Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1874-08-14
WHITE AND BLACK.

line cali lOi q PApAN NANNN"6 ~ 49,
Exposition building made by Shaw,
Swan, Phillips, Rankin and other leaders
of the negro population was but poorly
responded to by either whites or blacks
last night The object of the meeting
purported to be in the interest of peace,
and yet the cOlored orators were bitter
and yindictive. Phillips and Shaw were
especially SO when commenting upon
the Austin and Somerville riots, and the
course which the press of the city has
assumed. The ten signers to the call
do not represent the sentiments of the
negro race in Memphis. The race
is peacefully disposed, and were it not
for the incendiary harangues delivered
nv Barbour Lewis, Ed Shaw, Phillips
and other white and black leaders, no
trouble could possibly arise between the
races in this city. The quicker the
black people leave these political leaders
high and dry the better it will be for
them in every respect. The leading
Radicals, white and black, seek to con-
troll the colored vote SO as to step into
Office. They care not what troubles
may be engendered between the races
so they secure the spoils. At the cleo
ton last week over five hundred col
ored people voted for the Bartlett
nominees, and in November next still
greater number will be seen voting
with their best friends, the white people
of Shelby county. The Radical leaders
see this, and see in it their downfall. The
barrier of prejudice had been beaten
down, and for the first time in the his
tory Of Memphis the colored man turned
his back on his Radical leaders. Every
colored speaker last night declared in
favor of the civil rights bill and its legit-
innate results, so obnoxious to the white
race in the South. So far as the efforts
made in the interest of peace by the
negro orators last right are concerned,
the meeting might be termed q 6asco,
bat in other respects it had probably
good effect. The speech made by Gov.
Harris was pertinent and pointed. He
addressed the negroes in words of wis
dom. He said in conclusion:
Iconiess that have been greatly dis
couraged by the tone of all the speeches
which have been made by the colored
men here tonight. You begin with the
declaration that you have no confessions
to make, all of which was gratuitous
and unnecessary, as none expected you
to make confessions. But you not only
notify us Of the fact that you have no
confessions to make while the tone of
your speeches seem TO demand confes-
sions from us. We have as few confess
sions to make as we expected from you.
speak the sentiment Of the entire intel
ligent white population. of Memphis
when say that we are resolved to vindi-
cate and maintain the legal rights of
every citizen of Memphis, black and
white, to sustain the law and preserve
the peace and good order Of the city.
The colored speakers who had ad-
dressed the meeting wanted guarantees
from the white people that they would
protect them, and that they would sus-
tain the law and preserve order and
peace in the community. He could
assure them that the white people Of
Memphis were resolved to sustain the
law and preserve peace and order.
Further, they desired to extend to
every colored man within the limits of
Shelby county the fullest measure of
justice and all the legal rights and priv.
ileges to which the law entities him, He
was one of the white men who would GO
as far as any one TO vindicate every
right which the colored people could
claim under the laws of the country. and
would be Just as ready to rebuke them
when they committed acts OF violence
aad lawlessness. The white people OF
the South were the truest friends OF the
coiorcd people, far more so than tha
class Of politicians whom they had only
known few years, and who had no us'
for the colered people only when the,
wanted their votes TO get into office
Bot do not propose to enter upon any
political discussion. came hare slonI
IN the interest Of the peace and quic
tnde of the city, and regret the tone
which characterized the speeches tba
have been made, but hope to hear NOR,
conciliatory speeches before the meeting
adjourns. If do not, / shall feel tha
We have met for little purpose.
Governor Harris expressed to the let
Ter the sentiments with which the Whit
people Of this city regard the colored race
We believe that the mass Of the colored
people Of Memphis who are engaged il
industrial pursuits will ere long act il
harmony with the whites, and will vot,
With them. This will leave the whit,
and black Radical leaders with q wretch
eddy small minority Of colored men Il
support them. These will be the turbu