Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1874-10-11
M. GARLAND's SPEECH.

Q
many false statements uttered In reference 10
them, TO place ourselves right before the
World the views OF our standard bearer should
be known upon these important points.
Nh. GARLAND's SPEECH.
In reference to the attitude of the colored
people in our State, I wish TO say this new
constitution which I am discussing recognizes
TO the fullest extent every right the c0iOred
man bRs now under the constitu ion OF 1865,
| as we'll as the laws made in this State under
that constitution. You ali know that the op-
ponents OF the present. move in which we are
/ engaged predicted that when the coustitu-
tional convention met in Little Rock, last
July, it would be but the assembly of kul1Iux
] or white leagueFs, ana they would st once
/ proceed to take from the colCred man every
/ right he had under existing laws, and even
/ put him back into slavery. But the proph.
! ecies u these imprudent aud rnissuidei men
| proved to be wholly unfOuuded, and this can
| be shown in a very few moments, If you Will
sections of Article declaration ,Oi rights,
the equality OF the colored man before
/ the law is distinctly announced for ali time
and no citizen mot snerely white, but any
and Hll citizens are thus protected) can ever
/ be deprived Of any right, privilege or immu-
/ nifty on account OF race, color OF previous
| condition. This is the plain ana uneguivocal
! language Of the new constitution, and by il
the cOlsred man is secured in his rights 20 the
same extent that am, and II am The execu-
! tive TO enforce that constitution, he shall
have his rights as completely as shall have
mine. Again, section twenty-eeyen Of the
same article prohibits forever slavery or IN
voluntary servitude in this State except as a
punishment for crime. There, now, the col
Ored people were not put back into slavery
And really, my fellOw-citizens, il there is a
man in Arkansas that wants to put them
back into slavery, 1 do not know who he is, /
and suppose know as many people in the
state as any other man in IT, lido know, for
one, would not, If 1 could, reduce them TO
slavery and know, further than that, II am |
your governor, and ne effort is made. [ shall |
use all the power ! have under this con-
stitution 20 prevent 1t. So, now itappears our
prophets in the land were not welt informed |
on these points But further yet: Articl, |
franchise and election) permits the col |
gred man 10 vote under the same rules and |
regulations IL permits me, ana places Il be- !
yond the power OF the legislature to chan sc |
tins as it forbids the enactment Of any law |
whereby this right shall be impaired or for /
feited, except for the commission OF felony |
at common law, upon lawful conviction there !
Of; ana this apOlies to oolored and white vO- |
teTs alike. And while believe no Legislature |
viii undertake to limit or abridge this right of
the colored man differently from the same |
rlgnt OF the white man. know II the attempt |
is made IL will not receive my sanction. IL is |
idle If not worse, TO talk of building and keep
ing up parties in this country upon mere dis !
nncuons of class or color, and those VINO |
preach il or insist upon IL fear have not con- |
sidered well the question in one-half its |
bearings, and feel that our people are now /
lar above and beyond any such silly /
views or doctrines, and in the liberal |
spirit and meaning of this constitution /
shall at ali times disoOuntenance and combat
any such positions. The list is not yet COM
plete. IL was fOretoid that our friends in tue
convention would take from the cOlored peo-
pie the benefits of common schools. This
ike the other predictions, was not verified.
Article IA OF the constitution (education)
makes IL OnnBRtory upon the legislature TO
provide by taxation for a system OF such
schools for all persons in the State between |
the ages OF six and twenty-One years; and the
tax provided for in section three Of that ar
dcie, under proper and judicious manage
ment, VIII bulid up and secure good system
OF Tree schools IN this Stale, and especially
will this be so when taken in connection with l
the tax the general assembly may authorize |
the school districts TO levy by vote Of the 1
iata n frffa
taxes under this constitution are TO be held
and appropriated sacredly for school pur-
Lh1s constitution l viii more opeers |
fully and readily bring to the atten-
ton OF the legislature, with earnest
recommendation that IL ba carried into effect,
than this. A system of schools OF this kind
is an absolute necessity in our state, and its
advantages and blessin ngE are beyond all cal
culatton, and beyond all price. And / want
them for the benefit of all the children alike,
colored and white. These benefits are es-
sential 10 them in government like ours as
are their victuRls and clothes; and II there
lives man who suppOses l am not in favor of
schoOlng me eolored children, he Is sadly in
error. Wlsh them 20 De educated up 10 the
very highest point possible, that they may
know, as well as men can, how to meet and
those great duties that devolve !
upon them on account of the change in their
in society. Il would be "A cruelty, II
not barbarity, not to provide them with
means equal 10 those for other children, at
this day and time in our cOuntry's history;
and If in this race Of education. the colored
DnNs lfdrD Dttlef ana raster than my DOYS, I !
Will not cry at ALL nor will l feel the least
jealousy, but / viii still be ready to afford
them all facilities l can TO climb to the I
very highest education they can pos ;
dbly reach. Six years ago, in this :
very place. spoke for peace, and order and 1
aw as now speak, and then said the col !
bred man is a necessity here; that no one
,ould stand this climate and make our farms =
IS valuable as the negro, and while he was a :
necessity 70 us,Wa were the same 10 him that :
,ur interests were in the same channel and !
We had reciprocal duties IN be performed y
owsrd each otheri and now to-day I repeat :
!, win more connde2ce' II possible, than h
hen uttered it. Ard I want the cclored man I
ind ourselves TO understand this, and then I
Iur relations cannot lie disturbed by bad in
means OF bringing this about, 1 know OF none Y
more efficient than this system Of schools OF 9
which am speaking. II would be useless, II :
had the time, 10 discuss the general advan-
ages of schools OF this kind-tbey are now
Droverbial and all persons Of even fair read :,
ng are familiar with them: and TO bring 7
hoe advantages TO our state ] Will be | =
-eady AZ all Times 10 exercise all the power \
may naFS ds governor under THIS cOnStttu- / :
ion. But 1 hear IL Whispered round and | 4
about that the southern states, and Arkansas | =
among them, are to be Overhauied by con / =
.rsss this winter, and in some way recon- .
'tructed, because the cOlOred man has no law =
living him elvil rights in those States. Upon ~
MS preteXt we are TO be upset and worked =
over. Ny fellOw-eiti zens, one and all, upon Y
his proposition Arkansas is at home aud 2
lnite comfortble. In the acts Of The legisla- Z
ufe oi 1870, pages l0-l9 mo. l2), we have a :,
civil rights bill, which is now in ioree-ai- .
most copy, II mistake not, OF the bill Mr. ?
sumner shortened his life in vainly trying to y
Jet congress TO pass. II congress next winter Il
an get up one more definite, more minute, q
md more specific IN giving rights 10 the u
'oored man, l would be pleased TO >
ook upon aud observe il That act is =
low IN toIce, as l said, ana l know Of no =
me who wants 20 repeal 1t, and certainly do .
lot want II repealed, and will not favor It's re- =
'ealt and hope, " our opponents do star 4,
q This direction before congress, they viii =
all attention to IL directly. II there is any =
Onplaint with and among our colored friends = =
IS TO the terms Of this act, as TO Its not be- X
ng enforced, have not head Of them and =
I'M persuaded there have been none. Then =
aklng the whOieltst OF our relations with the y
% -Ored race in Arkansas, where is there =
round for complaint AMI did not the con- n
entlon which framed this constitution deal !.
. plainly and uberasIy with these people. IN q
distributing the Offices OF that body IL did =
he whites?As this constitution speaks so does -
he platform of the party ! represent here u
peak out in no uncertain or indefinite Ian.
uage, and II elected mean TO be true 10 that
'latlorm and that constitution in spirit and
etter, and every right held by the colored
ected as those Of the white citizen, and n
mean TO show those impruoent and misguided
riends OF the negro here that their charges
nd accusations against rs are unjust and
rOundleSs, and tnat We deserve no such
ings, and will hope every day they viii
I've to retract and repent Of all such evil de- =
lRratioDs, Colonel Garland was frequently
pplauded.