Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1868-05-02
prRIIc sENTIMEsTIN TENNESSEE.

The Burning of the COIOred Church
and school AT Carihnge--Whm the
81 Rebels" Say About 10.
The following report of a recent public
meeting at Carthage, is an ample refnta-
ton Of the vile ISLANDERS circulated by the
Radical press in regard to the burning OF
the colored church and school house at
Carthage:
CARTHAGE, April 29, 1868.
A meeting of the citizens Of Carthage
and vicinity was held in the Court House
on this, the 29th Of April, 1868.
The meeting was called to order by Col.
w. H. Dewitt, who stated the object Of the
meeting to be for the purpose of giving
expression of the sense of the community,
in reference to the calamity of the colored
race of this place, on account Of the loss OF
their church and school house by fire.
Col Dewitt stated there had been sew
eral conjeclures "a to the cause of the fire
one was that it was occasioned by light
ming during a heavy thunder storm, that
ragged upon the night of the Burning
another, was that the burning was the work
o. incendlaries A. 10 hoE the facts were,
he knew nothing, but he greatly deplored
their loss from whatever cause it may have
| occurred-ii the work of inceni!aries, the
perpetrators, if 10 be found, should be made
T. suffer the full extent Of the law, for their
dastardIy crime. The Colonel then asked
that the meeting be organized.
Ga motion of james w. McHenry,
Judge $. NJ. Fite was called to the chair.,J
On motion of Col. De Witt, J. b. Luster
was appointed Secretary of the meeting.
Judge Fte, on taking the chair, In few
terse remarks, said the object of the meet
ing had been fully stated by Col. De Witt,
aud that he Endorsed all said by the
Colonel
HE also stated, that, if the loss of the
African church, was the work Of incendi-
aries, that he felt satisfied the act was not
| couutenauced by a single good citizen of
| the communicated the person or persons
engaged in the burning (if such was the
fact were a set Of Wild reckless, irresponsi
be parties, who had no interest in the com
| munity, owhed no property, and did not
pay a dollar oftax-a set who could not
be injured by the suffering that might be
| inflicted on the citizens of Smith county for
| his terrible outrage.
nance in theslightest degree such heinous
Jas. B. Moores then addressed the meet
ing, stating he Endorsed all said by the
gen tleman who preceded him. He great
| " depored the loss of the colOred people
| be hoped their loss was not attributable to
| incendiarism, but if the facts we're that
| way, he desired that the offenders be
| brought to the bar of justice, whether
white or black, and the penalties of the
law be inflicted to its fullest extent He
sincerely hoped that there was no one to be
found in this community who was 50 far
| forgetful Of the moral and social duties rest
ing upon him, as to beguilty OF so baseanact
prone to be found who would counte-
I outrage.
| Ga motion, a committee of FIVE were APP
pointed to draft resolutions, whereupon
the Chairman appoionted the following
named gentlemen:
James B. Moores James w. McHenry,
D, H. Campbell, A. A. SwoPs and L. II.
| Cardwell.
The committee retired, and in short
time returned and submitted the following
| resolutions:
Whereas, a few nights ago, the African
church and school-house, located near this
place, was destroyed by fire; and whereas,
various and diverse causes have been as
signed and urged for said destruction and
whereas, said building was erected, IN
| part from the voluntary contributions of
the citizens Ofthis place aud County; and
| whereasawe, the citizens in whose midst
| the unfortunate event aforesaid occurred,
are desirous that no improper inference or
| deductions shall be made as to the state Of
public sentiment in this place and county
in reference thereto:
Be it resolved, that we are without
| knowledge or information As to the agency
through which said fire originated whether
accidentally, providentially or intention
ally and willfully. If accidentally or
providentially, we deeply regret the event;
if from design, we reprobate the crime as
deserving the just punishment affixed by
law to its commission.
| Resolved further, that we will contribute
so far az we are able, to the coloTed citizens
of this place and vicinity, for the erection
of another church and sclSOol-house
Resolved, that eschewing political tenets
past or present, we are DESTROYS to see the
colored race advanced in the scale Of re-
ligion, morality and education, and will
contribute our influence tothe advancement
OF those ends; and that we recognize as
among the surest guarantees of the attain
ment of those cherished purposes, the diff
fusion of knowledge, religious, moral and
educational.
JAMES c. MooREs, Chairman.
JAMES w. MCHENRY.
d. ii. CAMPBELL.
A. A. SwOPE.
L. IL. CARDWELL
Which resolutions we're unanimously
adopted, as rejecting the full sentiments OF
the meeting.
Col. Dewitt then proposed that yolun-
tsry contribution be made foT the benefit
of the colored people. This was promptly
responded to, and the sum of $3.50 90 was
subscribed.
On motion, it was ordered that a copy OF
the proceedings ofthe meeting he furnished
the Press and Times, and that the Nashville
papers and the Hartsville Videtts be re-
quested to publish the same.
Onmotion, the meeting then adjourned
sine die
S. NJ FIFE, Chairman.
J. B. LUsTER, Secretary.
ETnErDV ETOunVV ERRURFFy