New-York tribune., 1867-04-06
RECONSTRUCTION.
GEORGIA.

|
THE GREAT RECONSTRUCTION NESTING ~ SAVANNAH
From Our SPECIAL Correspondent m Wal Pond "
SAVASSAH, Ga., April 2, 1867. --
The Reconstruction meeting yesterday was one Of
the largest held in this State Seven thousand per-
were present white and black and the enthusiasm
was extreme Ex Gov James johnson President and
among others the stage were United States District
Attorney Fitch, A. L. Harris aud Dr. FallIgan who was
Chairman Of the Committee on Resolutions The follow
| ing were unanimously adopted:
Whereas Congress, by the of the Military bill
and The B supplementary there'q mas e Se'fy T., the m
Southern States IN order that they may be restored TO
Therefore,
81 Res6lred That we recognize Congress as the su-
preme legislative power Of the nauon and that the laws
passed TO effect our restoration we WIZ observe ana
"a Resolced That we recognize the progress of ideas
the enanchisement Of the eoored race ana tnat WIN
reorganizing our state Government, and in maintaining
the national unity Of the United States one ana III
s Resoired That the education of the whole people
Is OF the highest Importance to the prosperity hI per
petnity OF free republican government, and that we
VIII hencefoh earnestly labor for the education oil every
citizen IN our State. ..... =. ..sI I
-. Rcsolred That We respectfully and earnestly re
quest the Military Commander OF the Third District
MajorGn. John Pope TO order registration and elec
,ion at the earliest practicable moment for convention
coganze the State Of Georgia IN accordance with tie
70 Resoirei That copy Of the proceedings Of this
meeting he forwarded by Secretary his ENeelency
the President of the United States. and to MJorGen
John Pope" ....r
COL Fitch, who made the hie speech Of the day, gave
the coored people great deal OF advice wbrn, II
James smms expressed their opinions, they are not
ready 10 accept lie said: They would that
the white race were their emancpaors and themselves
tie emaHcpatod that IL Il easier for people to lose
their freedom than TO gain IT. Politics is not te study OF
Snd % pe S%f OF EnowsdgS % Of human nature fake your
politics from your homestends aud tresidcsi earn 20 20
eoIs vor con1on srnse will do this Politicians have
been the bane Of a people and they VIII We your pane
ibe race which aways has and always will be the predom
nant the world we live in To fit you Tor the exer
cise of political rights you must be politically educated
The gentlemen who stand ON their dignity and counsel
mastery inactivity feel that there still hope for them
They find that Yesterday developed two things very u
expecedy to them First that there are MS good poitl
cal managers among the Union men as they can possibly
have and them that the leading c0loed men, who viii
control nnecnths Of the cOlocd votes, VIII give tho
support whatever James simms eoored mail In N
they knew nothing of his race Under the Old system
the negroes compelled TO use discrimination toward
their ma sfers and that now the first tm he COnld
tel the truth Col. Fitch had said that they must
remember the whites were the emahcipa!ors, emahc H ain
generally understand that he WAS under no oDhgat0h
to man. for the freedom OF himself and bis races the
great course of natural laws and the force of cumsta
ccs, directed by God To emancipation l.e AeknoWi
wende iii Philips and was thankful that God PIT it into
their hearts to labor for liberty and equal rights We
read in THE TRIBUNE the other day an article ABOUT now
the negro would vote. He would tell them. They would
vote only for tried and true Union men so heip hm
Cod he would never support any one bnt oyal men IOr
Office. Colored men were not i3os id tnGi{ hne% Hets
right They would vote as they fought Tor the party
which had always advocated the great principles 9i
wished the white people 10 understand distinctly that
they would not elect Rebel Mayor or have any more
brutal policemen. The offices should be filled ny both
white and eolOred men, who capable OF serving
with honor lie would have white and coiored aldermen
cOlOred policemen, and the sooner people
knew IL tho better This tile first time he had ever
addressed an a--cmblagc of any considerable number
OF white South, aud he was no poltleia re hau
children at in Massachusetts and expected 10 Sre
some of them in Congress some day He had however
expected, and Onged for this day to come iOi twenty
ye1rs and some people might be surprised 10 see whte
and eoor,d men working shoulder 10 shoulder IN the
political fed-hc was not II glorious day for his
people and he thanked God that white ami black men
had a last met under the old flag they loved 50 well 10
march 10 Union and vCtory
10 ia impossible TO describe the intense
enthusiasm exhibited by the speaker ana
the proud look Triumph with which he alluded to the
great change within few ycars-tO the dutcrehce Oe-
tween Thomas Smns-his brother the great flgye
brought from Boston, aud dragged through the streets OF
Savannah ail-aud HIM. james sinus. introduced ny
"A Southern gentleman and Governor 10 address polt
though they had been before rather slow To respond 10
speeches. they appauded hun 10 the echo sImms
will undoubtedly be elected one ot the ty COUNCIL OF go
TO the Georgia Legislature summer uness one ortwO
prominent oo0red get little jealous. ana combine
defeat hmis thi. county Is supposed 10 have more
COlOrcd than white voters. His speech Acknowledged
to be the speech day His clear. musical voice.
distinct cnuuciatOn aud elegant and beautiful style Uf
delivery impressed every and greatly astoished
those who had never heard him speak before. lie was
followed by T. G.. Campbell, cOlOrcd man. ana an excel
lent speaker. ....--
W. began the work rightly in savannah. Eight or ten
colored me n, aud white the platform repre-
,ented very fairly ideas of both classes. few oi the
white speakers cautious from policy bnt not so
with the colOrcd they spoke boldly and freely.