The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1867-04-16
ysnIass Meeting OF the Freedrsasn.
f.vx,,soroy q n ,A,r;fJ JdrTo0sy

According to previous appoint-
msnt, mass meeting of the freed
men OF Lexington District was held
at the Court House, on the 9th in
slant. The morning opened cloudy,
with every indication Of rain, but,
Notwithstanding, crowds. Of the loyal
enfranchised, dusky, but sincere, of
both sexes and of every ege, to the
number of about 500, assembled in
heart felt devotion, to honor their
great birth-right of freedom and suf-
frage. About 10 o'clock a. M, the
procession was formed, their ardor
in no wise dampened by the rain,
which fell in torrents; and, headed
by band of music, with two national
flags floating overhead, they march
ed through the principal streets, and
thence to the old Fair Grounds,
where platform he'd been erected to
accommodate the speakers.
Rev. Peter Norphlet was called to
the chair, amid the shouts of the de-
lighted multitude. The meeting was
opened with prayer, and singing the
national jubilee. A large crowd of
white citizens were in attendance
also, and among them Col. Moore
and Lieut.. -., of the U. S. A.
The object of the meeting was stated
by the chairman, and the following
preamble and resolutions, prepared
by q committee at previous meet
ing, were read and adopted, amid the
deafening cheers of the sturdy multi
tude:
FREEDMEN's PLATFORM.
Preamble and resolutions reported
by the committee appointed at pre-
vious meeting, to prepare platform
for the consideration of the mass
meeting Of the colored citizens of
Lexington District, S. c., to be. held
on the. 9th of April instant, in honor
Of the right of suffrage.
Whereas, the Government of the
United States has again and dgain
proved itself faithful to the great
principles of freedom embodied as
''self-evident truths" in the Declara-
tion of American Independence,
''that all men are created free and
equal; that they are endowed by their
Creator with certain inalienableSights,
among which are life, liberty and the
pursuit of happiness" and whereas,
the recent enactment of the civil
rights bill, and the still later enact
ment Of the I'd of March, known MS
Sherman's bill, whereby suffrage is
guaranteed to all loyal men, ire
speotive of race, color, or previous
condition, fully invest us with the
rights and privileges of freemen;
therefore, be il
Resoloed, That we, the colored citi-
zens of Lexington District, s. G., do
most reverently and gratefully ac-
cept, as the wards of the great Re
public, the inestimable boon of civil
liberty, and more particularly the
right of suffrage, whereby it may be
preserved and defended.
Resolred, That we are under renew
ed obligations to our friends of the
great Union Republican party, who
have stood as a wall of adamant be-
tween us and serfdom, and "we here
by pledge our lives, our fortunes and
our sacred honor" in defence of the
Union and the principles of freedom,
which its Congress has SO nobly
maintained.
Resolued, That our opposition to
the twin-sisters-slavery and seces-
sion-is fixed and unalterable, and we
will instill it into the hearts of our
children and children's children to
the latest generation.
RESOLVED, That we hail as our
friends only those who will cooperate
with us in maintaining the integrity
of the Union and its permanent resto-
ration under the bill known as Sher-
mans, embracing, as it does, the con-
stitutional amendment and the right
of suffrage to all loyal men, irrespect-
i've OF race, color OF previous condi-
tion.
ReSolced, That we do not recognize
any scheme of reconstruction as legal
OF valid which does not receive the
sanction Of the loyal representatives
bled. ,.
Resolred, That we cordially invite
our white friends to sustain us in
sustaining the glorious old flag,
whose starry folds wave MS an ensign
OF liberty, peace and security to all
who support and defend it.
Resolved, That IN all our acknow-
ledged ignorance and imputed degra-
dation, we, nevertheless, trace the