Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-01-02
sIxTsu ANNIVERSARY.
celebration. by che CoI0red People
Yesterday.

BrOad street, consisting OF melnhefS Ol the
various colored societies of this city.
GAINESVILLE, and Antioch. They marched
mp Summer street 60 Line, through Line 10
College, mp College to the Public Square.
around the Square to Cedar street and mp
Cedar 10 the Capitol, and then into the
Hall Of the House Of Representatives,, which
had been granted them by the Representa-
tiyes. In few minutes the large hall and
galleries were filed to their utmost capacity.
There were three bands engaged for The
occasion, one brass band and the others
drums and flies. The procession was very
orderly, and the whole exercises at the
Capitol were conducted in a very decorous
manner.
AT THE CAPITOL.
When orde: had been gained Edward
North, the President Of the day, took the
chair and called them to order. He said
that this was the first time lac ever had
the honor of presiding over a body
ofmen assembled to celebrate the first day
of January, on which, in the year 1863,
the emancipation proclamation was de-
clared 10y that great man, Abraham Lin
coin. He felt as if he had been honored
beyond his stature He invoked the at
tention of the large audience to the exer-
cises, and hoped that good order and de-
corum would prevail.
The first in order on the programme was
a song by a choir, composed of members
FROM different churches Air" John
Browns ,body lies mouldering in the grave. -
Calvin Pickett then offered an interesting
and solemn prayer, after which another
song was sung by the choir
G. NJ. d. Sumner was reqested to act as
Secretary, and the reporters of the city
papers as assistants.
w. A. Sumner then read The Emancipa-
sion Proclamation which was received with
rounds of applause
The brass band played Hail Columbia.
Happy Land, after which Elder i. T.
Brooks delivered an Grafton, the substance
Of which is as follows: He thanked them
for the honor conferred upon him. They
were brought together to celebrate the an
niversary Of their freedom and liberty OF
their race. They were now in a state OF
transit. passing from worse to better; thew
had only crossed the Red Sea, as a nation.
and they were passing along now 20 the
land Of freemen. They were here tC
celebrate that day or that event which
gave them the liberty they now eniov,
Who could have believed ten wear,
ago, even if a prophet or ange
would have told 1t, that it would hay,
been the privilege of the colorcd citizens
not then recognized as citizens but a,
the goods and Chattels of other persons
to meet in the Legislative hall of tli,
State on the lst of January. They werc
sitting today under the great earle OF
the country with its wings spread owe,
them, representing the liberty they cnioy
No nation on the face of the earth Iiy;ns
inside OF q nation had greater rights Il
enjoy than their race. Go to EurODe
and other places and when YOU see ,
black man you see human oppression
Their curly hair had been a peculiar adj
vantage TO this nation, as they couI,
keep them when they wished. This da,
was a celebration of the birth of n ma
ton, and the day that Abraham Lincolr
erased American slavery that day new
nation was born. Loud applause7 Thi
nation was young yet, it was only scycI
years old, and had a good deal to sub
NIT 20. before reaching manhood
They had got great dea
more from the nation than
he expected. They had gained th,
FIRST great principle, and that was liberty
Give "a person his liberty and he couii
| work ont for himself his own salvation OF
destruction. 1t was their duty now. {,
look ahead and ascertain what was to be
done for the best. how they should bette
prepare themselves for coming events
Notwithstanding all the crooked paths they
had to follow, his race had been blessed
The first thing they SHOULD do as a nation
inst born, was 10 strive for a mark of higl
civilization and moral culture, and cult
waite good morals if they intended to ar.
rive at q proper sphere in life. Their
former habits would not do. The race be
fore them had had the advantage Of them
for the past 80 years that nation had cul
tivat7i q most high state of morals they
trpwu down bad society and elevate aul
educate their children. If they expected
To De "a nation, respected inside %
this nation. they must cultivate
high state Of civilization, must imi
tate the nation before us in every
thing that was good and frown down every
thing bad. Let them as a nation hOnol
the sleeping dust of Abraham Lin
coin. Let each head Of the families cult
vate high state Of morals at home. carry
II out, and let this nation see that there !,
honor il the black man. Let them wait
until the day of their redemption dawned
until their sons and daughters are educated
aud can honor them. Look ahead; there
was brighter day dawning, and this wa.
only tho beginning Of good times. They
must recollect that an infant could not
travel as fast as a grown man. Let him
get a little more brain and power, and
th5u, SO soon as they could trust his juIg,
ment and his education, they would give
him the full powers Of manhood.
Another song was sung by the choir with
good effect.
Letters were roaI from Messrs. i. F.
Butler o. O. Howard. Jas. A. sumner.
col W. b. Stokes and W. J. Smith. de
Ginning the invitation TO be present at the
anniversary, giving as a reason, " business
too pressing.
George Bartee, colored was called for,
and responded in a few remarks appropri-
ate 90 the occasion.
The Committee on Resolutions, consist
ing Of T. J. Bell. Alex. Gleaves and W. 2.
Anderson, reported the following resolu-
tons:
Whereas, we have been permitted by a
kind aud merciful Providence to live to
see this. the sixth anniversary of our free
dom and independence as a people, and to
enjoy many other blessings which a kind
Providence has shown to our people; there
fore be it
Resolved. That we do hereby return to
J q. = Ii II =
sincere and grateful thanks for the preser-
walton Of our lives and good health, to
again see and meet on this. the lst day Of
January. which we hold dear, and so much
delight to celebrate and commemorate.
But, while at the same time, we meet for
the purpose Of celebrating this day, as the
great anniversary of the deliverance of
some four millions of our race of people
from the bonds and shackles Of
slavery, we cannot forget 10 men
ton, and do homage and reverence
to the name Of that great. good and
Christian man. Abraham Lincoln. to whose
kind and Christian-llze deeds. we are and
shall ever be indebted for the freedom and
liberty which we now enjoy, and the mem
orv Of whom We viii ever cherish in our
hearts rs the greatest Of household-gods
Resolved further, That we have an abid-
inc faith and confidence in the uprightness.
magnanimity. honor and patriotism Of the
Chief Executive and Congress of the Uni
ted States, and. while We willingly yield
true faith and obedience TO all the laws Of
the government. and are willing, if ueces-
sary. to even sacrifice our lives for the pre-
servaticn of the same; We, in return, claim
and Lun1ly demand rs our right as citi-
zeus of the same, IFS protection to us la
the preservation Of our lives and enjoy
meut of our property.
Resolved further, That under the
party rule Of the Rebel party now in power
and coutrr. of the State of Tennessee. orr
-.-. - III, IL, IL. md III Linr, l..