The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1864-10-25
AN ExCIPING SCENE.

/ ~
The Montreal Herald, of August 2l, publishes
the annexed account Of an exciting scene which
occurred at "negro relief meeting" held in that
city: tJs
"A public meeting was held at Lawrence Hal,
Toronto IN aid OF the National Freedmen's Relief
Association. The hall was filled by very rcspec.
table audience, who took great interest In tho
proceedings.
In opening the proceedings the chairman said
he understood that the object uf the meeting was.
purely phlanthropic.
The Hon. Charles O. Leigh Of New York, chair.
man of the Executive Committee Of the National
Freedmen's Association, then explained that the
object of the Association to educate, elevate
and improve the negroes of the United States.
As soon as Mr. Leigh had concluded person
named st. Lawrence, said to be Major Of the
Confederate States army, advanced and was CON-
menciog TO speak, when the chairman interrupted
him saying he hoped he would say nothing impro-
per.
Mr. King said no person had n right TO speak
there excepting those invited to take part in the
proceedings OF the meeting. He hoped the gen.
tleman would sit down
Mr. ST. Lawrence Every excitedly and loudly.
shall not cit down. am an Englishman, aud
have right to speak. / shall not sit down (Great
uproar and coDfusion.) have right to express
my feelings as the other gentleman did. We are
not in Massachusetts, nor Now York now. They
cannot put me in Fort Lafayette for expressing
my views. Here, under the union jack, they can
not touch us. The American hordes cannot come
near
Here there was renewal OF the noise There
were Kissing aud cheering, and catcalls and gen.
eral uproar, during which the speaker kept on, bat
no one could hear him.
The chairman, after considerable difficulty. rot
the audience quiet, and hoped they would conduct
themselves properly. He also requested MI St.
Lawrence to speak to the point or sit down. (Cres
OF "Sit down" "Shut op," etc)
Mr. st. Lawreuce-I shall not sit down. I will
be heard as the gentleman from New York was. 1t
is my right Englishman.
The noise and uproar still continuing, the chair
man said that if order not kept he would dis
miss the meeting The confusion subsiding tho
chairman sat down.
Mr. st. Lawrencs--If you will keep quiet / will
not detsin you FIVE minutes.
Mr. kiDg-Let him have five minutes then
MrSt. Lawrence-The gentleman from New
ork has made remarks about an institution Of
which he knows nothing. Kisses and uproar
Rev. DIR. Jennings-I do not know this gen.
tleman; / never saw him before to my knowledge;
but ask the colored people here to listen to him.
Will the colOred people at a meeting whose object
it is to assist their brethren, chain white mans
tongue.
colored man in the audience got up and at-
tempted to address the meeting, when several 9TH
ers did the same, thd for short time there were
about dozen trying to get hearing. After con-
siderable trouble the chairman got them quiet
once more.
Mr. st. Lawrcnce|I am an Englishman and
have lived in the South, and | know more Of
slavery than he ever can know. He spoke of men,
thieves and slaves; but would ask him who were
these men thieves?
Here q colored man advanced to the speaker in
a threatening attitude, while several others com
menced to move towards the platform. The po-
lice, however, interfered, and the crowd kept
back. Nearly the whole audience werc at this
tune standing and many women left for fear ofa
row.
Mr. tawrence-Tbe present war in the States
is simply gigantic raid Of mcn steGlers into the
Southern States They have done more wrong
since the war commenced to the slaves than they
have suffered before in the whole history or slave
ry. He would ask those before bin who were the
slave traders? Were they not the Yankees OF
Massachusetts,, Vermont and New Hampshire?
Southerners would not stoop to such a calling
Who was it that acted the brute towards the
gre? The New Englanden. Who is the beast
Butler, the despised aud condemned Of all the
civilized world? He is a Massach usetts man.
The speaker went for some timo in this
strain, being frequently interrupted by Kisses,
groans and other noises. Several times a number
Of colOred persons advanced towards the platform,
with apparent intention Of removing the speaker
from the hall, but the police got among them aud
kept them back After the disturbance had last
ed about half an hour, Mr. st. Lawrence sat down,
and the audience became quiet.
After few closing remarks from Dir King, in
which he expressed his regret at the scene that
bad arisen, one Of the littlo girls made appeal
in aid Of the slaves.
A collection was taken up, after which the chill
dren sung negro hymn as sung BY negroes in the
South, and the meeting then adjourned.