Huntsville gazette., 1883-11-17
In COUNCIL.
Proceedings of CoIOred District
Executive Committee, 8th
Congressional District.
DECATUR, ALA, Nov. 10Th, 1883.

DECATUR, ALA, Nov. 10th, 1883.
Pursuant to call Of chairman, the Exec~
utive Committee Of the colored citizens Of
the Sth Congressional District, met at the
time and place named above, and YVES call
ed to order oy the Chairman, Mr. w. II.
Bla lkenship.
Present:-R. NJ. Lowe, Madison county;
S. II. Haynes, Lawrence county; T. e. No
lin, Colbert county; A. T. Walker, Lime
stone; W. t. Dunn, Lauderdale; H. Y.
Cashin, Morgan; Pope Jones, Franklin.
Absent: J. P. Earls, jackson county.
CHAIRMAN BLANKENsHIp's ADDRESS.
The chairman delivered the folio wing
ad lresS;
Ipresume that you are fully aware Of tie
necessity that gave rise to, and called into
existence the organization represented by
this Committee. T know that no one doubts
the beneficial influence or importance Of
that organization.
Men, in all times and in all countries
have assembled to consult as to their vel
fares and to provide by organized efforts
for the protection Of their lives and their
liberties and the preservation of their FAM
lilies. Our right to do SO, is incontestible.
Such meetings have always been the result
Of oppression in some of its various phases
or called forth by some desire 60 advance
the common interest st the participants.
So, We are called together by both Of
these causes.
1-Oppression : No fairminded man will
attempt to deny the fact. that the Negro of
this country is oppressed-oppressed in
the full meaning Of the word. Oppression
more fsaffnt aHd domineering than ever
sprung from the wicked Vaccinations of
the most cruel master in ante belltm days.
2-An Unfair, partial administration Of the
latos. Oppression from this source springs
naturally from time-established preju-
dice, and we must rely upon the same rem
edy in this case as in that. 1t is argued
| that our laws are impartial they are
made to adect neither race, particularly.
We admit that SO they appear upon the
statute books Of the county. They could
not appear partial, for then they would be
unconati titntional-an void. Right here is
and boastingly performs what the statute
books dare not insinuate. | cheerfdiIy ad
NIT that the creation by law OF Boards of
Revenue and Jury Commissions for certain
counties in this State; the placing of Of
fenszs tnat t1aa hitherto been misdemeanors
in the category Of felonies; disfranchise-
ment upon conviction Of felony; punish
ment for abusive language in presence of
females; the Election laws, rent law, land
lord, lein and sun set and sun rise laws Of
this state as they appear upon the statute
book are for both races; but their origira-
tors intended them specially for the Negro,
and those origin2tors are the executive and
| judicial powers of the State. Eo impartial
p srson. who ha, patched closely the cd.
ministrn ton Of the laws of tbe states of
this union, and more especially those
known as the former slave states, Will at
tempt TO deny tie fact that every subter-
1 Euge which can be devised is carried into
operation, aad evasi0ns Of law are resogted
to Ia order to sssow etuaqbling stones in
tae way OF the black man. For slight Of
hundreds of our race end their lives in that
bell, the coal mine, while the fair skin Of
oa- intellectual and moral superiors" ex,
e npts tie II frcm punishment ev
though they commit mgrder, or steal a
whole state or county treasury. These are
facts which the records of our Courts Of
Law lnot Courts Of Justice) will show
Truap wiA always be truth. though sn sered
at aad smeared @itb ridicule.
Lave sointed opt lhs disease, now you
ask, what is the remedy! [ answer, only
oEe-and that is, as before stated. in tia
moral elevation of both ex master and ex-
slave. No party, as party. can effect a
eure. and parties should not be relied upon
We haze followed Il e iy1ts fat,als of Parti
sanism AID Eow, SUP 3 ice ftttering hopes
s u sink ng like tie golden san il tie
W st AID We ane left like Shakespeare
Wolsey- naked to our enemies" The re-
mark that the Negro, in his trepidation,
my seek refuge In the Democratic party,
no doubt, viii e regarded az one Of the
nevcr-to-be things OF life. and yet that is |
0na CT the main things which we will haye |
to guard against, We must remember that