Huntsville gazette., 1886-08-07
Limestone Politics, Chairman
Crrnshaw Replies to His
ASSailants.
Washingt n. d G July 20. 1886

WaSuinSt liz - " ou'y ~. ASoo
As Chairman of The Republican
County Executive Committee. OF
Limestone County. | issned call for
mass cOnvantinn to assemble at the
Court House, ut IL o'clock m June
18th, for The purpose Of electing d. le
gates TO the State Convention, the
election Of a chairman nf the Execu
tive Committee and for The transac-
ton Of such other business as would
come before the Convention.
With that loyalty for my party
which is barn Of nv love for its graud
principles | esteem it pri, il"ge as
well as duty to meet my party asso-
.:intes at stated times. In the cxal
cise Of that privilege and the dis
charge Of that duty met the Repub
licans of my native County on the
| above named date. My presence al
my own home could not be tolerate d
by the genial ~ edit Of the Ala
bama Courier, as is shown by the in
fiammatory articles that appeared in
his paper soon after my arrival. lie
descends from the high plane Of jour
nalism and attempts to inflame the
passions and excite the prejndice Of
the people. Ho sneeringIy asks
whether the white Republicans are
going to be led around hy the nose
by Peter Cremshaw. Such ques
ton is an insult to manhood of every
voter in the County. | take it that
the voters Of Limestone County are
too manly to allow any man to lead
them by the nose, even though be be
30 eminent as the able (?) editor OF
the Courier.
With a mighty flourish Of ink he
calls on the white men Of Limestone
County to listen and when he arrests
their attention aud draws them near
him and in suppressed accents ne
says "Listen, Oh listen, white men.
Peter Crenshaw is in favor Of mixed
Juries
To this awful and damaging indict
ment plead guilty. | did say. and
now +. iterate the statement, that am
in favor of mixed juries. Should this
admission call down upon me the exc
Grafton Of all good men ? Let Us see
whether my posili..n is t.nable. The
fundamental law Of this country de
clares that all men are cl eated equal.
The statute law provides that in any
case pending in court. involving
lifs or property, the accused shall he
tried by jury Of his peers To deny
this right is violation of the letter
and spirit Of the law. Does not the
astute editor OF the Courier know that,
in any tiiaI of Q colored man by aju
ry of twelve white men, from which
all colorea men had been excluded
because of their color. the verdict Of
such a jury. il a1v.r.e to the de-
fendant, could not stand if carried uP
on appeal TO the highest court of this
country? Such is the fact, whether
known to the editor or not H4ridi |
cules the idea Of having mixed juries.
Any officer charged with the selection
of iuries> and who refuses To select a
man because of his color, violates he
oath which he mnst take before en-
teri,,g upon the discharge Of the dn
ties OF his office. Is it possible hat
the editor of the Courier does npi
know that the ,nunlerer Of the Prcsi
dent Of the United States was tiled
by q mixed juryf There was tire
in the history of this country whom
mixed juries were unknown Posi-
bly, the energetic editr Of the Courier
like Ripl Van Winkle. cannot realize
the changes saat have iaker plrce III
The last twenty years. / have Goth
ing but pity for the nan Eho is little
in this progressive age. to-