The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-01-23
RIGHTS OF THE NEGROES.
ARRIVAL OF THE AFRO-AMERICAN
LEAGUE DELEG ALTON.

/ Their Petition 10 be Presented TO Pres
! ident Harrison TO-Day-A Claim That
! ths Colored Man IS g Cit zen IN
Name On!y-The Blair Bill Favored.
! WASHINGTON, Jan. 22-The committee
anpoin ei by the National Afro American
/ League convention recently he'd in Chi
! cago to present TO the ex cutive and con
gress petition for the enactment Of legis-
lation to secure TO the colOred peo1le their
rights under the constitution. arrived he
today aid will pre- ent the followit e
to President Harrison tomorrow morning:
wAsHIxGrox. D. C.. Jan. q. 1890.
| To His ErceUeHcU Beaj1 min HIrTisOu, Prcsi-
dent Of the United t4tss:
ludo-sug as we do the sentiments as pre-
seated ia your message TO cong ess regarding
he ri ghLs Of AfrO-Ame. leans. WlO form sue
! large AMI potent eie Ient 81 tie political party
with which Won are iie 3tili u, we have e honor
/ 10 inform YOU that We have been appointed by
! the sXecu i've committee OF the National Afro
/ Amer can League under the instruct n OF the
national convention held in the city OF Chicago
on Jan. 10. IS, and II, to petit ion the executive
and congress for the enactment of sucn laws,
and = enforcement o. those already enacted,
as VIII secure TO Us our rights as citizens, guar
uateed under the national constitution and it
amendments Recent Outra es in the SO it'll,
and those committed against us'in the discharge
OF our rights IN the selection OF our DatiOtal
represa ntatives at each succeeding election, are
becoming more app dling and atrociouS.
ONLY CITIZENS IN NAME.
We are only citizens in name Our will at the
ballot K is co upietslY thwart ID and the re-
suit is an unjust repr -sentation given to ir en-
emies TO the great detriment Of ourselves and
the entire nation. 1t cannot be denied that this
is all just and destructive OF the aims in
tended by the RENE law of the land. The
nation having given us our freedom as well az
our civil and pO ticai rights, We m but look TO
II as iaw-abiding ctize for ths protection OF
that freedom ana those rights BY
the enforcement OF = republican form OF
government each state claimi1z TO be sover-
eiga in denying the ri ht Of suffrage, which
must always be above that of state sovereignty.
Ia most Of the south srn stat - we are denied
the rights guarantee 10 US in the selection Of
President and ics President and national rep
resentattves. We have no representation in I
jury-b1x 10 but few counties OF any II these
states nor have we fair trial by he courts o
those states where lynch law and mob violence
prevail. We would, therefore, respectfully as
10 Pre- ideut of the Uni ed States 10 do ali in
his power TO right these wronZs ca
Favor THE BLAIR BILL.
We have also been instructed to petition the
national congress for the passage of the Blair
educational bill, so that the Tilt rate classes Of
botn races in the south may be enaD ed more
inteligentiy TO discharge the dlti 8 of citizen
sh p. Under / pre- sent educational system in
the south that end never VIII be attained. In
many localities less IMAM 40 mouths SCnOOl Is
afforded our clilIren by poor paid teachers.
When ne right of citizenship w9s given us.
although our labor had been rorced from us for
centuries without any compensation what EVER.
no provision was made for our education, and
| 81 CO the states in charge of this sacre
trust have proven themselves inadequate to
the requirements of this important obligation
we are driven TO petition congress a ID the exc
cutlve, as the head of g national government,
| to aid us in this important matter. Pied ing
ourselves to be loyal 10 the nation and its inst-
| buttons, as we have always been. and our friends
| at all times, we would respectfully urge, Mr.
| Pr sident, that you will use your best en-
| deavors to bring about a realization of the de-
| sires of your humble petitioners in these mat
| ters, and for which we, in benalf of those we
| represent, will ever pray. Your obedient SER
wants, IL. c. AsTwOoD, Chairman.
| w. a. PLEDGER.
| w. H. HEARD.
| J. +. HAYEE.
| ~ PHELIx g. ANDERSON.
| ]. A. Brook.
| NJ. i. DAVIS.
| II. c. HACKEY.
| w. b. JOHNSON.
The committee will tomorrow present
similar petitions to the Senate and House
of Representatives.