National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1875-02-01
SOUTHERN CoLoRED MEN IN COUNCIL.
Important Conference and S1gniaoant Resolu.

hons.
In pursuance OF the o'4ect Of the correspond
enee which appeared In these columns few days
ago q number Of repre- sentative eOIored men now
in this city from m nv of the southern States
met in the parlors CT the Hon ]. T. RspIer, men,
Der OF Congress II ON Alabama, on Friday even
ing last, the 2et' 1 instant.
Among thoJA present were the Ron. Fred.
Douglass He a, 2. b. S. Piachback, Sonatorelect,
and Gen. 7. NoEris Chester, Of louisiana, Judge
Gibbs and. J. A. Emerson, esq, OF Arkansas,
Philip il ScPh and T. n. Threat, esq, OF Ala
bama, q gorge W. Price, esq, Of North Carolina,
Robert PuTyis, Prof. John N. lang ston, George
I. Do'SDi1R, Lewis Douglass, Frederic Barba-
does. Pref Sampson. Drs. Augusta and Purvis.
All sr an animated and prstracted conference,
tina Hon. Fred. Dooglass was called to The chair.
A. committee was appointed and instructed TO
Prepsre and puslish the following at the sentl-
nlents of the meeting:
Whereas the aAWIessuess existing IN several Of
the Southern States, threatening the stability
OF the National. Government and leopardiEing
an s1o o. fron IN fiena. az
law, justice and humanity, and especially the
representative colored men Of the nation; identi-
ned they are with those against whom the
storm of hate and murder is mainly directed;
That We representative men row In Washing
ton from many OF the Southern States look with
in the balls Of Congress- and deem It our duty to
give tire following expression Of our views OF the
That we CORDIALLY and heartily indorse the
several messages Of His Excellency President
Grant touching the revolutionary and murder
Gus proceedings now being enacted in Alabama
ATlsaGsas, Louisiana and mississippi, and the
! pressing necessity therein expressed for Con-
Ibatwe appreciate the noble efforts OF eminent
Republican Senators and Representatives in
Congress assembled against the determined and
iRctiCus oppCsition) to enact such legislation as
Is needed to suppress revolution, to secure Ike
and property in those States and we feel assured
hat Enh hold 81 Tf,lfa &c ha hnsF
Thst no shrinking from the logical results Of
1 Republican principles will appease disloyal oppo-
sitiOn or avert FROM the party hostile Conserve
tive criticism, white the avoidance Of plain duty
can only create doubt, distrust and weakness in
| our own ranks;
orderly spirit now prevailing at the South, as
some Of our number know by experience and OBJ
servRtiOn considering the violent and bitter per-
secutiOn waged against natives as well as those
frCm the North, and especially against those who
carry in their complexion the evidence OF their
Republican sfiliatlOn and conviction; consider.
ing the various and rigorous forms Of intimida-
ton, ranging from destruction Of property, injury
to business, upward to brutal threats, midnight
assassination and murder;
And !IE:her, considering that every Democratic
victory, whether won in n Northern State or upon
the floor OF Congress tends directly to increase
the audRCity and lAwlessneSS Of the enemies of
constitutional freedom and the Union as now
established and further considering that next 20
the malign influence of a Democratic victory is
the evil of a timid assertion OF rights by our
tIieGds considering, moreover, that any action or
ment manifestinE even apparent apathy and In
difference to the. condition of the loyal people OF
the South is promptly construed By these dis.Oyal
enemies into license and impunity to renewed and
TedOuhled violence, we shudder at the wretched
condition Of things which may reasonably be eX-
pected to follow in that section of country IT,
in view OF the circumstances now existing in the
United States. Congress should after all adjourn
without enacting and providing for the enforce
ment of appropriate laws for the better protection
of persons, property and political rights IN that
section. Considering that we belong to the class
OF citizens who will suffer most by the action
OF Congress we earnestly appeal for relief II
affairs are permitted TO proceed as now.
II requires no unusual foresight to see that the
cOOTed citizens Of the South will either be driven
into neutrality, or for self-prOtectiOn forced to
act with their old Oppressors in the Democratic
party-and the latter more probable than the
Of neutrality would naturally excite suspicion
surveillance and violence. There Is still one other
alternative to which we are exposed, one which
is truly fearful to contemplate Human nature Is
the sa me everywhere. There are many varieties
of man, but only one human nature and II is pos
sible that stung to madness and desperation by
continued and unceaslng outrages and seeing no
means OF escape, a spirit Of retaliation and re-
venge may be aroused, which will NIL the South
this catastrophe we earnestly appeal to Congress
for the action already mentioned. and we Invite
the sympathy and support to this appeal Of all
the lovers OF liberty and order throughout the
country. FREDERICK DOUGLASS,
JOHN NJ. LANGsToN,
A. NJ. GIBBS, Ark,
PHILIP JOSEPH Ala,
GEO. W. PRICE, n. e.,
Committee.