Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1867-04-30
General Echols' Address Meeting OF the
Freedmen.

In the meeting of freedmen In this place on
Monday, the 18th inst, at which delegates were
| appointed to the Radical Convention which as
semhled in the African Church in Richmond on
the 18th inst on motion, it was made part OF the
| duties of the executive Committee to invite Gen.
| Echols to address them In compliance with this
invitation. Gen. Echols addressed them in the
| Courthouse on Saturday night last. The Court
house was filled with persons of both colors VINO
were anxious to hear the address to be delivered
under such novel circumstances. After zen.
| Echols the following colored men addressed the
| the meeting Henry Davenport, James Scott
BENZ. Downey and Philip Roselle.
Our limited space prevents us from reporting
the speeches and proceedings as fully as we would
like to do We have space only to notice the
main points made by the Speakers.
On the nomination of Philander Ransom (col-
ored) Philip Roselle (colored) was elected to pre-
side as chairman. On motion, Mr.. W. ID. ID.
Lynn, Editor of the indicator was requested to
act as Secretary. The Chairman introduced Gen.
Echols, who then addressed the meeting
He expressed his thanks for the compliment
| implied in the invitation to address them. He
would frankly tell them what he conceived to be
the duties of both the whites and blacks. The
| history of the world had no record of such a
c,S.snge as had recently taken place in the gov
eminent of this country. Three years since,
there were four millions of slaves in this country
now thew are FREQ in all their actions, personal
and political. A monstrous on"nse " D1 "iousn ~
in SO short time. That chang, Nv oniy oonelS
privileges to be enjoyed but also i'm. seo;sIation
to be discharged. He explained the IL. %aread
Dy which this change had been effected h. N.
the supplementary bin to the Stevens Sherma
onellabarger bill, and explained its several pro-
visions He said that he knew their hearts leaped
with JOY that they were Free no longer slaves,
and had the right to vote for men to make the
laws This right has its responsibilities, and
they should exercise it Alright. He would not
fiatter them, but would tell them frankly that
they are ignorant-they knew and would confess
their ignorance. He was disnterested, as he be-
longs to the disfranchised class, and they cannot
~ pfy, their votes, confer any office upon him.
What is best for them is best for him. He ad-.
vlsed them to vote for the Convention, and to
vote, for delegates to that Convention for honest
and Intelligent men, such as they know to be their
friends, such as they would entrust their money
to- and get to write their Wills He cautioned
them against such as would remind them Of real
or imagined past wrongs. He entertained no
vlndictlve feelings towards any one was anxious
TOT peace and desired to see the blood-stans blot
ted out He warned them against such as would
seek to array them in hostility to their former
masters. They would be told that the Northern
people emancipated them, and that they should
Radicals. 1t was not the purpose ofthe Northern
people to emancipate them-tor three years after
the war commenced the intention was not to do
So but the natural drifting of the war brought it
about whether they desired it or not. No Nor
thern State ever emancipated their slaves with
out compensation. When slavery was no longer
profitable, they adopted prospective emancipa-
ton. They sold their slaves to the South before
under their acts of prospective emancipation
Massachusetts brought more slaves from Africa
than any other State. The reproach of slavery
rests upon the North as we'll as the South. Some,
presuming upon your ignorance, will tell you
that, unless you support the Radical party, you
will be again reduced to slavery. This is a mis-
cradle bugbear, and an insult to your common
sense.
Don't mlngle with any patty as body-don't
draw line Of demarkation between yourselves
and the Whltes-dOnt array class against class
each should act for himself upon his own judg-
ment and choice Don't bind your consciences
yourselves against the whites in your State, you
must be the party injured. The whites have the
advantage OF property, money, education and
numbers-there being 400, 600, more whites than
lily, and the members should live in peace, and
they are mutually dependent the one upon the
other If you unite with the Radical party, your
places will be filled with the German and Irish
immigrants, which would finally result in the de-
structlon of your race. In Rochester, N T.,
they destroyed the hack Of a son-in-law of Fred.
Douglas, because they would not allow colored
man to drive hack in competition with them
In illustration of the mutual dependence of all
branches of society, he read Esops fable of the
belly and the other members of the body. If all
the members shall not work in peace and harmo-
ny, quaint famine with emaciated frame, skinny
fingers, and cadaverous countenance will stalk
through the land. Have you no love for those
with whom you have been raised? He, the
speaker, felt the warmest affection for his servant
boy and for the old colored woman who nursed
| hiIp III hau bapO fol hate
come if you would enable the Radicals to sue
ceed Would you desire that? Zone responded,
ives" A voice said, "he don't belong to this
community"l In the event of confscation, this
country would be intolerable. 1t would uproot
all society, would encourage robbery, murder
&c. You don't desire it, but you can't get it if
you do. Wilson says the s. S. S. Bill is final
The true course to adopt is, not to unite as a
class with any party-let each one think and act
for himself as a freeman should. Every tub
should stand on its own bottom. Don't act like a
flock of sheep, and all jump as the bellwether
jumps.
In reference to their social duties, he advised
them to be honest, truthful sober, and faithful to
their marriage vows. He advised them to be in
dustrious and economical-tO get homes where
they could repose beneath their own vine and fig
tree-to support their ministers and churches-to
educate their children and to impress the virtues
of honesty and truth upon their minds. Let pol
itics alone as much possible Organize Sa-
wings Bank, and deposit your savings in it. They
will increase with time, like the rolling snow ball.
Follow the course recommended and you will be
happy and contented-if not, you will be ruined.
Make friends and not enemies. Your destiny is
in your own hands. Thanking them for their at
tention, the speaker concluded.
On motion of Dennis Harris, (cOlored), the
meeting unanimously voted thanks to General
Echos for the delivery of his address.
Rev. Mr.. lawson (colored), was then called
for but he declined to speak, as ministers should
not make political speeches.
HENRY DAVENPORT, (cOlored) said, speaking
is teaching that's certain" He was happy to say
the day had come for the first time for the colOred
and white man to meet together upon equal terms.
God help us to live together as brethren! My
brethren, my fellow-citizens, my fellow-travel-
lers to the bar of God, with warm heart and
welcome hand greet you.
that they were there. He complimented General
Echols, but said his speech reminded him of
fable-that of the boys and the frogs. He was
for praisng the bridge that carried him safe
| ~. He was for the party which made him free.
| He knew his friends-even dog knew his friends.
| BENJAMIN DowNEY, (colored), said he was lin
dependently happy tonight" He would look
not only first on one side of the picture and then
/ on the other, but would 'bust the picture open
and look into the middle of it." He knew the
| black man WELL but not the white man, though
| he had lived with him "a years. Why did the
| Southern people wait SO long before becoming
| such good friends? He was about to bring the
music out of it." The only objection lie had to
General Echols was he commenced too late He
was great orator. fine scholar-he did not un-
| did mt understand some of it neither. White
| folLc South navar faupht them C-tha