The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1870-06-11
M;she gs1setil M1yhf9
ELkTON, JUNE ii, 1870.
The COlOred Voters and their Enemies.


The COlOred Voters and their Enemies.
The enthusiasm among the colored peo-
pie increases daily, and their determination
to prove themselves worthy of the position
to which the Fifteenth Amendment has
raised them, is manifest in all their works.
Ratification meetings Of that grand article
in the charter of their freedom, are being
held in all parts of the country, and the
enthusiasm seems to rise with every dem
onstration. We give accounts this week
of two of those meetings held in this
county,-one at Cecilton and the other at
Port Deposit, both largely attended and
got up in 4 manner that would have re-
Elected credit on the white people who have
many more and superior advantages for
such displays.
Preparations are in progress by the col
Ored people of Elkton for celebrating the
4th of July, by demonstration similar to
the above and in view Of what they have
accomplished, we may expect a turnout ON
that day which will eclipse any Fourth of
July celebration ever witnessed in this
town.
One of the most praiseworthy features
which have distinguished those ratification
meetings, is the decorum and strict order
which has attended them. No drunk men,
no noisy brawls are seen or heard among
the colored people at these meetings. They
f,al t1,,H ~, ii I,ra
lynx-eyed world, ready to condemn the
slightest irregularity or unbecoming act OH
their part, although the whites set myriads
of examples at their public gatherings. 1t
is this pride of character, this self-respect,
which so enrages that class of Cepperheads
who have prophesied all manner of evil
things against the colored man in state of
freedom. But from every honest man and
lover of good morals and good behavior,
the department of the colored people elicits
words of praise and encouragement.
This commendable conduct on their part,
i'll place of allaying, only serves to increase
the envy and hatred Of the party which
has it in its power to do them incalculable
injury. The business of registration is
entirely in the hands of the enemies of the
colorcd people in this State, and the howls
of rage with which they greet the passage
Of the Enforcement bill, is an indication of
their purpose. We cannot doubt for mo-
ment that it is the deliberate purpose of
the Rebel party of Maryland to rob, to the
extent of their power, the colored men of
their right to vote at the next Fall election.
The stringent Enforcement bill passed by
Congress recently, will doubtless deter
them somewhat, and make them more eau
tious, but not for a moment has the design
Of that party to defraud as large per cent
of the colored men Of their votes as it is
possible to do, been abandoned. Every
excuse will be made use of, no matter how
trivial, to exclude their names from the
registry, if it but afford a reasonable pro-
lection to shield the registrar from the pen
atty Of the act of Congress. The colored
men see this, and are making strenuous
efforts to form a thorough and complete
organization. This requires some money
and time which they can lily afford to divert
from the support of their families and the
education of their children. These reasons
appeal strongly to white Republicans, who
are i'll circumstances to afford it, for pecu-
MARY aid in assisting the colered men, who
are making such noble and self-sacrificing
efforts to effect their complete enfranchise-
ment.
The Rebel party of the State are melting
their blind votaries to a more intense hatred
Of the colored man, and using every effort
to foster and build up q distinct party
founded on this principle, which shall make
a relentless and extermnating war upon
him. Finding they cannot debauch and
subvert the negro to their own base and
selfish purposes, they are ready to incite to
his murder and subsection. 1t is their con-
slant threat, that if by any means-no
matter how foul-the Rebel party Of the
country can again gain the ascendency, the
colored man shall be deprived of the ballot
and returned to condition Of virtual sla-
very. The colored people have an instinc-
tive knowledge Of this, and are working
with an energy that the love of freedom
alone inspires, to establish their enfran-
chisemept on Il foundation SO firm that
even the gates of hell, which the party of
their enemies most nearly represent, shall
not prevail against it. Let every noble and
true man give them aid and encourage
ment, and when they strike Democracy
next Fall, in Maryland, it will be such
blow as will send the Rebel reeling to the
earth never again to rise.