Year: 1868

We have already given an account
of the Great Union meeting at Ra-
leigh, N. c., on the 10th of Sep
tember. The following is full re-
port of the speech of Robert Dou-
glas on the occasion. Mr.. Douglas
is son of the late Stephen A. Dou-
glas, and this speech was his first
effort:


FELLOW CITIZENS Though it
may appear presumption in one SO
young to attempt to discuss ques-
tions which tax the energies and
abilities of our greatest statesman,
yet feeling in this vital struggle, on
which 1 believe the future prosper
ity, if not the very existence, of our
country depend, it is the duty ofev-
cry one, young and old, to exert his
utmost in defense of our sacred
cause. I obey your call. This is
probably the first time in our na
TONS history that young man has
had the opportunity of appearing
bofore a popular gathering as the
advocate of a truly national party
"a party that is governed by no
sectional interests or partisan pre-
judices, but whose motto is our
whole country, whose eternal prin
ciples are equal rights and equal
laws. I do not look upon this as a
canvass which will decide the man
ner in which the government of the
country shall be administered, but
as an issue on which will depend
the vital question, "Shall we have
a country" .a-


Sincerely believing this, I shall
not attempt to deal with minor
questions Of domestic policy, but
shall come at once to the main is
sues-Union or disunion, peace or
war.


What satisfaction does the true
patriot derive from the adoption of
his dearest theories of government
if in the adoption of those theories
begins the ruin of the land he fond
ly hoped they would lead to great
ness? Laws founded even upon di-
vine inspi1atio would be useless if
there were no country for them to
govern


What theater is there for the dis
play of the energies Of a young and
aspiring citizens just entering upon
the important duties Of life in a
country torn by civil strife? Well
has an eminent American statesman
remarked: There is no path of
ambition open to me in a divided
and distracted country"


To prove that the real issue is
peace or war we have only to refer
to Frank P. Blair's letter, written
with view to his nomination and
subsequently indorsed by the very
fact Of his nomination by the Nation
al Democratic Convention.


Blair in his letter says:


''There is but one way to restore
thegovernment and the Constitution,
and that is for the President elect to
declare these acts null and void,
compel the army to undo its usur-
pations at the South, disperse the
carpet bag State governments, allow
the white people to reorganize their
own governments and elect Senators
and Representatives,"


Of course any attempt to subvert
the government Of these States
would lead to war, as the Governor
and all other State officers, civil and
military, are sworn to obey, support
and defend the Constitution of the
State of North Carolina; and we
will defend it. u 4sl-- t...


Further down Blair says:


"We must restore the Constitu-
ton before we can restore the finan-
ces, and to do this we must have a
President who will execute the will
Of the people by trampling into the
dust the usurgations Of Congress
known as the reconstruction acts
I wish to stand before the conyen-
ton upon this issue, but it is one
which embraces everything else that
is Of value in its large and compre-
hensiye results. 1t is the one thing
that includes all that is worth con
test, and without it there is nothing
that gives dignity, honor or value to
the struggle"


On this issue he was nominated.
If any further proof were needed to
show the revolutionary spirit Of the
Conservative party, it could easily
be found in the violent harangues
We daily hear around US, their bitter
persecution of Union men and their
unrelenting hatred of the North and
its loyal people.


This bitterness toward Northern
men, who prove true to their princi-
pies and who do not bow in slavish
submission to the opinions of these
naughty aristocrats, self constituted
judges of honor and morality, l
know from personal experience
Though descended from one of the
oldest families of this State and born
and partially raised in Rockingham
county, upon my return nearly two
pears ago, to my native place, l was
denounced as Yankee and general
ly received with all the coldness and
distrdst due to that detested race
Notwithstanding my own nativity
and theposition of my mothers fam
lily, they could never forget the Pu-
ritan birth of my father, whose ma
tive State, Vermont, with her 3d.
900 majority,so nobly leads the van,
and, may add, could never forgive
his dying efforts in defense of his
country. t@ t-f - o9ar-.s


Speaking Of him, and feeling that
whatever Importance any word of
mine may have is derived from the
name bear, and the affection many
still feel toward one who through
life proved himself the peoples S
friend, few words concerning my
father may not be deemed inappro