The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-10-15
THE SERFS IN COUNCIL.

Address TO the People OF the State-Denun.
citation Alike Of Carpet-Baggers and Demo-
crats-Whe Arc Sambo's True Friendss
convention of colored men, called at the instance
OF the Civil and Political Rights Association, which
society was organized by the expelled members OF
the Georgia Legislature, met in Macon, Ga, on the
9th instant, and was organized, az we learn from
the Official report, by electing II. NJ Turner to the
chair, J. n. Simons, J. T. Costin and Philip Joiner
vice-presdents, and James Porter and George wal
lace secretaries. After three days. elaboration the
following address was adopted
TO THE LOYAL AND LAw-ABIDISG CITIZENS OF THE
STATE OF GEORGIA.
We, the colored representatives OF the State OF
Georgia. In convention held in the city Of Macon,
October 0, 1865 beg leave to call your attention to
the following
FELLOW CTTIzENs-SOmething over eighteen
covered its profound regret that there was no
lection for life and property and that no legal State
government existed In thsi the State OF Georgia.
Every loyal citizen will remember the dark days
which preceded that time; how our school houses
were burned. our teachers insulted or chased from
various sections, and how our houses were ran
sacked; wives and children subjected TO starva-
ton, because we had no means OF enforcing our
contracts and collecting the reward OF our labor,
either to feed them or to fee physicians to attend
them In sickness.
without reviewing our condition in detail, how
horrifc crime reigned, and spread terror In every
direction. The President OF the United States
country, set up Q bogus government, under which
Legislature had been elected, which body
essayed to enact laws; and being law-ahiding
people, we held conventions and twice memOrialized
would guarantee to such protection OF life and OF
suits Of happiness. But neither OF our memorials
was ever noticed, much less acted upon. people
finding their rights ignored and their appeals disre
gardcd over $4,000 left the State aud went to other
States In search OF more congenal cline, and az
many more would have gone had they been pecun
the spirit OF emigration had almost leavened the
whole lump OF our col ored citizens, ana but for the
this time would have been reduced to small num-
Der In this State. Previous to the interference of
. the Of the
State for the poor Of all classes, but our
starving poor were ordered almost invariably to go
to work, whether sick, lame or disabled, while the
provisions to great extent were distributed among
those who had lands, houses stock and farming ia
cilites, but lacked the industry to use them. rhe
agents OF the Bureau in the main were mere civilians
who had been shareholders themselves, and who had
but little any sympathy with our precarious condi-
ton; that the rural districts, where they were
not spurred up by the fear OF exposure, their own
prejudices and chagrinncss was . sufficient reason
not to render us any, or but little assistance.
Therefore Congress- after waiting nearly two years
for change in public sentiment, ana finding 1t be-
coming daily more , and ra az S at
tied can act to provide for the more efficient gov
eminent of the rebel States"
districts In these States tor the enforcement OF
peace and good order, which did not then exist,
be legally established and civil rule respected the
State Of Georgia. az an inevitable consequence, was
classed among the rebel states and therefore pc
provided that the President OF the United States
should assign to- the command of our State a gen.
era OF the army, and under his supervision all male
persons over twenty-one years Of age should have
the right to participate In its reconstruction to the
end that civil law might be established and justice
administered without regard to race, color pre-
vious condition.
AS soon as this act became . law and command.
ant was assigned to our district ourpeope assisted
by number OF loyal whites, commenced to canvass
the matter and to arrange for obeying the supreme
law OF the land, not wishing TO perpetuate the spirit
of the rebellion longer. But the democrats, COM
posed OF the original secesstoniSts in the MAN, be-
gan to howl at these measures and the Congress
that created them; every conceivable objection and
abuse known to the baser passions OF mortals was
used to cast infamy upon them
The contest being finally opened the coored and
loyal whites rallied to the laws OF the land and the
democratic party rallied against them. You well
recollect what we had to encounter; the wealth,
press and political experience OF the state being
against us, 1t cost US everything but complete eX-
termination n 10 be loyal 70 our country. NO writer
passed and portray the facts without sufusIng his
paper with briny tears. So having enlightened our
people generally as to their rights under these mea
sures, we set about selecting candidates for our
Constitutional Convention and here TO our SURPRISE
we again disappointcd; there was no colored
person who had thought OF aspiring as candidate
for the Convention; and in scores OF counties we
to run for the Convention, assuring them TINT we
would do all the ralying II they would accept
the oflce. But In number OF counties they, 10 a
man, refused to do It, stating that owing to the state
OF the public mind, they could not run II they even
desired, for 1t would ostracizc them IN the commu-
nifty, &C., and invarbly recommended that we run
some one OF our own color; several also accepted,
and then declined on the morning OF the election,
thereby rendering all our tickets useless and forcing
US last resort TO put up co0red man. 30 after
the election over we found, greatly To our sur
PRISE that thlrty-six colored men had been elected
members OF the Constitutional Convention. These
colored men met in the Convention by order OF the
military commander OF this district, and occupied
seats accordingly, and much TO our qualification,
exhibited commendable ability and proposed several
important measures, which were adopted. The con-
stitution beng framed we were again subjected TO
the same trouble IN getting candidates 10 the Legis
ature. Most OF the whites 10 whom we applied either
wanted TO run a. democrats or occupy neutral posi-
ton which We well knew meant 10 get our votes and
then TO side with the democrats. But the ratification
OF the constitution being also at stake several coured
men run and were elected to the Legislature. And
now our rights under the new constitution have
been arbitrarily set at naught by dcmQcratic ma
jority in the General Assembly who gained the as
ccniency over us 10y refusing 10 let any OF Repre-
scntatiyes vote on the question Of their own egi.
biy-a decision contrary 20 every sense 81 justice
and unprecedented in Parliamentary proceedings
Under the Reconstruction act OF Congress we were
cnfranchised and the military commander OF this
district recognized our right to hold Office under
these acts by appointing one coored VITA two white
registrars 10 each election district.
1hrty-slx OF our race were declared by the
same authority duly elected and qualified TO
hold seats in the Constitutional Convention
Those col0red delegates assisted In framing q
new constitution for uur state. The constitution
thus framed, gives to all men regardless OF race, or
color, previous condition. the same rights privi
legeS and mmUnities, and under tue provisions OF
that constitution number OF colorcd persons were
elected to the General Assembly. aud were allowed
to quallfv and hold their seats unI they hal vorcn
for the adoption OF the constitutional arnendment,
known the fourteenth article, by which the state
was formally rcadmttcd into the Union resuu-
ton was then offered by democrat 20 declare item
ineligible because tney were free persons OF color.
on this resolution they were expelled IN body.
we knew that the Constitutional Convention in
tended, in good faith TO frame constitution which
would know after the color Of his skin, and
recognize no distinction between one citizen and
another, or exclusive rights OF any class, based
upon such q distinction. Believing TINS, with
the sanction OF every white republican In the
Convention, nearly all the colored members voted
to sttiko out a section from the second article OF
the constitution, which declared enphatcaliy the
right OF All electors to hold Office. The reason why
nciently secured by other provisions OF the constu