The New York herald., 1869-03-20
LECTURES LAST NIGHT.
MfAles n euaeA.
The Celered People and Their Nceds-Lccturc
~ by Colered Clergyman.

TIE Celored People and Their Needs-Lccturo
~ by Celered Clergyman.
lecture was delivered last evening, In room "a
Cooper Institute, by Rev. James NJ Semms lcolored)
one Of the expelled members Of the Georgia Legisla
ture. before American Anti-Slavery Society. The
subject OF the lecture was, "Anairs In Georgia, the
Colored People and their Needsn The attendance
was small The lecturer il q mulatto, having NO
prominent tracts or characterstics OF his race. He
spoke in clear distinct voice, with excellent de-
livery and well chosen words. He was frequently
pplauded In the course OF his remarks. Thas lee
turer was introduced by Mr.. A. NJ. Powell.
In his opening remarks Mr.. Semms said he would
have been better pleased to see larger audience.
The society was not very popular one, but the
work 1t has effected was known and appreciated
throughout the world. He said he was born and
brought up in Georgia. The grand march liberated
the slaves OF that state. He had been slave all his
lifetime to that period. but he had always hoped for
the day OF freedom-a hope that had been Inn
planted In his breast BY his mothers teaching. He
did not look for the deliverance OF his people from
an internecine war; he had looked forward to that
great event from a war between the United
States and England. When they were freed
they expected all the privileges OF freemen.
This blessing, has turned out has not been vo1ch
safed to his race, as they nad anticipated. Ine
selves to the great republican party OF progress IL
fell to be his lot be OF those to whom was en-
great work before them.the duty Of citizenship. It
was no small task to teach people 50 long op-
ns & da 81
one great quality ana virtue for the work-a venera-
tion for the Union and the Stars and Stripes. the
Tor the frst time to the poIis-s7 900 freedmen In
Georgia alone. In the county OF Chatham, known a.
ss sssemDled @sn Who had 0 travelled
great distance bearing the nag OF the Union before
50 as ay On De with hs
not drunken man appearing among them, not
blow struck angry word spoken. From the pianta.
meadows, these men came to enrol themselves -
citizens Of the great reconstructed Union The state
OF Georgia is divided into the white and black belts.
In the former where the whites predominated, they
voted numerousy enough to make the Convention
success. The State went Tor convention, ana ana
to be voted for Again the blacks came to
the polls and severe contest followed the whites
voting almost unit against the constitution,
the blacks voting unit for 1t. The latter carried
the constitution. They elected Legislature, mem.
Gers ana Ia ~ ~
lature by eighteen hundred majority over MS Opp0-
nent. There were In all thirty-one col0red men
elected-twenty-eight 10 the Assembly and three 70
the Senate. They could as well have elected dIty
colored If they desired 1t, but they were too
modest. They appealed to white men to allow them
selves to be returned, but the spirit OF ostracism
was too strong and they declined. The thirty-one
members coloredl were tried for the high crime ana
PEELED. The crime, IL crime 1t Is, was not theirs,
but their Creators, who made them This act OF the
Legislature showed tnat Georgia was not recon-
structed; that the rebels did not deem themselves
whipped and that they loved the old Union no better
then uhan they did when they first took arms against
IT, Since that time outrages increased fifty per cent
IN Georgia. ION this subject the speaker read from
report Of the Freedmen's Bureau, showing the m
crease OF crime and the outrages commilted on the
freedmen. Those outrages In which the blacks were
the victims numbered over 3oo.)
The questions arose, Were the blacks OF the Soutn
really Tree? Were they entitled to the rights
and immunities OF American citlzenst Was
before, ast 0onfon The blacks were now more DIS
heartened and depressed than IN the days
OF slavery. Where, he asked, was the power and
protection OF the great party 10 whom they had allied
themselves The whole nation was responsible for
these outrages but republicans, as party, were
doned by the party and unless Congress lnterlered
for the rights OF the freedmen the freedmen OF Geor
Qia and their votes would be lost to the party OF the
nation. He mad been in washington begging Of
Congress to relieve them, but as yet nothing nac
been done in their behalf. ae mad confidence, now
heve them from the prejudice OF caste The society
had done great service in the cause Of freedom, ou
there was still work for them to do to remove thu
prejudice OF casteand to for the freedmen thu
fulf rights OF free citizens. The people OF the who'll
States the tribunal tnat must be appealed to u
| TINS matter. The prejudice against the black
arises not so much on account OF c0lo
graded and enslayed race. These prejudices mus
be removed We are living IN new times. and the
American people must come up TO the necessities Of
the times. God will not allow the great work OF rev
oIution ana regeneration 20 nag. The work must be
perfected Jefferson said he Irembled for his country
wnen he remembered God just. God Is just, and
takes the smallest atom he has created under his faith
ery supervision and care as he does the greatest.
The American government must be able to take care
OF the poorest and numplest OF her citizens or else
it Is failure. All must be iree or else all Will
become slaves that Is, the contract OF 1516. There
Is no getting rid OF the black Like the thistle.
the to please his fastidious taste brought
TO India-the thistle spread and nourished. and II
| grew everswhere. There Is now no getting rid ol
race
from tins continent and this Is fact that all must
| recognize. 10 be just 10 themselves 4 nation
| the American people must be just TO the negro
| Applausc.)