Huntsville gazette., 1885-05-23
Speeches aud Proceedings.

SpCCCACS anu tHOCceOInOS.
At the largely attended colored cit
izens' mass meeting at the U. S. Court
House last Saturday afternoon, Mr..
Reuben NJ. Lowe was called TO the
chair aud Messrs. Pierce Harris and
W. u. Allen elected Secretaries.
The Chairman briefly explained the
object OF the meeting
1st.-To deny published charges
against colored citizens, that they ia
tended to lynch w. H. Councill and
to declare such charges groundless
and wronSfully made against law
abiding people.
2nd.-To ask the Commissioners
of the State Normal School for the
removal Of the Present Principal. w.
Fl. Council, while he is under bonds
on the two charges of outraging o lit
tie girl pupil, and assault with intent
TO kill.
la response to calls, remarks
were made as follows
Mr. Francis Davis deprecated any
prejudicial action as to the guilt OF
innocence Of the accused pending the
legal trial. Meanwhile he considered
that the moral interests of society and
of the school demanded the suspen-
sion OF Principal Councill, until, at
least. he should be acquitted in the
Courts
MIR. Th1s. W. Townsend, hoped
that the accused would IN the end
clearly est stablish his innocence Of the
awful charge. Unfortunately he had
not done so yet. Therefore it was
rig ht and proper for the sake Of pub
tic morals, their protection, as we'll rs
for the immediate interests of the
State Normal School that the Princi
pal be removed until the case wa:
legally settled This course he ed
vlsed, without expressing any opin'
ion as to his guilt or innocence
which was now with the law to deter.
mine. The question was higher snd
fai beyond any personal matter. Az
such, it should be treated.
Mr.. w. P. Williams, DR.. Scruggs
and Rev. j. J. Smith followed in ad-
dresses Of like tone and expression
TIE Editor of the GAZETTE being
called upon, explained the object OF
his presence to be to get for the pub
lie an impartial and correct report Of
what transpired in the meeting. Ii
was his opinion, however, that all
good citizens, white and black, would
try to do their duty when the ublic
good demanded il, and such duty
should be performed impartially and
dispassionately.
Mr.. g. G. Clifton spoke in defense
of his old teacher. Said they should
hear both sides, that he, as stuent
of the school, was entitled to his
opinion of Prof Councill's innocence
would advise the meeting to take nc
action.
NIr. Charles r. DJnegan expressed
himself as heartily ashamed that any
young man could be found willing
as Mr.. Clifton. to arise in public IL
defense of such a cause. In lengthy
tall, he argued that in vlaw OF his
past record and of the present case
it was the duty Of the Commissioners
10 remove Principal Council.
Mr.. Henry Davis was the las
speaker. He thought that it was .
great shame that the people shoule
be called upon to do any such duty a
this. He met the rumor of the tel.
rible charge, as he was coming t,
town to place his daughter in tht
school. and Immediately turned
around and carried her home. Th'
Commissioners should have removed
the Principal without waiting to bt
asked. It was but justice. Such {
retention would not ba tolerated fol
one minute by any white school in th'
land.
Upon motion committee was ap
pointed to walt on the A. M. E
Church Board and request the re-
maval Of Prof. ". H. Councill from
the Superintendency Of the Sunday