National Republican., 1883-08-30
CIVIL RIGHTS.
Speeches Delivered at a Meeting Of COlOrod
People at Island Hail.
Remarkable Resolution Passcd-The
Separation scheme Not Entertained.

isting conditions between the two races
The hall was only sparsely filled, only about
fifty being present but those in attendance
were dt cidodly enthusiastic. Mr.. John Moss,
the c1lored lawyer, on calling the meeting TO
ordtr, said
' ! look upon any man or class Of men with
suspicion who pretends to be especially the
champion of the cause of the negro. We
have but one cause worthy of championship
and that cause is the cause of the whole peo-
pie, and our cause is the common cause of tho
American people. Any man or set of men
who advance any other doctrine ought not to
be trusted. IL would be to the best interest
Of the colored people Of this country to form
new alliances Thoy should cut themselves
loose from tho political thraldom which is
now extant in the United States. There is no
slavery worse than political slavery, and
for one this night declare war
against it. We should organize at once
against party dictation, and give notice now
that we intend to think and vote for our
selves We must divide up regardless of
party, as our interests may require in differ
ent localities. Party ties should no longer
bind us against our material interests. There
was time in the history of this government
when we could not consistently be anything
else but republicans, but that time has past.
The times aud circumstances have so changed
that we ought not to be expected, as n mat
ter Of course, to be bound by the dictations
of any part y"
y Mr. John Freeman was the next speaker.
He said, 81 regret that at this late day we
have TO assemble ON an occasion Of this kind.
] always claimed that when the civil rights
bill was passed there was no need of it. Tho
fourteenth and fifteenth amendments guaran-
teed to every citizen his full rights. There
was no need of additional legislation. Judge
Mills by his recent decision, has shown him
self to be an honest man, aud should be re-
spected as SUCH"
Mr.. Daniel Webster Lewis was next called
upon. He responded as follows: az would
address you as fellow citizens, but as you arc
deprived of your rights shall only address
you as friends of the district. The recent
civil rights decision rendered in the police
court was o clincher to animus. We come
here, not to excite animosity, but to emulate
friendship. am reminded by Judge Mills's re-
cent decision ofthe words of fThad Stevens upon
his deathbed, DO not let the civil rights bill
fail and l stand here to say that the civil
rights law is not failure Judge Mills has
said by his recent decision that the negro is o
citizen and is entitled to all the rights and
privileges of the constitution. His decision
has gone over tho wires to oil parts
of the United Stated and the world.
BY your meeting tonight you indicate
to the people all over this county
that you are firm for your rights Tho col
ored race of this country are not mere serfs.
They are not ready to meet the obligations of
any party who are always throwing slurs at
the negro. Let the tocsin sound abroad that
we are free people Let us serve notice on
our people, north and south, that our privi-
lege is equal rights, and we intend to demand
it,"
Mr.. Geo. NJ. Arnold was called next, He
arose and said, "Please 'scuso me, I'm under
the weather"
Rev. William H. Scott, being announced,
said Judge Mills has rendered a decision
which will be greeted with pleasure by all
African-American citizens. The civil rights
law is a great perplexity. In some states
they said it was unconstitutional, and the
very jury before which you are tried and the
judge on the bench will render de-
cision against you. The American
people must be educated up to it. Some men
say we must leave the republican party. l
ray no. We must see where we are going be-
fore we leave. l propose to stay in the re-
publican party and drive out all the evil men
they cannot drive mo out There is no
safety outside of the republican party for the
colored man" The speaker then paid a glow
ing tribute to Gen. Benjamin +. Butler. and
said hewas the negro's friend. IF was in
Virginia." said tho speaker, II should
vote for Gen. Malone every day and
Sunday, too, because he offers to give the
negro education and chance. Educate your
self and then you will get all of your rights.
There is only one grand, good party. That is
the republican party, which gave you freedom
from the shIckles Of slavery"
A voice. What has Malone ever done for
us2
The speaker He has introduced q bill TO
educate our children and has abolished the
per capita tax.
Mr.. George Gilchrist said: "Our race is be.
ing Disseminated against. Go to the Treas
ury department and look at the number of
colored people employed there. They look like
one black bird among one thousand white
pigeons"
Mr.. Gilchrist then offered the following
resolution:
Whereas the colored people of the District OF
Columbia are without the elective franchise, or
any potent power to secure their proper reeognt.
tion under the several departments Of the district
government or to insist upon equal and exact
justice from our courts; thereore.be 1t
Resolted, That we, as a distinctive class, smart
ing under peculiar wrongs, do earnestly petition
to the next democratic congress to relieve us from
the unhappy position in which we have been
placed under republican administration.
After reading the resolution Gilchrist said:
"Look at Perry Carson. He has been put
upon the bricks because an insignificant
prisoner escaped. Then look at Capt. How
gates escape while the bailif sat tanning him
self in back room. The bailiff still holds
his position. Why? Because he is white
man"
The resolution was then put and several
members jumped up and objected to the words
democratic congress-" and moved that
democratic" be stricken out. This objection
precipitated considerable discussion upon the
meeting, during which John Freeman urged
tho passage of the amendment. One speaker
said Some of these men who are
calling out democratic congress now
win be calling out democratic devils before
two years roll by. AS long as a man does
right he is republican. When he does
wrong he is democrat, u devil, and every
thing else"
At this juncturo A. st. A. Smith arose and
said the civil rights matter was great buga-
boo, and that only isolated cases of violation
had occurred. In paying his respects to the
district government he said "The commits
sioners arc composed of democrat on one
side, an army ollicor i'll the middle, and a re-
publican ON tho other end. This combina-
ton grnds the negro into dust"
vote was then taken on the amendment
TO strike out the word democratic" and it
was lost.
The original motion was then adopted
A clerical looking individual named Niles
of Arkansas, was introduced at this point
and was proceeding to urge that the colored
people in the south separate from the whites
when he was frequently interrupted by those
present some of whom declared that "yor
can't work that scheme on u.s."
But" yelled Niles, your brethern in thu
south arc suffering death and destruction, anC
they sent me here TO tell you of it, They ar
prosecuted, religionsly and politically, Th
remedy is separation"
A. st. A. Smith jumped up and declared