The Savannah tribune. [volume] (Savannah [Ga.]) 1876-1960, 1888-02-11
RESOLUTIONS kDOprEa EY
THE LATE MACON CON-
VEkTloN.

colored citizens OF Georgia, III con
ventlon assembled do hereby issue
the following statement to the peo-
pie Of the State, bearing upon ques.
tons which We egard rs being OF
vital interest to the 81 'ry and pros
perity of the commonwealth.
lst. 1t is right of the people
irrespective Of race, color, or pre-
vious condition, to be called upon to
perform the high duty # Jurors.
We, therefore view with alarm and
demonstrate against the failure of
the authorities in more than 1870
counties of this State to call colored
men to the discharge OF this high
function of citizenship We recon.
mend that the people in all The
counties of Georgia, where this de-
privation of their rights are prac-
ticed, by petition and resolution re-
spectfulIY anu properly drawn,
press the consider .tion of this ques.
ton to the end, that it may be rem
edied.
I'd. Common carriers are endow~
ed with certain franchises given by
the State for comprising OF the
convenience ut the people at large;
they are the creatures of the Sta .
and are rs amenable to the law .as
the humblest citizen. We there's
fore denounce, III unmeasnred terms,
the practice of railroads in charg-
ing colored citizens of the Stale
first class fare for passage on their
trains, aud then, III defiance Of their
plighted faih. coercing them into
the acceptance Of inferior acc, mmo-
datlons.
3rd. The action of the General
Assembly Of Gcorgia, in coupling
with the continuance of the aupro-
priation to the Atlanta University !,
conditions that amounted to its
withdrawal, for CAUSES frivo GUS and
insufficient, Was unjust, unfair and
illegal. We therefore recommend
that the people throughout the
State, take st, p, 10 secure i'll the
next Legislature representative,
pledged TO the removal ot these
conditions aud the restoration OF
this appropriation to that school,
untetter ID and uutranllneled ~
these conditions, our equitable share
Of the Manuscript tund-the nations
bounty.
4th. The present penitenriary system
Of Georgia Is lull blot upon our civil
IzaCion, stain upon the eocutchcon oil
the State, "a meaus by which SPECTATORS
enrich themselves at the expense OF. aud
on the miserles of the criminal classl s
OF the State, with but slight regard to
the requirements Of law or the obliga-
Lions OF humanity that one creature
holds to another. We do not condemn
The proper punishment Of traDsgressors
OF the Jaw, but we deny the right of the
State to lntrust or delegate this high
junction OF administering punitive JUS
tice to PERSONS Or corporations, as Is ex
ercis d unde~ the penltentiary system
of Georgia.
We recommend that the people in
each county OF Georgia, organize them
selves for the purpose of securing legis
lative representation pledged TO the abo-
litlon OF this system in our State, AID
the erection OF Que more in consonance
with the enlightened judgment of the
present. day.
9Th. The ballot in all Republican or
Democratic forms OF government, Is the
only means by which the citizen in the
last resort, can express his will
or wishes; hence it is matter OF the
greatest magnitude that any suspicion
should be entertained, that after depos-
iting the ballot, it has been by any un-
lwatul or illegitma tie means, tempered
with,
We, therefore, recommend to the PEG
pie, that they vote to elevate no man to
Office or power who is not fully commit.
ted to the iuviolability of a free ballot,
and fair count.
9Th. Legislative representation and
taxation are additionally AID historic
ally the iusererable right Of every Am.
erlcan citizen, We. therefore, recon-
mend that the colored citizens in all the
counties Of Georgia organize for the
purpose Of securing their proper voice