Year: 1867

in the work of reconstruction and the restor-
alton of this State to the Union under the
auspices of the Republican party, held at
Greenville, Pitt County, Oh Tuesday, August
! 21th, 1867, which was largely attended by
/ both races.


On notion Gen Byron Latin was unani-
mously elected President, Samuel Perry Vice
President and Wiley P. Norcutt, Secretary


Gen. Latin, after appointing committee
on resolutions, spoke as to the rise ana pres
ent aims of the Republican party, to show
that the great aim was to get the State back
| into the Union; to establish free schools; ;
| promote trade and commerce encourage
| agriculture to abrogate the tax on cotton,
and to restore the Old North State to the
leading position she held when we first or
| ganized as National government. He said
! he thought he espoke for every colored man In
the State when he said that what they wan
ted was equal rights under the law; to be
placed on a basis with white men in the
grand race of life that they did not demand.
They did not want, even ifit were a possibili-
ty, social equality. They wanted equal rights,
free schools and tree homes. He spoke of
the folly of any being deluded into idleness
by hugging the vain ielusion of conhsca-
ton, that they had inherited the same curse
as all. and it was their duty to labor to ac-
quire education and property, and to bear in
mind


That honor and fame from no condition rise,


Act well your part, for there the honor lies.


The committee ON resolutions reported the
following:


WHEREAS, The whole country is in great
confusion in consequence of the late rehell-
ion, and whereas, all people in free coun-
try have the right to meet together in a
peaceable manner and express their feelings
upon any and all political subjects; there
fore, be it


t. Resolced, That we pledge our undivi-
Republican party.


g That as Republican institutions cannot
be preserved unless intelligence be diffused
among all classes, we will favor uniform
system of free schools.


3. That the tax on the agricultural labor
of the Southern States as manifested by the
enormous tax on cotton and tobacco is I'M
Just, oppressive and should be abrogated at
the earliest practicable moment.


4. That wise care for the public safety
sometimes renders it necessary that those
who have sought resolutey to overthrow
government should not hastily be restored to
the privileges of which they have deprived
themselves by their crime of treason; yet we





shall have shown evidence of sincere repen-
tance and a disposition rs energetically to
support as they have in times past sought
to destroy the Union.


5. That the colored people are entitled to
our greatest praise and thanks for their for
bearance and good conduct; for their sobri-
ETY., industry and cheerfulness with which
they had borne the situation they were placed
under during and since the war.


6. That it is the duty of the Union men
to agitate the question of reconstruction
upon a loyal basis, and we recommend that
meetings be held in different parts of the
County for that purpose.


That we will not support any candidate
for office, who will not openly endorse the
principles adopted by the Union Republican
party, and that we pledge ourselves to stand
by the regular nomination of the party,
without any reservation whatever. Signed


D. J. Rich, Willie P Norcutt, Reuben
Clark, Richard Short, Samuel Cherry, Henry
Redmonds, Committee.


On motion, the foregoing resolutions were
unanimously adopted.


Lewis Hilliard, Esq, then addressed the
Convention. He said he should address
himself to the colored men, and in calling
them fellow-citizens, he was willing to give



can citizens, that such was the feeling of the
very great majority of the Southern whites;
he appealed to them in an earnest manner,
not to treasure in their minds the woes and
miseries they may have endured as slaves;
to be forgiving and magnanimous, and in
stead of believing that the natives of the
South were their natural enemies, to look
upon them as friends; their interests were
identical; the one possessing the land, the
other the laborers that he was in favor of a
system of free schools; and was willing to
oficiate with any party that will once re-
store us to the Union.


MIR. Richard Short, was called upon, who
said he had delicacy in taking an active
part in a meeting in a county, Of which he
had only lately become a resident; but he
was for the immediate restoration of the
South to the Union; for universal education;
the encouragement of trade and commerce;
the building of railroads and canals, which
could only be done under the Union that
he was in favor of the repeal of the laws,
that obliged persons in order to be eligible to
be members of the House of Commons, to
own certain number of acres of land that
he desired other qualifications than mere
property.


Austin Flood, colored, was then introduce
ed, who said that many were deceived as to
him especially and all colored men that
their feelings were kindly towards the whites;
they wanted equal rights under the law;
they wanted education; they did not ask OF
want social equality; he did not want to
marry their daughters, and he did not want
to have them marry his daughters; that the
virtue of the whites and blacks must be pre-
served and honored


Samuel Perry, colored, being called upon,
said that he desired to impress upon the
mind of every colored man, not only to edu-
cate themselves, but that in their present
system of hiring out and working on shares,
there were many who worse off than when in
slavery he exhorted them to be industrious,
to be economical, to acquire education but
above all to exercise great care in the bar
gains they made for working off lands the
coming year.
On motion, Gen. Byron Latin and Austin
Flood, were unanimously elected delegates
to represent Pitt County in the State Con-
vention, to be held in Raleigh, Sept. 4th,
1867.


This is the first Republican meeting ever
held IN Pitt county; good order and feeling
prevailed during the session and it is only
the forerunner of many Others of the same
kind to be held in various parts of Pitt, who
Will give good account.


---O