The weekly Anglo-African., 1859-12-31
THE REQUEST TO GOV. WISE FOR
THE BODIES OF GREEN AND
COPELAND.

Mr.. EDIroR:-We cannot reject the
present opportunity for expressing our SUI
preme contempt for the prayer that was
thought fit to be-sent to Gov. Wise of Vir-
ginia, by a committee of cOlored men ap-
pointed at recent meeting in this city.
Those men were appointed to write to the
Governor for the bodies of Shields Green
and John Copeland; but we cannot think
our people ever intended them to write
such a cringing, contemplate communica-
ton as that which appeared in the ''Ledg-
err of the 10th and the "Tribune" of the
18th inst-such letter as the poorest and
most ignorant man of color must blush to
read. And then for the authors of that
sycophantic sheet to call themselves men
of intelligence, and represent themselves
as expressing the general sentiments of the
people of color in this city 1t is burn
ing shame, an outrage that our people
should never submit to. Some think that
since the letter has been sent it cannot now
be recalled, and that it is useless for us to
speak Of it "mere child's play" some say
We know very well that it cannot now be
recalled; but we also know that it is now
before the public as an index of the mind
of the colored people of this city, and that
if we let it pass by in silence such will be
the public opinion; and for this reason we
should publicly denounce such a commu-
nication as a libel upon our people, that it
should be generally known that the mass
es here do not in any way recognize the pc
tition sent to Gov Wise as meeting their
appreciation.
Many will wish to know why it does not
meet our approbation-what there is in
that epistle that should crate SO harshly
upon our sensibilities. We will take
upon ourselves to answer these questions.
In the first place they commence the let
ter with contemplate hattery to Governor
Wise, which he must in his soul abhor;
then they call those noble friends of free
dom misguided men"-those men whom
we should hold up as lights for ages to
come, to be called misguided : What do
they mean by this 1t is useless for that
committee to beg to explain this away, and
tell us their intentions, and that Gov. Wise
was to understand it in one way and we in
another This is child's play. We must
understand it as the public will understand
it, as Gov. Wise does understand it; and
we must understand it as it is expressed.
1t has already been treated with the con-
tempt such an appeal deserves by the man
to whom it was addressed; but shall we,
the free colored people, treat it with silent
contemptY No; the public will then think
that it truly suits US, and will then treat us
as we would deserve to be treated. Shall
we let the world think that we regard Gov.
Wise as having always exhibited noble
dignity of character and magnanimity OF
soul? DO we think so? And do we wish
to be thought severally the obedient hum
bic servants of Gov. Wiser Suppose he
was to send for some of his humble, obedi-
ent servants in the North to comeand serve
him in the South-what thenY Of course
it would be our duty to go.
Why could not that committee have sent
a respectful, short communication to the
Governor requesting the bodies in a man.
ner becoming an oppressed-but not will
Iingly oppressed peopleT If they must
say something respecting the men, why
not come out plainly and say what they