, 1863-10-09
MEETING OF TENNESSEE COL
ORED MEN,
What The Freedmen Think of
the Var.
Speeches, Resolutions and
Enthusiasm.


NASHVILLE, Tenn, Oct. !, 1863.
4 Meeting was held in a large church o.
this city, this evening, by the colorcd people,
for the purpose Of en1istipf troops for the
United States service. The ca1l was aunouuc.
ed In the newspapers and from all the African
churches. What change has come over the
faee Of cur land in the last year! Where Is
there loyal AID intelligent man. who objects
to co1crcd soldiers; or soldier who refuses
the assistance ct ab1e-bodied men Of darker
hue: Truly revolution has taken p1aca,
when public journal, In this city Of Mash.
vile, openly advises all able bodied slaves to
take leg-ba1 and work on the railroads or
shoulder musket, and advises the masters
to sell out quickly or they will receive MOTH
irg for their cSansscent property; when q
rou.Irg meeting is held ty co1ored people,
oue-taf Of them slaves, to denounce rebel
elareho1dern and ta!se aloft the standard of
Abolition. Whoever might have heard as I
did yesterday the lorg and loud and earnest
prayers that ascended from black lips, amid
frcans AID shouts Of amens for ssour govern
cnt, our rulers, our soldiers and our cause
found truly loyal hearts.
Bnt Of the meeting this evening. It vas
called and conducted exclusively by co1ored
people. full corps Of officers were elected.
President, Vice President, George Wash
lDgton by the Way), Secretary, and four As.
slktsnt sec1etaI1es: After the reading If the
ecf1ptnre and singing hymn. q feryent loyal
prayer was offered, ard then the President Of
the meeting arose to say few words full Of
ea1nestness and yigor.
Two paths pEeaent themselves for the
ehoice OF us and our race. To continue
ground down IN ahject slavery, to live md
contempt; or to rise up IN our might to assert
cur manhood and v In our freedom from bon
dsge. Now Is the time 10 decide. Choose ye
this Eight whom 4e will serve. Shall Ne
look on and zee the North conquered, and
hare The old dynasty Of rebel rule placed over
mind to one thiDg-that III not stay here to
e aor i sAtRRnsf stessn, & s. Commissioner for III.
en!istn ent Of colored volunteers in this De-
partment, was then introduced. he was glad
to see 60 grand an aEsemblage, but simply de-
An excellent camp ground Las been Obtained.
which will perhaps ba cal lied Camp Rosecraus.
scventy-four men arrived last night. sixty-
four this evening; ono hundred are at toluT.
bla, one hundred and fifty are on their way
from foft Donelson, aud all I hare to say to
you, my friends, Is, If Jon want to JOIN the
regiment before it marches, you had better
be spry about Il, [Appl.use.
The next speaker Ins Mr.. Williams, wear
ipg tfe national Uniform, possessing coal
black skin, and vigorous, manly form.
ard nation in which We I've, and there is no
race Or clsss Ct people more interested in the
jasucs at stake than is o1r own, This meet
irg Is assembled to asse1t our manhood. to
win ard maintain our freedom, and 1t Is called
by the Chief Magistrate Of the nation, to
Wbom We owe honor and praise. Inn proud
Of your response to that call, proud tia. the
eeurage, snd manhood Of my race, for which
I have a1Wsys stood up, here finds Expression.
But there is something mora than words
nft tded. We must shoulder arms. Every
enc Ct us knows that ElaverJ has caused this
1t ia for us to rise up aud crush 1t. Here and
now resolve what ye will henceforth and for
tTer behaves or ilcemea-
s'Tlen let every able bodied descendant of
Africa rally to arms, FIR arms alone can
5estne. 5eeffEe oo1 EsRt; @ s1%a GGd VII {ue
The God Of Battles viii Hafch over M and
lead us. We have nothing to loee; but every
thirg to gain (Applanse Then why not
enter upon the work With holy zeal and throw |
cufselEes With mieht and main into the |
OF the day rests With US. Pens nor tongue
can epeak their magnitude and importancet to
LIE and to the world. Life or death IS before |
os. Then let us leap into the breach and |
I how the world We are not dead, but living. |
Slavery can nerer be u hat 1t has been, but let |
us no: lit snpinely by, but rather take share |
N ne great events transplring. Let |
Us make . name for ourselves and |
E.ee bright rs the rooddsy' sun. !
- - =. Us shoM, as Greeca has done, peo- |
Ile bursting their bonds and rallyinp for free-
6cm; lApp1ause.l To do this, md to main.
lain u the 1utu1e cur liberties Ehtn Won. va
nnst leaIn to use arms; we must be flt,ht.
Ing people. Pretent to the world tha nfcfnra
Of true manhood; show Yourrelrea iio,,'
be not afraid todie" [Cheerinc and
applause '-4''-
Mr. Bestty, the correspondent Of the Gin.
cinnati Gazstte, having been cslled upon, sta
ted some interesting Incident, regarding the |
6ghtipg Of our colored troops on the Ai1ssis. |
EjJpi, Whers they proved themselves good
EcldieIs. He concluded by assuring au col |
ored men they need expect little from the |
Anglo sa1on lace in the future unless With |
farIestuees throughout this struggle thsy |
took Fart, and prepared themselves to matn- |
lain their freedom when Won.
The next speaker Of the evening WAS the
Rev. Dr.. Patton, Vlce President Of til - Chi
:ago Sanitary Commission, Who came to this
;lfy on fea,irg Of the battle, to accompany !
supplies for its sufferers.
"Ny fflents, esteem it . great privilege |