The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1879-05-21
natnraI nrodneer .of that soil.

within the grasp OF the white people
sf the South themselves.
In this direction a great respon-
sibiIity rests upon them-a great
chance is offered them.
Let them make new page IN
their history, ignored in the past but
to be honestly and faithfully &C
kuowledged and performed for all
future, and, in thai page, let them
write the immortal language of the /,
Magma Charter, We will not deny |
to any man right or justice and then
let the white people Of the South |
practice it.
Strike down the partisan feelings
and prejudices which would, if per
severed in, eventually paralize aud
hinder the prosperity Of the South
and drive thousands OF her citizens
from their homes to other lands more
generous, kind and just. Let them
surrender all mercenary hereditary
prejudices upon The altar or right and
justice, place themselves squarely
upon the platform of equal civil and
political rights to all men-Free
speech and freedom Of thought and
action and this course, and such
course only, may stop this flight to
other lands where, amid strangers
aud in fncongenial chimes, they pre-
fer 10 live as free men indeed rather
than longer endure the shadow OF
freedom completely evershadowed
by injustice, wrong and oppression
X In fact, the remedy lies
| with each southern community-in
each Southern State-and said COM
muniLy has got to work out its own
salvation, individual and social.
Can or will this be done Tie fu-
ture alone eau properly answer this
question"
AS to the inquiry, Can the color
ed people pursue the wisest course
by migrating" the report is rather
vague and indefinite, as may be seen
from the following extract:
"The colored people who are leaV-
ing the South for other lands are but
following in the footsteps of their
illustrious predecessors, and, wheth-
err they are pursuing the wisest
course by migration, they are GER
tainly pursuing their most natural
one, and, in addition thereto, their
intended and partly executed &C.
termination togo out from among the
people Of the Southern States may
lead to sober thought in the white
classes of the South, and prompt
them to apply remedy to class OF
evils which, if not corrected, will
necessarily deprive these communi-
ties of the best working material in
the country-a class of workers
whose hopeful, vigorous endeavors
would enrich any land or community
if retained; would ruin both if SUBJ
tracted from it," ~.
The committee say in conclusion !:
sin conclusion your committee
present to this Conference this re-
port, and leave it with the members
to decide whether or not the cclored
people of the South have not about
reached that point in their existence
whether to continue where they now
are. with all the disadvantages SUR
rounding them, with the experience
of the past, the doubt and Uncertain
ty of the future, or, whether there
shall be a going out of these OPP
pressed people to those lands and
among those people who will guaran-
tee to the eolerad as well as the
white to right the wrongs of all men
regardless of race or color. and vindi.
cate your right to citizenship as free
ly as in any spot on Gods green
earth. This Conference must speak
in no unmistakable manner, one side
or the other.
Our friends, our constituents, our
enemies, and the whole country be-
sides, are waiting to hear the verdict
from this Conference
A debate of three hours on the re-
port followed. Twenty-three speech.
es endorsing it were made. and at
12:15A A. NJ. the report was unani'
mously adopted.
Resolutions of thanks to the Chair
man, Secretaries, Governor of Ten,
nessee, the American, and the citi
zens of Nashville, were adopted
One Of the Aneerican's reporters was
specially mentioned in the resolution
but he, modestly taking advantage
of the most frequent action Of the
convention. rises to question Of
privilege, and omits his name.
The Chairman, in a few words Of
good advice to his brother delegates
then pronounced the conference ad
journed sine die.