The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1867-05-01
Great Meeting Of the Freedmen
Of Augusta!
ADDRESS OF GENERAL EGHOLS BY
INVITATION /!
Speeches of DOwney, Denvcn-
port, Scott and kOsselle.
MANY WHITES PRESENT.
Good order and kind feeling
exhibited, &c, &c, &c.

| For the first time since the war our PEG
pie fully realized the immense politica
revolution that has been forced upon til,
country, by the Military Bill, and for tn
first time the Freedmen Of Augusta listen
ed to the solemn words Of truth, eloquent
ly spoken by one Of our most distinguished
fellow citizens. Early last Saturday even
ing the Court House began to fill up, anc
by s o'clock was crowded with about 400
freedmen and two hundred whites. AL
classes were represented, and the best or
/ der prevailed during the meeting VIZ
were struck with the carnestattention Civ
en- to Gen. Echols by the colored people
and the marked difference in the deport.
ment Of the colored people, compared most
favorably with the noisy, ranting crowds
we have lately seen in other places. Il
was most gratifying, too, not to be forced
to record the interference Of any ''mean
white men" in the proceedings.
| But to the meeting. On motion, Phil
ip Rosselle was unanimously elected chair
man and took the Judges seat, where he
presided with dignity and decorum, that
seemed, almost, to make the portrait Of
Chief Justice Marshall, just above him,
smile with satisfaction! On motion OF
Aaron Shoyeler, A. NJ. CARRIER, Jr., was
nominated for Secretary, W. H. II. Lynn,
Of the Vindicator, being nominated also,
Mr.. CARRIER was withdrawn and Mr.. Lynn
was unanimously elected. The meeting
was then called to order and, amid the pro-
foundest silence, Gen. Jno. Echols address
ed the chair, eve regret our limited
space confines US to a briefsynopsis Of this
able, eloquent and telling address)
The General returned thanks for the
honor paid him by the Freedmen, in elo-
quent terms, and spoke Of the Importance
of perfect understanding between the
whites and blacks now, in the changed du-
ties and relations caused blythe legislation
Of the country. The history Of the world
gives US no record Of a changeso nonstrous
and SO sudden few years ago T.
100000 colored people had no political
rights-now the position is changed, the
result of long bloody and disastrous war
has changed you from slaves to freemen.
You stand under the law as free, person
ally and politically, as the white man of
every condition of society," A monstrous
change! which brings with it not only pref
lcges, but responsibilities to be met and
fulfilled by the colored people! is not
necessary to refer to the past: "let the
dead bury their dead let old issues pass
away it has its regrets and glories, bitter
regrets glorious memories but the pres
ent is the important hour for us. You all
know my position. l am disfranchised
andyou can not, if you would, give me any
thing, but creditor honesty in the purpose
to perform my part wellin the changed cir
cumstances in which we are placed do
not desire to indulge in past recollections
and recriminations, but to do good to the
country of which you are citizens and
endeavor to show you what is for your
good, and for the good Of the whole coun-
try. (Applause.)
Here the General took up the Military
Bill and fully explained its provisions, the
rights it conferred on the Freedmen: that
hereafter there was to be no distinction on
account of color before the law that what
ever conditions may be appliedto the white
man, the same applied to the black, and
yiceversa. So far as the right of suffrage
goes you have the advantage Of many,
myself for instance. They need have no
fears ofbeing cheated, for the Comd'g g. Cen
eral is compelled to see this law carried
out, and there is no man among us able,
if he were disposed, to resist it, The ex-
PLANTATION was the most complete we ever
listened to, and the Freedmen seemed much
gratifed with it. The speaker next ex-
claimed who were eligabIe to Office and
who were not.
Continuing he said New my friends
there is the act under which you are first
called upon to exercise the rights of free
men. know the heart of every co!ored
man leaped with joy on being free. On
knowing he was guaranteed in all the
rights Of person and property. Icame here
tonight in response to an invitation, and
i'll say these rights can not be rightly ex-
crcised by theignorant, I hope you will not
become offended, for you all know there is
great Ignorance among you. Every hon
est man admits it and wants to be enlight-
ened, so that good and not evil will come
upon the country. (Cries of yes, yes. =
Now if I can gowith you in this investiga-
ton and, by anything may say, lead your
heartsand thoughts into the rig ht channel,
I will be truly thankful. I have nothing
to make by fstttery, it / had, would not
fatter you. The Government, in its wis
dom, has seen fit to disfranchise me and
others. have taken an oath to give 10
aid or comfort to the enemies Of that gov
eminent and I will keep it. Therefore if
any man can speak to you freely I can
Let us investigate the truth ; let us see
what is best for one and all, for white and
black, for society in general and for liber-
ty and order over the whole country. Gap
plause.}
The colored people would vote for a
Convention and ought to do SO and the
whites too-all should stand shoulder to
shoulder in this important movement
The question for whom shall you vote then
comes up. He urged upon them to lay
their hands on their hearts to appeal to
God for strength not to be led astray and
to vote right. To vote for none but hon
est men. There is no stranger who comes
here to register, but for his own interest
therefore 60 to the men you trust in bust
ness and know to be honest for advice
Vote for men you trust in business
whom you entrust your money and witt