Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1867-04-04
MASS MEETING OF FREEDMEN.

furSuanI W auJouruluent, mass heeeIhS VI
freedmen was held on Citadel Green yesterday af
Committee Of Thirteen, number of speakers who
were invited to address the meeting, reporters o.
the press, &C., was erected in the centre of the
Square Over the platform was an American flag
bearing the name: '"The Union Republican Par.
ty of South Carolina" 1t was estimated that be.
tween fifteen hundred and two thousand people,
men and women were present, including about one
hundred white spectators.
About half past three o'clock the proceedings o.
the meeting were. opened by the Chairman of the
Committee, a. Judge Moore, who presided on the
occasion.
The Chairman briefly stated the object of the
meeting to be the ratification of the Platform adop
ted at previous meeting for the formation Of q
Union Republican Party in South Carolina.
J. P. NJ. Epping, United States Marshal, was
the first speaker introduced. They had assembled
he said, to carry into, practical effect the great
lima. Among these he said were8he grant Of uni.
versal suffrage and the protection given to all loyal
men for free speech, free press, and freedom to
meet in public to discuss their several rights and
interests. It behooyed them to be watchfnl and
circumspect so that their rights would not be to-
ken away by ingenious legislation of the shrewd
and crafty rebel chivalry. The platform read to
them was the "Magna Charta of South Carolina, !"
prepared with great care and adopted only after
mature deliberation. 1t put forth those principles
upon which all true loyal men, white or colored,
could unite whether from the North or South,
East or West, Europe, Africa or America.
The speaker, after dwelling upon the necessity
of united action by the colored people, In order to
prevent the old oGgarchy from again assuming or
regaining political control in the State called upon
IL III 20 fhotr
standard and prosperity and happiness, he said,
would again prevail throughout the State
The platform adopted at the meeting in Military
Hall last Thursday evening, was then read by the
Rev. E. J. Adams (colored(, after which an ad.
dress was delivered by the Rev. I. w. Lewis, Of
the Northern Methodist Mission Church in South
Carolina.
Mr.. Lewis spoke of the new times as demanding
new measures and new men. The platform, though
new to this region, was not very new to the great
North. It is Identical, he said, with the platform
of the great Republican party Of this nation. Say
what they would, the great North is the. Union,
and every man that fought in arms against this
nation is to-day where he was when Lee surrender
ed--a disfanchised rebel. He would not say that
he would have many pardoned. He would have
all pardoned that exhibit true faith in the Govern
ment and hearty repentance He was not poll
tician, but was an advocate for equal rights-the
black mans rights as well as the white mans
rights. The great issues Of the times are, he said
impartial laws, impartial justice, and impartial
privileges to all men, of every distinction, OF every
race who merit them. God is no respecter Of per-
sons, and weshoud not be. God is respecter Of
character, and we should be. They proposed,
without distinction of race or COLOR to organize
party upon national republican platform. He
would warn them, however, against being deceived
by false friends. IF they all pulled together they
would certainly have victory. But they would
never be reconstructed with those men who have
heretofore ruled in this country.
In conclusion, he said he would give any man
the right hand Of fellowship who endorsed their
platform and acted with them, but they should be
careful in selecting the individual to whom they
gave their votes. 1nr. H.,
Mr.. Lewis was followed by Robert Elliott, (col-
ored), associate editor of the Leader, one OF the
organs of the colored people Of this city:
Addresses were also delivered by A. =. Ransler,
(colored,) Rev. F. L. Cardoza, (coored, Mr.: So
Ion Robson, travelling correspondent OF the New
York Tribune, Rev. B. +. Randolph, (colored, }
Rev. R. H. Cain, (colored, and Peter Miller, (co-
At the conclusion Of the addresses the question
upon the adoption of the platform was put by, the
Chairman and carried. In the evening about three
hundred freedmen participated in a torch,ight
procession, which closed the proceedings OF the
Courier, 9th uh.