Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-05-05

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IS Yesterday was a big day among the col
e ored people of Nashville and vicinity, an
n was an event that will long be remembere
by them and talked about. At an earl
hour in the morning the different associa
tons, organizations and persons designin,
to participate, commenced gathering I,
I form the regular procession. The process
sion was very large and was composed, be
, sides the several societies, of persons of al
ages and sizes. There were also grea
many vehicles of every variety, freight
ed with big and little, decorated witt
eVergreens and notices, anc
bearing banners with such in.
senptions as are usually seen on such oc.
j easlons. 1t was headed by the police force,
which,, as it always does, ELECTED many
encomlums for their genleman1y and
manly bearing. After parading the princi.
pal streets, the procession, preceded by a
nne band, proceeded to Turner's Grove,
where hundreds had already gathered.
stand had been erected in the center of the
y grove, and large number of tables. lem
onade, Ice cream and fruit stands were
spread promiscuously over the grounds
The procession arrived at near ~ O'Clock.
and fled into the enclosure, and
the exercises commenced. After pray
er there was singing and music.
Speeches, which were brief and very
creditable to the speakers, were
made by several colored men. There were
no white speakers, and the regular orator
OF the day M X Johnson not being present
George Carter delivered the principal adj
dress which was well received and declar-
ing the proper course of action for the
cOlored people in their new surroundings.
The speaker was highly applauded and his
address was calculated to do good to those
who may treasure the sentiments express
ed. Additional songs and music follow
ed when George Carter read and offered
the following preamble and resolutions.
drawn up for the occasion:
whereas, 1t being customary on occa-
slons like this to adopt something as an
expression of opinion, or in some way to
make known to the public the approval
| and gratitude we owe at the amelioration
OF the condition of any portion of the
| citizens, especially those who have SO long
been the unfortunate people of the country,
we therefore feel 1t to be our duty, first to
thank Him, the Ruler of tho destinjes of
all, Tor thus being spared and permitted to
| meet on tins occasion to celebrate this the
GROWING act IN our country's history. by
| doing justice to those long deprived of
the highest privilege known to an Ameri-
can citizen In extending the right of suf-
frage to all, regardless of caste or previous
condltlon-North as well as well as South
an act for which the history of the present
or ancient times can afford no parallel
namely, the ratification of the Fifteenth
Amendment to the Constitution of the
United States by three fourtbs of
all the States of the Union. This noble
act has given satisfaction and encourape-
ment to the friends of freedom and nTo-
gress, not only in this country but THROUGH
out the civilized and christian world TINS
placing the question of suffrage where il
OF right belongs, under the control of the
Federal Government, thus il is To he
hoped settling that vexed question in this
country for all time to come and we feel
1t to be our duty also. while making an
expression of opinion, to remind those
who, when 1t was worth mems lives to
plead the cause of the poor and oppressed
people OF this country, that we fully ap-
precIate the magnitude of the responsible
ity thus imposed on US by the consumma-
ton OF this great work, accomplished
by their unceasing efforts to re-
deem this country from the dread |
ful condition inherited by 200 years |
OF unjust servitude imposed on us
and the work of these old patriots, so well |
begun and so successfully accomplished.
has now ended, and Slavery, with many of |
her kindred ties, lies Frustrated victim at |
Llberty's feet; and, to-day, our country is |
free, from Maine to the Gulf, and from the !
Atlantic to the Pacific coast. and we are
citizens In the fullest sense of the term. for
which we owe debt Of gratitude that can |
only be paid by our accomplishing all that |
1t takes to make us good and useful citizens.
and IN the interest we may take in main |
tanning the charge they gave us to keep, |
by protecting in every honorable way pos |
slble the liberty secured to us and pur- |
chased with so much blood. Realizing as |
we do our new relations to our country. /
and understanding the source from which |
TINS great change has come, we would say |
to those that are living, we stand ever |
ready to reward, and to those that
sleep in peace, their names shall ever
be remembered by the poor eman-
cipated of this country and the lovers
of truth and justice everywhere. The
friends of freedom, having thus accom-
plished this great work in establishing
freedom and equality before the law, we
have no more to ask, but fondly hope and
long to see the time when in this country
there will be no question upon which
Americans cannot agree, and that all
classes, black and white, and all sections,
North and South, East and West, can join !
hands, as countrymen should, for the in
terests of all, in maintaining the rights of
the humblest citizen in the land and |
while we to-day greet with Joy, in common
with every true lover Of liberty and equal
rights, the ratification of the Fifteenth
Amendment, we ask those of our brethren
who are benefited by it, to pause with us
in extending the hand of fellowship to
those of our white friends who reciprocate
with us when we say that our most cher
ished hope is, and ever will be, peace and
good will to all men, and prosperity and
happiness in every form, and hope the
time is not far off when they can lay down
their long cherished prejudices and step
forward on the car of progress, knowing
no man other than an American citizen,
of whatever creed or caste we be, native
born or adopted. i
Therefore be il resolved, That we greet
with Joy and heartfelt satisfaction the intel
Ggence sent forth to the country by the |
Secretary of State of the United States, and
by special message of the President to Con-
gress, Of the ratification Of the Fifteenth |
Amendment by the requisite number of
the States, and it is declared to be part
Of the Constitution of the United States,
and TO be so valid; that in this we recog- /
nize the onward march of justice and the
fulhllment of our countrys mission, as a
republican form of government.
Resolved, That we receive the admOni-
ton Of the President with the same spirit
in which it was rendered, when he said in
his message: Il call the attention, there
fore, of the enfrancbised race to the i'm
portance of their striving in every honora-
BILE manner to make themselves worthy of
their new privileges" and will do all on
our part to make good that Christian like
and manly statement, and We ask nothing
more than a fair chance in the race of life,
all other things considered.
Resolved, That we tender our thanks to
the seth and 10th Congress for the progress
made in favor of popular liberty in this
country, and recognize in them the prin-
ciples of true and enlightened Christianity,
the embodiment of sound craftsmanship |
and well-tried patriotism, which will de
serve the high honor conferred upon them
as American statesmen.
Resolved, That our thanks and memory
are also due those old champions of liberty
at the North, and those old guards that
have Just been called in from the outer
works; that have stood upon the walls
these many years in defence of right and
Justice, and having accomplished their
mission in securing freedom to the slave,
equality before the law and suffrage We
saw to them, ''Well done, thou good and
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