The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-02-15
HARRIsoN's ATTORNEY GENERAL.
Negroes Address Him a Circular, Set
ting Forth Their Views.

INDIANAPOLIS, Feb. 14-An important
conference of colored men was held here To-
day. 1t gathered at the instance of Prof
j. M. Langston, and seven states were rep
resented by the delegates present: South
Carolina, Georgia, Virginia, Tennessee,
Kentucky, Florida and Missouri Letters
were read from the states of Louisiana,
Mississippi, Arkansas, Maryland, West
Virginia, Alabama, Texas and North
Carolina. Rev. William j. Simmons, ID. D.,
of Louisville pre- ident of the State Uni
versity at Louisville, secretary for the
southern states of the American Baptist
Home Mission Society and member OF
many national organizations, is one of the
prominent pe.s MS present. DR.. c. NJ
Bryant of st. Louis, Capt. Jackson Nc
Henry of Atlanta, Rev. j. W. Dunjee,
disti gushed Baptist preacher from
Augusta, Ga; Hon. &. +. Evans,
Of Memphis, member of the legislature;
John Mitchell, Jr, editor of tho Planet and
me Der of the city council, Richmond,
Va, E. A Lawrence OF Avery institute,
Charleston; William II. Stewart of the
american Baptist OF Louisville; t. H.
johnson, president of the West Tennessee
University and presiding elder of the South
Memp is district of Memphis, Tenn. Prof.
s. NJ. White of Pensacola. Fla. Capt. H.
Hoss of Memphis, and w. J. White Of the
Georgia Baptist of Augusta, Ca. were
also present.
AN ADDRESS TO GEN. HARRISON.
The conference was held with closed
doors, and an address to Gen. Harrison was
formulated, in substance as follo"s:
The undersigned would assure you that they
are loyal members of the Republican party, that
they reside in states severally which are over
whelmingly republican, and upOZ any fair
election would give their respective electoral
votes to such party by large majority. Sucn,
however, are the undue influences and frauds
broughtto bear against the great body of the
voters of these states that the desires
OF the republican masses are constantly
| defeated We believe that the fifteenth
| amendment should be maintained with
| fairness and vigor. and that ample protection
| through the federal agency, should be given
| every citizen We cannot doubt that you agree
| with us in such opinion, and that you desire
| that such objects shall be accomplished in the
interest of 100000 American citizens, who to-
| day, in the south, are practically dsIranchsed
| and whose cause we represent and plead. In
view of our present and prospective condition
| under your administration of the government
| are profoundly interested in the cOnstruc-
| ton OF your cabinet, SO tar, certainly and
| specially, as concerns the Attorney Generalshp
| thereof We offer you the name of no man for
| such position, such course would, we appre-
| hend, be unbecoming We ask simply that
| person be appointed to such position
whose cordial acceptance of the great Alner-
| can doctrines as respect citizenship and the bal
| lot for the humblest oe our citizens, however
| formerly slaves and outcasts, would lead him
to search diligently and thoroughly for the law
| in such behalf uninfiuenced and armed in
| judgment against our cause by reason Of ILL
| founded, though strong predictions and
| prejudices. The importance, absolute necessity
| of the appointment to the position which we
| name, of a man who, in additio to great learn
| ing in law, is free from undue feeling and bias,
becomes apparent in a single moments rehec-
| ton. The officer, with his assistants and
subordinate agents, is of the first importance.
| Such being our opinion, we have ventured
| to bring it formally and earnestly
| to your consideration. If you have anticipated
| in such appointment, already made, suggestions
| which we here offer, we shall ever be your
| grateful, delighted fellow citizens.
During the afternoon it was presented to
the general. 1t was supposed that the con
ference would also oppose the appointment
of Gen. Malone to the cabinet, but moth
| ing of the kind was DONE