Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1868-09-25
he Georgia Legislature. Protest of
the Expelled Loyal members.
House OF REPRESENTATIVES,.


ATLANTA, GA, September 3, 1865
To tie Speaker and members Of the
House Of Representatives This House
having decided, by a vote this day, to
expel the undersigned members from
the seats to which they have been legal
ly elected, from No improper conduct
on their part, and for no other legal rea-
son, or pretended cause, except their
color, the undersigned ardently desira
ing the peace Of society, and the pros
perity of the State, and determined to
do all in their power to aYoid blood
shed or war OF races, have decided to
suffer wrongs for time rather than to
attempt to redress them in a manner
GhaG may, IN this time OF high political
excitement, produce civil strife.
For these consid erations the under
signed, will abide the decision of this
House, and will peaceably retire from
the seats to which they consider them
selves legally elected.
But before doing so, the undersigned,
as the representatives OF their race, con-
sisttng of over five hundred thousand
citizens, and over ninety thousand Ie-
gal electors, of this State, in the name
of the State whose peaceful citizens
they are, whose laws theY have obeyed,
and whose white women and children
they have supported and protected
when their fathers and brothers were
upon distant battle fields, in the service
of the Confederate States; in the name
Of justice and that equality before the
laws to which they are entitled in the
name of peace and humanity, without
which anarchy and confusion must
take the place Of good government, sta
btlity and profession of life and proper
ty and in the name of that friendship
and good understanding, which it is
their interest and ardent desire to culti-
Vate with the white race. do hereby en-
rage perpetrated upon their race by the
action of this House and they hereby
give notice that they will appeal, at the
proper time, to the Congress of the Uni
ted States and the justice of the Ameri-
can people, to redress their grievances,
to Which they are subjected by the in
tolerant and oppressive conduct of the
dominant party in this House, who,
while part of their members were in
danger of losing their seats on account
OF ineligibiity under the Fourteenth
Constitutional Amendment, were met
by the colOred members of this House
in spirit of Cancellation and kindness
during that investigation.
But who, when they had obtained an
erroneous decision of the House in
their favor, which enabled them to re-
tain seats to which, under the Cousti-
tuition of the United States, thew are
not entitled, on account of their partic-
lpat1on In the rebellion, forgetting that
Congress has power, under said Consti-
tutional amendment, to pass all laws /
and establish all courts or tribunals
necessary to carry out said amend n1ent /
and that by the Judgment of such trib- |
unals they may yet be compelled to va
cate seats illegally held by them who /
now make war on the rights of cOlored /
mem bers, and drive them from this /
Hall.
The undersigned respectfully demand /
his, their protest, be entered upon the /
Journal of the House.
[Signed by the twenty-five members
expelled
We, the undersigned, members Of the
House of Representative of the state |
If Georgia, join in making solemn pro-
est against the proceedings of the /
House of Representative in expelIing
he colored members from this House.
[Signed by twelve Republican mem
Ders. II atsr =