was firm in his purpose to
have the States reconstructed on the basis of
unmistakable loyalty, with justice to the
colored race equally with the white race !;
but this purpose was evinced, not in harsh,
domineering or offensive manner, but kindly
and with entire respect for the feelings OF
those who heard him. At Charlotte (says
the GUARDIAN he sald:


"The speaker then said that he had been inter-
rogated ut all points to know if the Sherman bill
be accepted by the South, the States would be
admitted into the Union, and in reply said that
whether Congress had legisated with wisdom or
not he was not prepared to say, but that Con-
gress will act with good faith on the Sherman
bill, and those States that will hold Convention
and ratify a Republican Constitution-would
'Oe w
rejected. Upon confiscation he said that it was
not the desire of the people of the North-nor
Congress-that the people of the South can only
force it upon themselves-that they were their
own masters, that they held the the whip over
themselves and upon their shoulders rested the
responsibility of its application. That the North
did not want to have the military over the South.
That we must reconstruct our State with the
great Republican party OF the North, and with
their princples-that we must adopt their cardi-
doctrines and tal q the motto eynrpSs1v aOtip-
ipated by Daniel Webster that of Liberty and
Union-one and inseparable, now and forever"


He also dwelt on the great natural resour-
ces of the South-on the Importance of ed
ucation-on the importance of machinery
and skilled labor, and he gave some excel
lent advice to the colorcd people. The
Democrat thus notices his speech in Char
lotte:


"On Friday evening at 5 o'clock, Mr.. Kelly
addressed our citizens for one hour and half in
front of the Court House. We went to hear him
with somewhat prejudiced feelings, but we must
say that we were agreeably disappointed, for he
said nothing during the whole speech that could
reasonably offend or wound the sensbilities ol
any one. He dwelt at length on the inexhausti-
BILE resources of the South and of North Carolina
especially-spOke of Southern soldiers as brave
and gallant men, and hoped that nothing would
ever again occur to produce alienation between
the two sections. He stated that if the Howard
amendment had been accepted by our State, her
Representatives would have been admitted as in
the case of Tennessee and expressly declared
that if the Reconstruction Acts were carried out
in good faith there would be no further trouble,
and North Carolina would be speedily restored to
the Union.


as the most extreme Southern man could desire.
He told them in plain words that if they ever got
land and houses and lots they must work for them,
and by industry and economy get the money to
buy property-that God had SO ordered the late
struggle that it had resulted in their freedom,
but they must show themselves capable OF en-
joyiug liberty, &C., &C..
He closed by thanking. the people of this Sec
tion for the courtesy they had shown him, and
expressed great qualification at his visit.


Gen. Rufus Barringer, Mayor Harris, VIM. R.
Myers, John Wilkes, and other true friends of
the South, occupied seats on the stand during the
delivery of the address.


We ought to say that Mr. Kelly, in private
conversation, stated that his speech in Mobile
(where riot occurred) was similar to the one he
delivered here-that he was particular to avoid
saying anything offensive, and that the disturb
ance at Mobile was originated by few evil dis
posed persons who premeditated it before he had
said word.


We cannot say positively what has been the
character OF Mr. Kelly's speeches elsewhere but
we will say that his speech in this place cal
culated to do good instead of harm. Men who
widely differ with him in politics express this
opinion"


The Salisbury old North State says, His
speech in Salisbury was certainly calculated
to do good" The Banner, of the same
pace, also speaks in approving terms of his
salisbury speech. We learn that his remarks
IN Greensborough gave equal satisfaction,
.nough We have not yet seen any account of
1t in the papers.


Ihls, then, is the "mcendiaay Kelley p
he urges the people of the South to avert
suf''er s evils by promptly accepting the
sherman act in good faith; he exhorts them
" iofses the dreadful past, as he will, and
,"Ae a new start in the career of prosperity !;
ne points out to them their vast natural re-
s'ufces, and urges them to develop them.


isihs that as soon as the States are re-
nu '0 Northern capital and skilled labor


' 'one to their aid he advises the white
.u a'e 10 extend cheerfully to the colored race
'a 'nelr political and civil rights, and to


0' means for educating the children of