The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-07-02

came to Indiana to reside the unfriendly
black code was in force. My memory
goes back to the time when colored wit
nesses were first allowed to appear in court
in this State to testify in cases where white
men were parties. Prior TO that time, as
you know, you had been excluded from
the right to tell in court under oath your
side OF the story in any legal controversies
with white men. [Cries Of 81 know
that"l The laws permitted your coming
here. In every way you were at disad-
vantage even in the free States. have
| lived to see this unfriendly legislation re-
moved from our statute books and the un-
| friendly sections OF our constitution re-
pealed. have lived not only to see that,
| but to see the race emancipated and
slavery extinct. (Cries Of "amen to
that"
"Nothing gives me more pleasure among
the great results OF the war than this. His
tory will give prominent place in the
story OF this great war to the fact that il re-
suited in making all men free and gave to
you equal civil rights.
"The imagination and art OF the poet,
the tongue OF the orator, the skill Of the
artist will be brought under contribution
TO tell this story OF the emancipation OF the
oouis VI nch. lhPPi"uoO anu N,'So "
"amcn"l /. Nothinggives me so much graft
fication as Republican as to feel that in
all the steps that led to this great result
the Republican party sympathized with
you, pioneered for you in legislation and
was the architect OF those great measures
Of relief which have 80 much improved
your condition.
81 know nowhere in this country OF q
monument that behold with so much in
, terest, that touches so deeply my heart as
that monument at Washington represent
ing the proclamation OF emancipation by
President Lincoln, the black man at the
feet OF the martyred President with the
shackles falling from his limbs.
al remember your iaithfulness during the
, time OF the war. i remember your faith
ful service TO the army as We were advanc'
q ing through an unknown country. We
. could always depend upon the faithiulnesl
: Of the black man. [Cries OF ''Right, yot
r are."1 lie might be mistaken, but he VA
Q never false. Many time in the darkness
, OF night have those faithful men crept h
our lines and gave us information oil tn
!, approach OF the enemy. l shall never for
/ get scene that l saw when Sherman
i army marched through a portion Of RAJ
l. eigh, N. c., and Richmond, where on
v troops had never before been. The colore'
1 people had not seen our flag since the ban
ner Of treason had been set up In It's stead
. As We were passing through village tn
o colored people flocked out to see once NOR
r the starry banner Of freedom, the embler
l. OF promise and security Of their emancipa
ton. | remember an aged woman, owe
whom nearly century Of slavery mu,
> have passed, pressed forward 10 see thl
&c welcome banner that told her that he
al soul would 20 over into the pre-
ence OF her God. i remember ht
IA exaltation Of spirit as she dance
in the dusty road before our column
u y and like Miriam Of old called upon her sol
u TO rejoice in the deli,erance which Go
10 has wrought by the coming OF those VIII
r stood for the proclamation Of emancip'
ton / rejoice in all that YOU have u
3: complished since you have been free.
Of recall no scene more pathetic than TIL
" which have often seen about our CAM
A. fires. An aged man, afugitive from SLAYER
or had found freedom In our camp. After
ic day of hard work, when taps had sounds
10 and the lights In the tents were out.
n have seen him with the spelling-book th
the chaplain had given him lying upt
or the ground, taxing his old eyes and poin
IN ing with his hardened finger 10 the lette
ID Of the alphabet. as he endeayored TO opC
10 10 his clouded mind the ayenGes Of info
IA nation and light am glad 10 know th
So the same desire 10 increase and enlarl
as your information possesses the race toda
10 Il Is the open way for the race 10 that pc
m feet emancipation which will remove =
In naming prejudiccs and secure
m you in all parts Of the land an equal AZ
he lust participation Ia the government
no this country. IL cannot much longer
n. withheld from YOU"