Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1874-06-09


press that they are doing themselves as
much damage as they are doing US.
Yes. YOU are. For every lick struck by
the press at the colored people is hurled
back upOn them by the great power Of
the nation. These inhammstory re-
ports Of intended riots on the palt of the
colored people are disbelieved in the
north. The people who COM
mingle with us know that such
reports are false, and even in the
south they are not believed. The news
papers say we are the mOuthpieces, the
great organ Of the people, We express
their sentiments and say what the peo-
ple would say if they could raise mp
and speak with one voice. Well, un-
derstand that the Ledger and Register
want a not here, in order to destroy
property and imperil human life. Do
YOU believe this sentiment is the proper
one9 Do YOU think the people want
such2 If / thought so l would leave
this city Tomorrow. LCries OF "pd leave
to-night."I The city press has not rep
resented public opinion in this matter.
| pledge mvself to say it, that II riot
was started the men who write these
articles would leave thieves to
fight their battle. ] believe all
good citizens should 90 to the Ledger
and Re0iSter and ask where they got
their information. If found true there
that any calored people united to invite
a riot, then want to see them punished.
If the gentlemen caunOt produce this
information, then / want 10 see them
handled in the criminal court.
TOM SWAN ON THE SITUATION.
Swan said it was his hearts desire to
advocate peace and order. He gave his
explauatiOn of the rObbeTies and plum
dering committed at the National GEM
etery on decoration day, and said he pro-
tacted the vendors there. 1t was the
white men, aud not the negroes, who
observed tie orders that no selling would
be allowed on the grounds. -Four col
ored men saw the white men erecting
booths, and they then erected them.
His conversation with Recorder Win
ters and his explanation as pre-
viously published was next given.
He protected Mrs. Gilmartin.
He informed Mr.. Giimartin the day pre-
vious that no one would be permitted to
sell on the grounds. Mr.. Gilmartin said
it was a ID shame to make picnic
out of the day, and he would not sell un-
for he had been 3 federal soldier, and had
fought side by side with the men who
slept in the cemetery. For this reason
he TSwan1 did not disturb him. What
he did was, he thought, his duty, bot not
for the purpose Of injuring any one. The
civil rights bill had not changed the col
ored people-they were still friendly
with the white people and hard at work.
The article that he extorted money from
Pope at the cemetery was false. He saw
the man from the psperin which the ar
tiele appeared, and asked him to do the
best lie could for them in his re-
port. He said he wouldn't do il,
but would give the case as it was.
The Pole-BeareTs didn't believe in rob
bing and plu0dering; there was clause
in their constitution making such I'M
worthy Of membership. BE had been
president of the association for siA years,
and always advised good behavior, p0-
liteness, peace and order. The negroes
never received credit for doing anything
good, but were abused for everything
ten ling to their disadvanta ge. They
now began 10 open their eyes,
and would cooperate for benefit and
protect IN. He referred TO the fact that
he had been handcutfsd to be carried to
Jail on an indictment for extorting
money from Mr.. Pope at the Ma
tionsl cemetery, but was bsiled, one OF
his own color pAwning his watch. Since
then Nr. Pope wanted to compromise
the matter. This be wanted to tell the
white people. If i mad been guilty
would he have made this proposition to
me? No, sir. Gentlemen, the time
will come when old Africa will have
Justice doCe her, let all the pressure Of
the world come against Us. Cheers.1
At the conclusion Of Swan's speech
the secretary read the following:
RESOLUTIONS.
RI s0lred, That we, the cOlored people
of this county and city are peaceful and
law.abidiDg, and desire to live in har-
mOny with sll good citizensi that the
articles recently published in the
Register, AUdldRehe and Ledger, char
acterizjng US lawlass and evil disposed,
are untrue without any foundation
ia fact, and published only for political
purpose, and should be condemned ty
all good citizens as unjust TO class and
prejUdicisl to the interest Of Memphis.
ResOlred, That we denOunce as un-
true all siatewents published ia the city
papers, and rVmOrs circulated on the
streets to the effect that the cOlOrsd peo-
pie are drilling aud preparing to disturb
ihe peace Of the city, and that We call
upon an good citizens to assist US in fer
reting out tue authors of these vile slam
ders, and pledge ourselves 70 aid in ex-
posing them aud their falsehOOds.
Resolved, That the city papers be re-
quested to publish these resolutions.
The resolutions were then adopted,
and thereUpCn the
CONSTITUTION OF THE POLE BEARERS
was read by the secretary to show that
il was q benevolent, and not military
or political organization. The bylaws
ana rules OF order were also read, to
strengthen the fact that il was q benevo-
lent organization.
ED SHAW AGAIN.
Ed. Shaw said: FellOw-citizens, you
have now heard read the constitution Of
the Pole Bearers. We have in Mem
phis thirty-One societies for similar be-
nevOlent purposes. Such organizations
were commenced because of the desti-
tute condition Of the people just after
the war, and the feelings OF the white
people, who considered them as so many
paupers. He said these benevolent soci-
sites we're doing a great deal of good,
and should be encouraged by the tax
payers and white people. Last year they
spent between thuty-five hundred and
four thousand collars in burying their
dead, aud as much Tor doctors bills.
The white people were not 50 nghty cs
they sDpesse9, or they wouldn't skeer
30 quick, as .hsre was nothing 70 skeer
at. 1t was like the cry 2f "Hel broke
loose in Georgia. Once upon timS q
white man and q negro had fuss down
In Georgia and the former called the
latter liar. A white lady hearing
this imagined that the negroes We're
about TO have an insurrection. she
communicated the fact TO an old man,
who spread the news all over the
country and after riding seven horses
TO death, reached North Carolina, and be-
ing asked what was the matter, replied :
"Hel's broke loose in Georgia. So
some Of the people had concluded that
hell was broke loose in Chelsea, because
the colOTed people had held a prayer
meeting there. He had not seen any.
thing of il, and hoped he would not, and
that nom this day people would cease to
talk about the colOred people trying tC
have riot The coloned people did moi
want to fight
THOMAS SWAN ONCE MORE.
Thomas Swan corrob0rated the above
statements, aud hoped there had beer
no extra drilling since the civil rights
bin had come up. The card in the Apd
lllncAe explained where the arms has
been obtained The arms had been ou
only three times, and then only for pa
a- - for the infurv Of anvbQdV