Year: 1868




gress has stood firm upon the eternal princi-
pies of right and justice upon which itplan-
ted itself. Finally and to crown the whole,
the Congress had struck Andrew Johnson
and were going to hurl him over the Tar
peian rock. Then the nation would
breathe freezer.


In North Carolina, there was no doubt
about hefuture. The Constitution will be
ratified by forty thousand majority. But
in the possible event of the defeat of the
Constitution; then the ten or twelve thou
sand iron clad men and the seventy thousand
colored men would possess all the political
power. This would be something nearer
class domination than any thing that has
been yet proposed.


There was hermaphrodite concern in this
city; it was neither male or female. Pell
with the Sentinel, was against the Consti-
tuition: we were in favor of the Constitu-
ton. The Register was neither for or
against the Constitution. The Register had
got out a ticket with the editors name at
the head for Governor of the State. The
ticket was misrepresentation and a fraud.


The ticket is announced, as agreed
upon by genuine Republican authority
Strange liberties had been taken with mems
names. These gentlemen owed it to them
selves to come out and disclaim any compiled
ty with hisfraudulent concern. He observed,
by the way, the Hedrick family was well pro-
vided for; two being on the ticket for Con-
gress alone. suai HHlEr<


The Governor then went on to state what
would be the wretched condition of the COL
ored people and of the Republicans should
these old rebel rulers come into power. We
were fighting against principalities and
powers, against rebel courts and rebel judges,
against rebel corporations and rebel Office
holders. 1t was hard and ungenerous fight.
1t was johnson who had forced this fight
upon us. We must win. We can not af-
ford to fail. By the help of God and our
own good cause we shall not fail.


He held that there were many ex-Confed-
crates, who would vote for the constitution,
because they believed it the best they could
get. And there were large number of 9th
ers, who would not vote at all. Therefore,
if the Republicans fell behind their vote,
yet the constitution would be triumphantly
adopted. .1.-- I.i D.. tliILG


He deemed that the opposition to the
constitution by the rebels arose from the
same spirit which actuated the gambler
when he lost all he had, yet borrowed from
his neighhors their little earnings and lost
those also. Like the terrapih, caught by
the old fisherman; although his shell was
broken and he was nearly dead, yet he laid
upon his back and snapped and snapped
[Laughter.l He hoped the people would
keep the terrapin on his back, and let him
snap. [Applause.. .a


Gen. Littlefed was called on, when amidst
great applause he took the stand, and as
sured the audience that, having recently
travelled through much of Eastern Carolina,
the people were waking up, and would po-
litically hang the secession leaders at the
next election. He referred to the liberal
provisions of the new Constitution for the
laboring man, and the fact that in the North
there existed no such class as was here de-
nominated "mean whites" They would
fade away. In the beginning of the rebel
lion, the leaders said they would rule the
nation or secede, and when Yankee came
down they ordered him off, They could
whip four or five with one man. He thought
he would be good meal for one of them.
Laughter


The people of this nation have taken an
oath upon the tomb OF Lincoln that they
will reconstruct this government upon a
loyal basis. This oath they mean to keep.
ThetGeneral then went on to the question
of social equality. He asked if there was
any of the class who heard him, who was
known as "poor mean whites 2" If there
was, had these "poor white folks !" ever en-
joyed social equality with the old slave oil
garchs9 Were they ever invited into their
houses Did they ever take seats at their
tables, or intermarry in their families p
Never. And these old slave ollgarchs were
upon terms of the most intimate social
equality with the colored race. How has
this affection between the old slave holder
and tile poor white sprung up so suddenly


The General then went fully into the ques-
tion of revenue and taxation, and showed
beyond all doubt that all the cry against
taxation was the sheerest clap-trap. He
charged it boldly upon some of the Rebel
editors of this State that they were in the
pay of brokers for the purpose of putting
down the credit of the State. He was we'll
informed upon the matter upon which he
spoke He knew that rebel editors were
leagued in this corrupt transaction. IPthey
wanted further proof he could show the
letters. -, -r--,-
Major Corwin, from New York City, was
then loudly called for. III f. lL)+'L +
Maj. Corwin said, perhaps there were some
who heard him who had worn the grey; il
there were. he was ready to give them his
hand. There was no danger of a war of races
The South had appealed from the ballot to
the bullet once before. Before this is done
again, let the people of the South take the
second thought. He was glad to see the
two races meet together for consultation up.