The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1867-05-01
REcoNsTRUCTIoN.
The Petersburgh hite
and Black in Council.
[From the Richmond Wing, April "a


From the Richmond Wing, April al
We call the attention of our readers to the
following platform of principles" adopted
without dissenting voice" BY the mass
meeting of white and colored citizens OF Pe-
tersburgh, held last Thursday evening on
Court House square:
/. That we agree to accept and perform IN
good faith the terms and conditions prescrib-
cd by the Congress Of the United States a.
the terms and conditions upon which sGon-
gress has agreed to restore Virginia to her
place in the Union.
g That we recognize and accept as an es.
seutial part of said terms and conditions thss-
proposition that the political power OF the
State, which has heretofore been welded by
white men alone, shall henceforth be possess
ed and exercised by white and black men
alike.
3. That we will, therefore, insist that new
Constitution shall be framed for Virginia,
| which shall provide that all men, white or
black, without reference to previous condi-
ton Of servitude, shall be perfectly equal b.
fere the laws, both in respect to political priv.
iieges and power, end of civil rights, and
| that al laws creating distinctions or differ
ences Of any sort between persons of differ,
ent races shall be unconstitutional, null and
void.
4. That we will support no other candidate
| for the Convention who will not pledge hims
self TO carry out in good faith The foregoing
propositions and TO secure their adoption as
part of the fundamental law of Virginia, we
will cooperate cordially with all good men,
white or black, who honestly desire the same
result.
5. We invite the colored men of Peters
| burgh, freedmen and the free born alike, to
| Join us, TO attend our political meetings, to
| participate in our deliberations, and express
| freely their opinions and wishes and we as
sure them that they shall receive all the con-
sidsraticns IND respect 10 which they are en-.
titled, as equal participants with us in politI-
cal power and legal rights.
Mr.. Lyons explained that these resolutions
mean, among other things:
/ l. That white men and black men shall
vote upon the same and equal terms, and
none other.
.. That white men and black men shall
hold office upon the same and equal terms,
and none other. 4
8. That no tax shall be assessed upon 9
colored man unless a similar lax is assessed
4. That not one dollar of the public money
shall be appropriated for the education of q
white child unless another dollar is sppropri-
ated alongside OF it for the education of q
1 black child.
s. That there may be no differences or dis
tinctions between persons of different races,
except such as the God of nature has created,
and such ms the rules Of pohteness and
usages of society, and the unfettered common
sense of mankind shall establish and enforce,
without the aid of laws
To those who lag behind events and are re-
solved that they will learn nothing and do
nothing, these resolutions may appear too
strong But by men OF practical sagacity
who grasp the situation as they find it, and
utilize such advantages as it offers, these
resolutions will be accepted and approved
The political powers and privileges of the
colored people are the sam that are enjoyed
BY the whites and those of as who hold
back, refusing to accept the fact and to CO.
operate with the new political element are
not only behind the times but imprsctleable
and unfriendly to public tranquility. The
resolution which declares 1--WE will co-ope.
rate cordially with all good men, white or
black grasps the great idea, without which
there must be discord, strife perhaps ulti-
mate conflict between the conservative orig
ina Union men, the colored people and the
Southern whites This is the idea that we
lave put forward in successive articles as
enbodyiug the true policy.