The New York herald., 1867-04-08
FLORIDA.

MASS Meetln8 In F0ns0cOIa-HOns y. IL. Mall
lOry Accepts the Situation-Interesting Pro.
ceedinGs-Aiarm at Secret Negro Leagues.
[From the Pensacola Observer, March 30.l
Pursuant to call In our issue Of the 2sh, large
public square 4. an early hour in the evening. The
meeting was organized and presided over by Hon. Chas
h. Gnglea Mra.
speeches all Of which tended TO the point 70 i'm
press the colored people with the injury which they
he old citizens By their sscret political
BY couple Of evil disposed designing persons in our
community they were led to believe Shat their rights
and that Il was necessary for them 70 form
leagues take oaths Of secrecy, and elect one Of
sSsir minds on that subject and % sScscushy exposing
the contemplate objests Of their white leaders who
live IN tAe community By the money they can borrow
eyes opened dscussing among themselves tho truthful
remarks which fell upon their ear.
mounted The stand and dear earnestly Sdssssd tho messing
dtion under the recent lsgislaiioa q C0nsrsss and
gradaaion in tho submission Of gallant people
when further resistanoe would be madness AZ the
T IL Tords, where % they win FOR sss long period
constitute nearly . moisy Of our population. n,
ballot aosiinsd ns , or Ssasss y. , natural S.cS
would not follow their freedom in the Northern state,
WHERE In point Of numben they wsre unimportant. Al
Of The sts.s that he should Be- educated and
and made 10 comprehend the priceless value Of the bal
lot and the Importance 2 hmss and The state Of ts
upon the virtue and intelligence OF her people, and
wise will hesitate 70 do al 10 his power TO elevate
race between whom and the Southern people an indie
.sructibs bond Of sympathy. based upon . thousand
happy memories, sxists Lei Y y fully and frankly &c.
with Us before the law and regard less just
70 oursslvs. and them than % our state and her
and enjoyment o1 all the rights which follow their new
condition He then earnestly addressed the coored
sSsy and the white man must tread the same ONWARD
path and their political and industrial interests nsepa
bly, blended He counseled them against secret politi
cal societies. and their organization for party purposes
upon tho basis Of color destructive Of the in
teress alike OF black and white; who they wero met
and e. peop
societies emily organized BY desgnng 70 abuse
their confidence for selfish ends he advised them TO
tions At issue and the merits Of candidates, and
70 cast their ballots accordingly Referring 70
s cut 70
supporting themselves and families, educating their chill
dren and OF accumulang somsthng for old ago By hon.
its smokchouss and CRIB were no longer happy refuge,
industry and an honest effort to show themselves worthy
% b called fr:emsn were expected Of thom BY every
The next speaker was J. D. Wolfe, who had served
through the war in the Federal army and was an ocer
terms the dangers Of arraying themselves as . class
for any man or upon any Issues. and reasoned
with them upon the good which must result 70 thcm
by their adopting . course which would Identify
them with the community IN which they resided rhis,
he said could only be effected BY free and open inter-
COURSE consultaton upon the leading questions Of the
day. and as 70 the illness Of the candidates who were
soliciting their suffrage.
M Wolfe was followed By Hays satserwhite, vensr-
able old colored man. who, as he said came here from
old Virginia In 1625 He said he proud Of Florida,
and proud OF the many white folks and gentlemen OF
Standing whom he knew at Tallahassee end other parts;
that Whsthsr e slave freeman he had always besh
treated well, and thst be did not want bis coIorsd
brsthrsn 70 do anything which would destroy
The friendly. relations which always existed He
separate soceties that they should consult the white
folks and look upon them friends; that they must
NOT run into dark holes and corners sud take the sdvice
Of those they knew nothing about and that II they
wanted 70 get along WELL "they must como out Of the
shade como out Ia the pure ah, before the light Of
heaven, and be free men before Cod exercise the ludg
ment He gave them, and be no slaves before; that
day past and gone; the light Of freedom Shines the
same on the black man as the white man; that was
white mems interest 70 protect the black man. and the
black mans mako friends Of the white man, and vote
for tho best man. He conciuded his speech amid
shouts Of applause. N
70 convene on Saturday night