Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1856-12-16
Correspondence n lie R,chmy"d Enq"r"r !

WAsuISGr0N, Dec. II, 1876.
The extensive negro movements recently DE, ei.
op-d i'll various places in TIE Snul!-Wrst, ought {"
iIcite H.. people Ia "ut, If possible, the
and cause. ul those movements The authors "l
them are undoubtedly, both whites and blacks or
the latter We shall more particularly speak.
From certain indications, not entirely dcmnnstrn.
bIe, hi, yet sufficiently Suspicious, have long
since been led 10 believe that the District cf Coum-
bin has large share in the ircendary negro move
mcnts Not long since some gangs o negroes were
arrested here, by the police, for being found ou 10.
grther after 10 o'clock nj night. The Evening: Star,
a sheet always talking about iis 'resp-ctaEle
coInred s,i5scrihers.'' and constantly publishing
negro marriages side and sid. with those NJ white
couples, hy way OF bringing all down to the same
level undertook IN apologize l"r the negroes, by say
ing that, when found ou', they we're "nly returning
nom. from Il ILison,c Lodgc, which they had been
attending
This mor;itying disclosure, so repugnan to all our
Masonic notions Of proprc'y and decency, led us to
investigate; and to surprise we found that there
were several negro Masonic lodges, called, in this
city, holding their secret conciaves, at the dead of
night, la various parts of the city.
We Immediately wrote to the STAR reminding it
that these negro Masonic lodges, il styled them,
we're unlawful assemblies, nasnuch rs the Grand
Lodge Of Maryland would not be guilty Of dis.racng
the Masonic Order by granting charters for negro
lodges. The Star took no notice oi The conmunica
ton, which we requested them TO publish, probably
caring more about its respectable c"ored subScri
bcrS' than tor tEe reSUihr lntinotTs w Inc hdSoHC
Order. Whether the Editor Of the Star visits regu.
nry these negro lodges or mol, v. cannot say; but at
any rate he appears feel ardGn attachment for
his wooiiy headed "coorci hroih"rs.' As is well
known here, the editor nf the S;Gr is not Mason.
He certainly could not find admission 10 any regular
Masonic Lodge in this city.
But TO come to the point at which we aimed -
These negro lodges in The District Of Columbi" are
undoubtedly nothing more ur less than so many sc-
ere; ,Irs o tgro.aen's for promoting tile cause of
the Aboli!onis:s. Occupying, IA they do, position
on the dividing line between the Tree ard the slave
States they ready ID" and undoubtedly do III! III
;lny of the underground rarIad movements that
occur. Masked under the name al Masonic Lodges,
ana wit, the editors If the Era 10 uphold them,
they are certainly suspicious, ii not highly dan.
garnns organizations. The friends of the South
nurht To demand an investigation; aud the Grand
Lodge OF Maryland nugh;, for the honor oi
tho Masonic Order, 10 express publicly their d-ap.
probation of these gangs of free aud runaway me-
rrncs meeting in what they call l. dg"s. The safely
ui our citizens requires these negro gangs ia the Dis
the: be broken up: aud tie Mayor oi Washington
cannot be too vIsilaI't in respect Ia them.
II iias been prevailing sentiment among the ne
crors oi the District, that the election of Fremont
sas Ia b. the fist step towards their iiberation and
40 san9uine were they al success just before III"
election. that they could not restrain their sentiments
and their bitter hostility 10 the whites. Knots Of
these Ire; scoundrtls could b. seen Mt the corners al
the srp-;- c!,uckliua over The probable triumph Of
Fremunt aud an occasional lila, ha de white lolhs
I'll stand about den" suiriritiy showed Whist
going among hem.
We M. not disposed 20 create a!arm but we would
deem il adv-ale iur the South ~ take steps
to break up these negro movements III the District os
Columbia. L. B. L.