Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1872-08-27
Radical Mass Meeting.

| hail. south Columbus street. There was 4 good
attendance, and attention was paid 10 the
speakers throughout No scenes or incid,utS'
occurred to enven the occasion, and dizziness
rcigned.
At about half past eight clock the meeting
was called to order by +. L. Buckley, who
moved that George l.. Seaton be invited to the
chair. The motion prevailed, and Srat"n ac-
cordingl " advanced to the stand. thanked the
meeting for the honor conferred upon him, ap-
pointed f. i. Bcckley Secretary, and extended
the freedom OF the meeting 10 the Reporters.
Fields Cook was then Introduced is one Of
the orators of the occasion. He said this
meeting had been couvoked tor the purpose Of
considering the present status of the cnlorcd
man, and hence he had deemed it his solemn
duty to be on hand Four years had now
elapsed since he had said anything politically
but at such crisis when the vital interests of
his race were at stake, it was his privilege, as
well as his duty, to expatiate upon the great
| calamltles WHICH Wnuld eneyitably beiall the
rolured people should the "DlnukratS,' US he
called them carry the dry at the next preSi-
dental election. That the Democrats would
deprive the col"rcl man Of all the privileges lie
now enjoyed wa his honest belief, as their past
| history would show and it was certainly their
aim at this time to put the cnlorcd race where
10 their opinion it should always have beet
deprived OF all the freedom which the itrpub-
llcau party had succeeded III securing 10 it.
Now. in order to accomplish this netariou,
purpose and realize their long cherished hopes,
this party has agreed TO accept Horace Greeley
rs its standard bearer, hoping thereby 10 dc
ludc many cololed voters He was there TO
warn them against falling into such a snare.
| lie was glad of the late war, as 1t had secured
10 his insulted race the privileges OF citizenship
and equal rights before the aw but, at the
same time, there were many blessings which
c,lored people >hnuil enjoy but were prevented
/ from enjoying III this State, viz: Riding in cars
with white people, eating at the regular table 10
hotels, &c rights with which the Republican
party would eventually invest them. But, on
the other hand should the opposite party
succeed in clect!ng their candidates. tie rights
Of the colulrd man would soon lie taken away,
aud this brad land made \ white u.aiI ;
country. | Appealed tn his hearers il they
intended voting 10 bring about such result.
| He said Mr. Greeley spoke IT i clIasrn between
the two parties. which he tNlr. &. was trying
10 close The speaker saw a more ica;u
cia>ln, Two hundred and fifty years lecp-thc
period in which the blacks were Kept in bond
]
! if the Democrats eyer ;.Ean wlridcl universal
sway. 81 The principles of that party clearly
! showed that ii was not their iuteuton OF ac-
cnriing equal rights 10 the back man but the
coIored race w0u!! stop with nothing short 81
! social equality Great applause. The speak
er then undertook 70 br acetlnu> but IA wits
are horn and not manufactured. he made but
poor out Of it-Nying Greeley had big feet,
| &c. and rctcrating about the colorcd people
being put back iuto slavery: though ii Is evident
! that many nt his mure Intelligent c@orcd hear
er> regarded such talk as absurd. He said
great deal of abuse had been hcapcd upon
! President Grant but appealed &c his hearers
10 know if Washington. Madison and others
had not been vied also. aud expressed ii
| his opinion that the true merits of | ly>>es ).
| Grant would never be properly appreciated uu.
iii thar gentleman was laid in the tomb. ~
lie then made a hrutum tuImen attack on Nr.
Sumner for the views sci forth in h, recent
letter and said the treason OF Benedict Arnold
or that of Aaron Burr failed 10 equal that CON-
united 10y Mr.. Sumner. and that the faithful
page of history would hold the latter up with
more inamy than il had either Of the former.
He said Mr.. Greeley had been foremost in
bringing about the trouble between the North
and South. and compared Alr. Greeley with the
wolf in the fable aud President Grant to the
innocent little lamb He then turned again on
Mr. Sumner. said he had become angry with
the President and was DESTROYS that every one
else should. aud rccitcd the fable Of the fox
without tail Referring to euua! rights again.
he said when he was bog anu was struck py 4
white person. he often regretted that he was
debarrei the right Of retaliation. He concluded
hy offering the following preamble and rr>o!u-
tons
Whereas, i: is apparent that some ttw .: our
colorrd fellow citizens seem no. tohsv- juGg-
ment 20 vote without asking others - ic.! them
how and whereas they have now ag7ced u "h"y
and follow their instructions wi;n"l! regard :"
the result Of the coming election. upon "nicn :"
much depends, Tor wea ur Tor Voc, - ou- pco-
ple therefore,
Rs>o,csl, Thst the colorai citizens OF A'ex-
andria. Va. IN mass meeting assembled. Il" De-
care j, rs our opinions that 10 mans st + ".:.!
are Il be followed when they und.rtane :" lead
u 10 d. that which * against our best interest.
Re . r.d That while VT look upon Hon.
Charles Summer a one anp1g our tried aid
faithful friends. We. the cuured citizens q Alex
andria, cauno, rdo-:e MS course towards P7e>i.
dent Grant believing. .as both MS speech AID
letter SHOWS that he WAS prompted rather ~
anger ,han oI sound JUDI meni
Rtsulrei This. we viii vote III the c ming
Presidential election for the re-eiec.ion III L. ).
Grant the prcser; incunhcn: & ;he ni:,
House and Henry W !!>on. IN. .ons tried aa3
earnest friend OF our rsce-
r. D. Becklcy was next introduced. who said
he would merely second the resolutions offered
by Fields Cook. but proceeded 70 make quite
lengthy harangue o. hat he termed. the
evils which would be brought upon the eo,ored
race should Mr. Greeley be elected President:
He said the Democrats had always endeavored
to degrade the black man: had never leEi>Ia!rti
for his advancement: had never 50 much as
given him school house bur had burnt down
several for him defended the course pursued
hy the t. 5 authorities 10 contuug hu hlu1
prisoners in the Albany penitentiary. saying Ii
they were inca rcerated in Southern prisons they
would be released before >undown: said Nr.
Greeley was 10 more competent u be Pre>
dent than was jacka>> 70 sing psalms; drew
some imaginary pictures oi hu k.ux out1ge> !:
said the colored people We're lndetted 10 NJ |
Sumner Tor nothing. as be had merely done his |
duty charged Mr. Sumner with tetr.ylng |
death he'd confidence reposei an him b the |
late f. VI. Stanton said. however. tina, h De-