New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1872-05-16
A DastardIy Outrage.
An Attempt TO Murder q State Omeer-s.e
rotary CsrdozO's Statement,
COLUMBIA. s. C..

!
Editor of the Daily Union
desire to make few statements in your
paper, about the MANNER in which L was
treated at Atlanta, Ga, last night, while re-
turning home from the National Colored Con-
vention at New Orleans.
Messrs. Ransier, McKinlay, Frost, and my
| sell lett Charleston on Friday morning, the
2tn instant, to attend the convention at New
Orleans, as delegates from South Carolina.
When we arrived at Augusta, and were about
10 start for Atlanta, we went into the Sleep
ING car to engage berths for the night. The
conductor refused to accommodate us. then
showed him letter from Mr.. Pullman, the
President of the Palace Car Company, which
has the monopoly of that business, believe
That letterwas one of the terms of the fol-
lowing compromise, proposed by Mr.. Pullman
10 me last january, and accepted by me, and
was obtained under the following circum-
stances:
was elected from one of Mr.. Pullman's
sleeping cars last June, and instantly brought
suit againet him for 1000. He requested an
interview, and proposed the following terms
as compromise:
First. He should issue a general order to
all his conductors throughout the United
States to make no objection to any man on
account of his color
Second. He should give me letter permit
ting me to ride at.any time on the same terms
as others, should conductors object.
Third. He should pay all legal expenses
incurred by me, thus far.
l accepted Mr.. Pulman's terms, as my OBJ
ject was my rights, and the rights of colored
men, and not his money.
When the conductor refused us permission
to remain in the sleeping car, and [ handed
NUM- tho letter referred to above, / asked him
| II he had not receI, IL any general order''
as Mr.. Pullman had agreed. htN.aaid.be had
not.
After reading my letter, he told me could
stay, but my three friends must leave. told
him L would keep with my friends, whether
they decided to go or stay. They refused to
leave. The conductor ordered the porter not
to make up our beds, and the intended Sleep
ing car was not different to us from waking
car.
Some time after, during the night, the con-
ductor asked me to show him my letter once
more, L suspected something wrong, and
asked him what he wanted with it again. He
said that there was Director of the Georgia
State Road on board of bis train, who threat
ened to have him dismissed the next morning
at Atlanta, and he wished to show the letter
to Mr.. Pullman's agent, to protect himself.
L Immediately handed him the letter, request
ing him to send it to me at New Orleans the
next day.
He never sent it; at any rate, it never
| reached me.
| On our return from New Orleans, nv
friends and parted; they returned immedi-
ately home after the convention adjourned,
| and L remained a day or two behind to visit
some friends. They passed through Atlanta
on Wednesday night and went right into the
| smoking-car, was told.
l arrived in Atlanta yesterday afternoon,
and went to the cars at 8 O'Clock. Twas en-
| trely alone.
Immediately went to the sleeping car TO
obtain birth, which was promptly and posi-
lively denied me. L then asked the conduc
tor (who was a different person from the one
that took us down) if he had my letter? He
said he did not. L then asked him if he had
night previously? 81 have indeed" he said
'Do L understand that you refuse me accom-
modations ?'' L asked him. I" do" he re-
| piled. L then said: "Mr. Conductor, you
have the p0wer to keep me out, but have
| the right to go in. The door is locked and
you have the key, and are master of the sit
uation but protest against your treatment,
and give you notice that will renew my suit
against Mr.. Pullman on account of your
| treatment, and will not accept any compro-
mise this time"
| L then attempted to go into the regular
| first-class day car. The doors were locked,
and the conductor politely informed me that
| cOlOred persons were not allowed to ride in
those cars-that l must go into the smoking
car. He expressed sympathy for me, but said
| his orders were imperative. L thanked him
for his sympathy, and told him had no fault
to find with his treatment; that | knew he
was simply an executive officer, carrying out
| the orders of his employers, the Directors;
| but L informed him also, at the same time,
| that l remained out under protest, and would
seek my redress from the courts, if colored
men could get any Justice from the hands of
| the Democrats in Georgia.
| At this point, about ten or twelve white
men gathered round the platform where the
conductor and L were quietly and politely
speaking, as have related. A young white
man then came up on the platform to me and
asked me if 1 was Cardozo, the Secretary of
State of South Carolina. L told him l was.
| He then took me by the arm and attempted
to drag me off the platform among the crowd,
saying he wished to see me.
The thought instantly flashed through my
mind that this person meant mischief, and
that there were those in the crowd who meant
to help him. l., therefore, released myself
and refused to leave the platform, and step
ped backward into the smoking car. He
pursued me there, and after using the most
abusive and threatening language, he drew of
to strike me. The conductor then interfered
and protected me, and elected this person
from the car.
1 am perfectly satisfied in my own mind
. that this was deliberate conspiracy to
assault me and murder me if 1 resisted L
certainly would have been murdered, for L
would rather have died on the spot than
! tamely submit to such an uncalled for and
, unprovoked assault. The timely interference
/, of the conductor, and his starting his train
Immediately, believe, saved my life.
Now, Mr.. Editor, the simple facts need no
words Of comment from me /; they teach their
own lesson.
1t is specimen of the boosted freedom and
protection the Democratic party of Georgia
, give the coloredman; and yet the Democrats
, tell us they are our best friends. God save
us from such friends!
!, do earnestly hope and pray that my right
7, hand may lose its cunning, and my tongue
. cleave to the roof of my mouth, before
should ever use them to give such men
power, in either our State or national Gov
ernment; and think, in so determining, L
speak the sentiments of intelligent and lead
ing colored men.
Yours truly, f. l.. CARDoZo,
Secretary of State, South Carolina.
-