Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1877-01-29
Alwanoria 6a55ett&,
MONDAY, JANUARY 90, 1877.
Plymouth OH the Negro.

| CONSIDERABLE. apXiety Was displayed on nu-
merous countcuauccs at Plymouth prayer meet
ing last night Wheu Mr.. Beccher suddenly left
his seat on the platform, just before the prayer
| meeting opened, and directed Mr. Halliday to
open the meeting. Mr.. Beccher, after Whis-
| pered coDiererc, with Ds,fic. Attorney Wips'
| low, left the room, and many Of the copgrega
tion showed sigDs OF leaving also, when MIR.
Halliday chartably announced that the pastor
would be back 10 few minutes" Mr.. Beech
er soon returned accompanied by gentleman
whom he introduced as DR.. Palmer, from the
South, and stated that he would speak to the
CONGREGATION on that section Of the UnlOU.
Said Mr. Beechcr: 1T has been suggested
that at this time while there is so much excite
ment, that it would be hardly wise to make any
statement about the c0!ored people; that 1t
might have an injurious effect on the public
mind; that it would be Wise to defer to later
period any disclosures, but l have invited DR..
Palmer and he has accepted the lDVitatlou AID
he is here, and | shall not withdraw my invita-
tion, aud OF one thing | an sure, that old Ply
mouth church has not been seasoned for thirty
years to every excitement TO be hurt by any little
event that may spring up now, and 1t Is always
kindly 10 listen 10 the cry Of the oppressed, and
he that wani1 COD "a his side had better al.
ways go with the wrai;. l. therefore, now re-
new my request to Dr. Palmer to read the re-
marks he has written down.
DR.. Palmer rose, aud alter describing the ne
gro during his hundred years of slavery aud his
proydenia emancipation, said that four years
ago he went to live among the negroes. The
black man wished to be educated, but there
were no schools for him. South Carolina is e
white man. State yet. The South is just as de-
termined to-day that the black mau shall not
learn as when he was chatteI. a young man
opened school for black children there, and
letters were sent to hiuI signed with colin,
telling him ifhed did nots;op teaching "nggers'
the place would be too hot for him. The
speaker had received the same courteous letters
himself.
DR.. Palmer proceeded 10 tell Of the various
prosecutions OF the negroes by the white men
and ended hy saying :-"l hope God will touch
YOUR hearts. These men are our brethren, and
it bchooves US tG see that they do not cry 10
vain for help" (Applause.)
Mr. Becchcr then rose and SAID There
never has been such problem-certainly not
10 modern timcs-as that which is to be wrought
out in our land. do Dot hesitate 10 say that
| regard the attitude OF the nation toward lts
poor, igorant and helpless as critical. | don It
know that we should behave any better in their
places than the South does. II wc had been
born there, j; we had been wonted from our
childhood 70 regard Il race as our TOOL, II We
had seen them suddenly cmanclpated and all
political relations ;urucd bottom side up anu
we reduced 10 poverty and distress, see moth
ing in Northern human nature that leads me
to think it would have been any better than
Southern human Daiurc. (Appaua..) All
men arc animals at bottom, and uoder certain
temptations the animal nature grows and rel'
zion tends against the animal side; but slowly
How long ago is it that a man, we'll dressed
would have becn cjecicl from al omnibus be-
cause he was black Even though he were
bleached out to the fourth degree. How long
ago is it since Fred Douglass, when | asked
him to come to church, said, 'Slr, dont
know rs | should be permitted to stay, aud
said, "rhen COM WIKI me on the platform Z!
(Api!ausn)