The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1856-07-05
Our Correspondence.


week and last has consisted Of nula rnus let
tiers. most Of them exceedingly well written
and treating Of n late meeting of the colorcd
population Of that town in the Town Hall.
The letter We ref r.td to last week was on
that subject 1t was in part severely de-
nnncmtory IN regard to some gentlemen of
the town and i'll part am',>ingiy descriptive
Of the negro entertainment" The following
paragraph will inform our readers not resi-
ding in Port of the nature of the affair."
Our Town Hall, usually rented to the
public for any noble and decent purpose
political meetings., literary or scientific leo
lures and often for religious scrvicc-ha,l its
walls dcSecraicd. aye, polluted by the black
est mass OF humanity conceivable on Thus
day nlSht, its owner granting them its lst for
presentation entertainment. The darkicS
both men and women. paradtl our streets
dressed in Il uniform Ct black with ribbons.
rcsalia, &c, headed by negro band. to
whose lively national airs rcSuundcd the
tramp of massire feet. They entered the
Hall where the presentation of Bible to the
colorcd Free Masons of Ilavre de Grace was
then made, after which numerous speeches
from the colorcd gentry were loudly applaud
cd. ilcalths were then proposed and proni-
ncnt among the toastS offered were the fol-
lowing: The Honorable Commissioners
love them for their kindness for their liberal
principles, for the tender affection they have
even manifested for the colorrd people, their
names are worthy to lie emlam,d in our
heart OF hearts. After which The owner
Of our Hall. May he live long to gather the
sheavcS OF affection that have this night been
bound IN honor and response to that love for
his fellow man that has ever characterized
his existence amongst MS. We love our fcl-
low cltzcr. These highly complimentary
toasts were responded to by the President of
the honorable commissioners he enchanted
the attention Of his cbon audience in Il char
actcris;ic speech, after which commenced the
grand promenade"
This letter, which dcnounccs the owner of
the Hall in very severe tcrlns came to us
under the authority of what profcsscl to be
real name. but no person bearing such name
is known to us, nor do we believe any such
person resides in the town.
Next we have letter from a writer per-
sonally known to u.s. who takes the oppo-
site view Of the case. After stating that the
negroes procured authority from the Town
Commissioners and secured the services of
the Town Constable to- preserve the peace.
and, also the presence Of m,ny respectable
white citizens to Supcrlntcnd the affair the
writer goes on to say
"Ncvcrthclvss, many oro,r most fastidious
gris seemed to think this privilege to the
blacks a shameful innovation on prnp.icty. -
They denounced Mr.. W aS an aboli.
ZIONIST. Cursed the officers and those who
assisted them in preserving peace as bcin"
worse than negroes, and threatened to pull
down the Hall. Now, sir, am no abolition
ist-l 90 for keeping the colond people in
their place; know they can never co.cXiSt on
terms of equality with the whites, but while
say am free to say that the blacks
ought toShavc some little privilege They
have 10 law-have no means whereby to re-
dress their wrongs and shall they have no
friend to defend them against such assaults.
1t has come to this, that it is great hazard
fora black man. no matter how respectable.
to go into the street after night.lal. Many
of ouI most worthy colorcd men have recently
been Knocked down and beat unmcrcirnllv,
for no cause whatever. And ifa white man
dane rcp'oyc this conduct he is threatened
with like treatment. "
But about this great outrage on the part of
the owner for granting those cololcd people
the use of his Hall. Sir, it is Il piece of pre-
sumption scarcely ever c,,lallcd: to dictate to
Mr.. W. orany other man. as to what he shall
do with his property. If Mr.. W. secs proper
TO put his horses in his hall or his pigs either.
whose business is it, pray! Those gentle
men who arc so wroth on Mr.. W. do not own
single brick or stone in it. Wherefore,
then. ito they trouble themselves about other
pcol les BUSINESS There was no impro-
pricty i'll allowing the negroes the use of the
Hall, supervised as they were by white men
and public officers. They did not iniurc the
hall or disturb the peace, but those who pre-
tended to fear an instruction from the blacks
were guilty Of Stonng the hall and otherwise
violating the peace"
The .'alfair' seems to have caused great
deal Of excitement III Port The next letter
we have gives an account of a meeting held
on Monday night last, in the words of the wri-
ter:
For the purpose Of cXpr,ssng the sense
OF the public relative to the letter from one of
Tile Wings Poit Deposit correspondents"
The meeting, it is stated, was organised by
calling MIR. |. Law renee to the chair, who
made some remarks on the general subject and
was succeeded by Capt. Mitchell, who, it
appears took a good deal of latitude in the
course Of his remarks. Our correspondent
proceeds: -
at this stage of tie proceedings, a motion
was made to adjourn which WAS carried, but
on the point of ,li>banding it was diScovcrr,
that the object Of the meeting had been lost
sight Of and it would he necessary to rcor-
ganiSe. This was accordingly done and a
committee was appointed to ascertain what
the object Of the meeting was. The Commit
tee WAS instructed to report the result Of their
labors, Tin the course Of human events 4
motion W as again made to diourn. previous
to which Mr.. ---- stated to the null
titudc that he would treat the whole party
that they should march to the Hotels and
take something all round ! The vast multitude
here made oil To the nearest ashngton)
house marching quick-stcp to the song of
Wei take a little drink, Wei have II little drink,
Wei take little drink, Wei have Il Ii tic drink,
Wei tikc II little drink, Wei have i, little drink,
Wei take \ litlc drink all around :"