The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1875-08-06
Maury County Radicals I'm COnven'
Ifnn

to two wings, the Hughes party AM
those opposed to that family, and tina
| the convention would be lively one
which induced many Democrats to b.
present. When the hO1r arrived-onI
O'Clock, Saturday-a large crowd of ne
grOes assembled in the court house
Col. G. W. Black burn called the meet
ing to order, and nominated James H
Gregory for chairman, who was unani
mOusly chosen. Rev. BALKAN FriersOn
col, and Col. Black burn were appointed
Secretaries. On taking the chair, Mr.
Gregory stated the objects of the meet>
ting. He said that certain appoint
ments had given great offenSe to Re
publicans in this vicinity, and some.
thing was necessary to be done. In
other days and times it had been said
that Eternal vigilance is the price Of
liberty" the sentiment is especially
true and applicable now. 1t was a time
hOnOred custom to give the most iDflu.
entail Federal offices to the most eff
Gent servants of the party in power
some us believe palpable violation
of this principle has been made in the
appointment of Postmaster and Deputy
Collector" On Motion of Sam. NJ. Ar
nell, the chairman appointed the fol
lowing committee on Resolutions
S. NJ. ArnelI, Balaam Frierson, cold
VIM. Brooks, M. +. Pleake, Mitchell
Brown COL, Thos. Robertson. The
committee retired to another room, and
Marshall H. Lewis, a crippled Negro
school teacher of Bear Creek, made al
eloquent speech. He said he was under
conviction that LincOln's proclamation
had made him free citizen, and he had
Alright to be heard. In the first place, be
wanted it distinctly understood that he
was not here in the interest of Arch M.
Hughes, Jr., or any other mamie was
here in the interest of the Republican
party. There are 200 cOlOred Repu blir
cans in Maury county, and go white
Republicans, and yet not single col
Ored man has ever received office.
During the last county canvass, he at
first opposed cOlored men voting for
Mr.. James (W. A. Alexander for Sher =
if, and for Mr.. Arch Hughes, Jr., for
County Court Clerk; but he WAS answer
ed by all the leading white Re-
publicans that they were as good Re-
publicans IS anybody, whereuTOn he
took them by the hand and worked for
them. He was quite sure now that Mr.
Alexander was not a Republican, and
had never been one. At first he OppOs-
ell Republicans voting for Mr.. Hughes
because he did not believe he was a
good Repu Dlican, but white Republi-
cans came to him and assured him in
the most earnest manner that he was as
good Republican as anybody. But now
when Republican at Washington who
had 10000 appointments in his power,
appointed Mr. Hughes t. an office
which one of those while Republicans
wanted, why he was no Republic IN.
The next thing will be that the same
white Republicans in Maury will say
that Postmaster Jewell is no Republi-
can. At this point the chairman told
Lewis that he had better get up on tho
stand where he could be seen, to
which he replied, sob, never mind; I'll
be heard if Pm lot seen. 1t becomes one
of nay race, which has always, ever
since their freedom, roasted low,
to occupy an humble pOsition-espec-
tally when any offices are to be filled"
The white Republicans use the colored
Republicans merely to get office for
themselves; when coon is to tree
negroes are set on. To see my black
brethren thus made tools of by do
signing men is shocking-it's Disgrace
tul. (Applause.) There is not white
Republican in this house who would
vote for negro in preference to Dem
Ocratical man. Stop still, and think,
my cOloTed brethren, before you say
yes to those resolutions they are 60
ing to bring in. You have said yes too
often already for your good; you have
listened too often as if sugar was upon
their lips, when it turned out to be
NORWOOD and gall. When Archy
Hughes and Sam Watkins ran for office
we were told that they were good Re-
publicans; and now they saw that Archy
is not Republican. When Balaam
FriersOn and other cOlOred men want~
ed office, these white leaders said they
stunk too bad for the party. w. N.
Hughes got his appointment from Wash
ingtOn-nOt from Zion. Nothing was said
about his Republicanism while he was
there, but when he gets another's office,
a howl is raised. Why don't they petit
ton for Balaam FriersOn to have the
office?
Marshall Lewis paused, and Albert
Green, col, rose, and pitched; in, He
said it had been charged that he was a
DemOcrat-had voted for a Democrat.
Why were cOlored men excluded from
the first meeting? Shall $50 white Re-
publicans rule 2600 colored Republicans?
heard my funeral was to be preached
here to-day. Now the white Republicans
shake hands with us in secret meetings,
but nine-tenths of them refuse to speak
to us on the street. In regard 10 the
charge that am traitor to the Repub-
iican party, ! have this to say; DEM
ocrats are good friends to mel get my
living from Democrats they furnish me
food to eat, ard have no war to make
on them. Think we should live to-
gether in peace. Voice from a Demo
crat-"Fine speech. Albert."l
Col. Geo. w. Black b"rn.-The talk
YOU have heard is all out of order.
Those who know me know that l have
always been true to principle. This is
the saddest day OF my life, After all
caD1a IN ibiSS Gan no hi e
that my llfe's Iabors and convictions
are to come TO naught? All my life
have had hopes regarding the races OF
men, but have never been so disCOur-
aged as have been to day. ! love
humanity, and have no hatred for the
Hughes family. / am opposed to ma
king an iron bedstead for all men tC
lie upon. The object of this meeting
has been incorrectly stated-it is not &c
make war on the Hughes family, but il
is to promote pure Republican princi
! pies. ana secure aspect and success
tor the Republican party. l was a Re.
publican before President Grant was
When J. 7. Baird was removed, We
wrote the Postmaster General a letter
Major Barnett in the crOwd-"Was i
published, Mr. Black burn?"7 He sen
an agent to see who the people wanted
| WhereupOn we assembled a few leadipI
| Republicans, and recommended Joshu;
| h. Ffierson for Postmaster. Our de-
sire was set aside, and we PROPOSE Il
| vindicate ourselves. If people of a com
munity are not to be consulted as t.
who shall hold their offices, Republi
| clnism is a failure. If this is not to b,
done, l will say, Let things get mixed
as they please" 4 colored man whC
tails out with my principle, should e
| to an ex> STAKEHOLDER and say, Put m,
| back into slavery"
! Major Barnett here asked Col. Black
burn how much money he had lost by
| J. p. Baird, and the Colonel replied
that be had lost nothing, from Mr.
| Baird, but Mr.. B. owed him thre,
! thousand dollars. Major Barnett con
! tinuei, "HOw much Mr.. Black burn
did you lose by Jones, Lebbetter. anC
! other white Republicans? Now, Black
burn, how much did you lose by thos
| dirty negroes? Not one cent, Black
= burn. l love you better than any othe
/ OF that gang, Black burn, because vol
are an honest man." Albert Greer
asked him if he told Arch Hughes tina
be opposed negroes taking part in thu