The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1869-06-27
! ssnsihle Talk lre.a : eolorsd s1an.

The following note from 3 vel. known
colossd man, sof Knoxsille. Tenu., will
explain itself Isistfuil OF good sense:
Kkoxv1LnE, June ~. 1869. II David
Brosen. coiorsd, J a kis,psd', Of this city. =
Sur: At meeting of the colored people
OF Knoxville, last night, in Mt. Zion
Church, you took occasion to refer to
myself and some remarks 7 had seen
proper to make from the verandah OF
the Lamar House, when number OF
people Of our race saw proper to tender
to Governor Senter the compliment OF O
serenade. On that occasion, being called
upon, stated what I believed, and still
believe to be the truth. 1 was speaking
in the interest and for the benefit of the
colored people. Ever since the colored
man has had his vote in Tennessee, I
have seen how he has suffered himself to
be led to the polls by selfish men who
have no interest in the black man, but
whose only object is to use him as a
stepping-stone from which they can
walk into Office and power. I have seen
too much of this thing to remain quiet
when see an effort being made to array
myself and other colored men against
the interests and the rights of the white
people. The white people have given us
the right to vote at an earlier day than
we had any reason to expect it. It would
be not only ingratitude, but the worst
policy we could pursue, to aid in keep
ing the white people of Tennessee from
the ballot-box.
Hore. in Tennessee, the black man en-
joys all the political rights of tue white
man. He enjoys rights here that he
could not enjoy in Ohio. Let q colored
man who votes in Knoxville 20 to Gin
cinnati, and he will find that he cannot
vote there. speak what know, and I
say it is not honest in q colored man in
Tennessee to use the liberty that has been
given him to Cypress and disfranchise
the white people who pay the taxes by
which our State government is sup
ported. Besides, it is now certain that
the white people of the State will soon
be allowed to vote, and he is no friend
to the colored man who tries to array
him against the white race. L under
stand, Mr.. Alderman Brown, that you
spoke very derisively of me and
my associates. You called us "skinped-
headed BARRIERS" Our business is at
least respectable, and let me tell you that
it brings us in contact with the gentle
men of this community. We listen to
ana pay aItentlOn TO their views, ana We
are satisfied that the white people of
Knoxville are our friends, and we do not
propose to make enemies of them by
using the ballot to deprive them of rights
we enjoy ourselves.
Now, you make your speeches against
me in the League, but will venture to
say that two-thirds of the money you
get for your work {you are n shoemaker)
is paid to you by the very men you wish
to keep in political slavery. The mean
est trait in mans character is ingrati-
tude, and tell you that could not look
a white man in the face if 1 was trying
to place him lower in society than my
self. Because you happen to be an AL
derman, Mr.. Brown, don't imagine that
you can drive the colored men of Knox
vile to make war upon their best friends.
Yours, candidly,
GUS PHINIZY, Barber.