Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-11-21
COLORED CUBAN MEETING.
They Make Speeches and Pass ResO-
lutiOns.

They Resolve that BeIligerent Rights
be Accorded the PatriOts-That Con-
gress Take Possession of the Island
That they Sympatllize with their
Enslaved Brethren.
\ large number Of colored citizens met
last night at Liberty Hall for the purpose
of expressing their sentiments in regard to
the complications with Spain and Cuba.
The meeting was organized with VIM.
Sumner as chairman, and a. Menifee
as Secretary. When the chair
had explained the object of the assembling,
Abram Smith, W. F. Anderson and Samuel
Robertson were appointed to draft reSOlu-
tions expressing the sentiments of the col
ored people present. While the committee
We're out, Esq. Butler was called upon for
a speech, but excused himself. John Cock
Grill made a speech. lie said that this
was not the time for theliberation of Cuban
slaves-that God had his appointed time
and it would surely come. He said he was
in favor Of these meetings, but wanted
to wait till there was a call to arms, before
organization. Nelson Walker was then
called upon and responded in a very en-
thusiastic speech. The committee here
entered and submitted the following re-
port
Whereas, We believe an atrocious out
rage has been committed against humanity
and a violation of international law by the
capture Of the steamer Virginius, an I'M
armed American merchant vessel upon the
high seas carrying the American flag, by
the Spanish war vessel Tornado, after a
chase of eight hours, and after their cap
ture without the right of d fair
and impartial trial-tried by a drumhead
cOurt-martial. the passengers and quite all
of the crew, condemned and shot in the
short space Of forty-eight hours, against the
circumstances Of the American and British
Consuls: and whereas, this act Of unparal-
leled cruelty and sbarbarism against our
Christian and civilized law, this defiance Of
the Tighes and privileges of American citi-
Zens, has awakened an impulse in us to
vindicate our National honor and integrity,
and to prevent future occurrences of like
character; therefore,
Resolved, That the National Executive
extend belligerent rights to the Cuban pa
triots who have publicly proclaimed their
intention to liberate the slaves of the
island as they carry and triumph in the
conquest.
Resolved, thai it is the duty of the Amer
lean Congress to take possession Of the Is
land OF Cuba and hold it until there is
full and perfect Teparation made for this
humiliation of National Honor, and the
bloody catastrophe made by the Spanish
butcheries of American citizens.
Resolved, that we pledge our sympathy
with our enslaved brethren in Cuba, and
desire their enfranchsemen. and upon
the call of the National Executive will de-
fend and maintain our National honor and
integrity as American citizens against the
cruel foreign foe so totally devoid of every
principle of humanity and christianity.
The report was adopted.
". II. Morse was then called upon, and
spoke until he was requested to stop, which
he did. VIM. Sumner here rose and said
that the speaker that had preceded him
spoke as though the callers of this meeting
were attempting to fool the people, but that
he was fooled himself and would give
twenty-five cents if his name had
not been signed to the call. He
wanted all to go to Cuba that
wanted to, but as for himself, he asked to
be excused. w. f. Anderson then made a
speech, in which he said that Cuba must be
free. He defended the resolutions, as they
expressed the sentiments of the American
people. He condemned the article in the
Banner, emanating from the eolored citi-
zens of Edgefeld. He said such
things were calculated to stir
up dissensions among the colored people.
He then referred to Sam Lowry's defeat in
the 18th district a few days ago for magis-
trate. He said that was caused by just
such men as the Edgefield writer. Several
other speeches were made, all favoring the
adoption of the resolutions, ercept tlco.
The resolutions were unanimously adopted.