Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-05-21

to hold a state Convention at Nashville, on
the 18th day Of May, a. d. 1875, with in
structiOns to enquire into the causes lead
ing to these grievances, and to recommend
some method by which we may be relieved
Of the distresses that now burden us;
and,
Whereas, these delegates having met
together in convention under instructions,
and having carefully weighed these ques-
tiOns so vital in interest, state it as their
firm faith, based on the experience of Obser-
walton and actual suffering, that to the
WHITE PEOPLE OF TENNESSEE,
and them alone, are due the ills borne by the
cOlOred people of this State. The general
government has enacted laws looking TO
our protection and the enjoyment of our
privileges as citizens, yet these enactments
are dead letter. The colOred line is so
closely drawn as not only TO prevent us
from sitting on juries, where whites are in
terested, but also from sitting on those
cases where only our own people are i'll
terested. While it is true that the laws Of
the State promise justice to all without dis
tinctiOn as to race, vet It is an established
truth that no cOlOTed man appeals TO these
courts for a redress Of grievances, knowing
that the appeal would be but a mOckeTy
and altogether in vain. And though it
may be claimed that the more respectable
white people are disposed to accord justice,
yet none will dare say that these have ever
made a single effort to prevent
OUTBREAKS AGAINST PEOPLE OF COLOR,
too frequent in the State. Even the high
est officials are pOwerless to prevent out
RACES upon us or TO bring the offenders to
justice. Reference need but be made to
the cases Of David Jones, who while in the
county Jail Of Davidson in the city Of Nash
vile, was taken out by a mob and hanged
in front Of the police station and within
fifty yards Of the courthouse; of Miss Julia
Hayden, an accomplished young lady, a
teacher in one of the public schools Of
TrOusdale county, who was murdered by as
sassins while in her own house; of the six
men who were shot to deIth by armed ban
ditti near Trenton; and but recently that
of Joseph Reed, who was brutaily murdered
by an armed mob in the presence of at
least four thousand citizens 81 Nashville,
and this after he had been sszsiy incarce-
rated in the county Jail. This last WAS one
Of the fOulest blOts which ever stained any
city in any age; the Mayor Of the city and
the Governor Of the State refusing 10 pre-
vent the crime, although they had at least
six hours previous notice Of the outrage.
THESE ARE But A FEW
Of the many crimes that have been perpe-
trated against us, and in no instance has
one Of the miscreants been brought to jus
tice, and if any efforts have been made to
do so, the public have never heard of it.
These wrongs going on Unredressed have
caused an overriding necessity to rest
like a cloud upon the race, and have given
US undOubted assurance that the whites are
determined the cOlored people shall notFe-
main at peace in their midst In addition
to the foregoing, the whites havsevidenced
a purpose to hinder the blacks ihsdll tksir
efforts at advancement, BY 8efUsi - in
many counties, 10 establish pubiiSseh6ols,
and even in those counties where schools
are to be found, they are always inferior to
those Of the whites.
IN GENERAL,
school houses have been burnt, teachers
whipped and driven from many localities;
ministers Of Christ while in the discharge
Of their holy office have been whipped and
killed, and their churches burned to the
ground. Even that inestimable privilege
Of citizenship, The elective franchise, has
teen denied a number of the race, even
now in many sections the right 10 vote be
ing virtually denied them; in others made
by pistol and knife to vote contrary to their
honest convictions.
RECENT PARTISAN LEGISLATION
by the ThiTiy-ninth General Assembly, the
one being warrant act by which a cOlOred
man out of employment shall be incarce-
rated in the county wOrk-hOuse; another |
styled the Labor Law, which cOmpels the
.abOrer to remain with his employer under !
any and all circumstances; either of which |
would alone be sufficient to make personal |
liberty an utter impOssibility, and is cal |
,Ulated to place the race in a condition of |
,eryitude scarcely less degrading than that |
endured before the late civil war. IL is /
rue that these laws are applicable to |
whites also, but a single instance of pun |
shment of whites under these acts has /
never occurred, and is not expected to Oc.
.ur. Even
THE PRICE OF WORK
las been reduced so low through the intro /
iuctIOn Of convict labor on the farms, on /
he railroads and in the mines that it is i'm
possible for a man 10 support his family /
lpOn the wages promised, even if he were
aid for his labor; which too frequently is
lot done. And when labOTers work on /
hares Unprincipled whites usually bring |
hose at work into debt before the days OF
arvest.
HOW THEY FEEL.
"These are but a few of the difficulties
nder which the cOlOred people labor in the
tate; and, as has been shown, time but
dds to the weight and we despair Of relief
l.,
be acts and conduct Of the whites clearly
ssoived we shall not abide in
sace among them. In the patience that
as ever characterized our race, these
rongs have been endured with Christian /
omission. Trusting to a sense Of the JUS
&c We had a right to believe, dWelt in the
-east of every man made in Gods image,
e hoped that time might repair the evils
e bear. But now, after so long waiting.
] IN vain, fyrbearance has ceased TO be a
rtue. Unable to cope with our adverse
es, even if so disposed, by reason Of our
.feriOr numbers and surpassed by them in \
ealth and education, this convention in
lemn council, with the fear of God be-
re their eyes, and with no malice in their
7arls. feel il incumbent upon them to re-
Dmmend that the entire cOlOred population
the State proceed to take steps looking
an
EARLY EMIGRATION
ON the State believing that in this way
NY may they attain unto the full measure
their manhood and bring the enjoy :
ent Of liberty and happiness to themselves
id their children.
BUREAU OF EMIGRATION.
Therefore be it resolved, that Board Of
to consist of seven, be I
ected by the convention, whose head
larters shall be at Nashville, which shall
we foWer to appoint an agent in each I
UNITY III the State, 10 act in concert with I
IN movements looking to emigration; +
a. the Commissioners shall thoroughly D
form themselves as to the advantage
Tered by different States to Immigrants, 4
ID Keep the people, through the agents,
formed as other action; that they shall
slst emlgratlng parties by all the means
their power. They are also authorized
call a State convention should they
EN- il Gecessry. +
WHERE Is THE PROMISED LAND? a
at is further resolved, that three dele :.
ties shall be elected by the convention to ! e