The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1892-06-09
LET UPO THE LYNCHINGS.
An Earnest Appeal by Negroes In Mass
Meeting.


COLUMBIA, S. g., June 2.--Some
time ago meeting Of the leading men
aud women of the colored race was he Id
in New York city to take into consider
alton the situation in regard to the col
ored people in the South, particularly in
reference to the matter of lynching.
Resolutions were adopted and the meet
Ing suggested that the negroes every
where in the South observe the last day
OF May as Il day ofmemorial and prayer,
that defenders would he raised for them
with the manly courage "to build up a
sentiment IN every Southern hamlet
against violent and brutal treatment to.
wards defenCeless people.o
1t was III conformity with this call
That an immense gathering Of the lead.
ing co!ored people of Columbia was
held in the Second Calvary Baptist
Church yesterday afternoon at 3:3O
O'Clock. In the audience were not only
The prominent negroes of the city, but
many others who are here in attendance
upon Allen University commencement.
Enthusiastic speeches were made by the
Rev. Messrs. Dunbar, Tobin and viii
son; DR.. G. G. Johnson, G. f. Holmes
and others.
The following preamble and resolu-
tlons were adopted without q disse enting
vOi>e:
Whereas, We believe the time has
lully como tor our race to make an earn
est appeal to all our fellow. cItlz ems in
pehalf OF justice and right, and to re.
quest thoughtful and serious atten ton
TO the cnormlty of the sln against God
and humanity 80 frequently committed
IN our Southern States by lawless and
Dlood-thlrsty mobs, who often upon even
suspicion OF certain crimes transeress
the most sacred OF all human rights.
and hurry colored men Off to a violent
and cruel death; for it is admitted to be
fundamental law of the land that even
inc yilest criminal has an inherent right
TO lie and liberty unless deprived there.
OF by due process of law.
Aud whereas, While we, in no meas.
ure, seek either to justify or excuse the
CRIME Tor which these, lynchings are the
usual punishment nor, indeed, any GRIM
lnal act OF any member OF our race. vet
we insist that one crime never iustilies
another, and that 10 williully deprive
any man of lite without fair and Impair.
tlal trial is murder, and that these too
| frequent scenes of violence and blood
shed tend to tamiliarizo men with law.
lessness and cruelty, TO render human
lie cheap and human rights of no I'M
portance, and thus to do incalculabl,
injury TO all the higher interests of 90
ciety at large.
And whereas, While we ara aware
tnat lherc are great number of white
cltlZens who 10 frOwn upon, aud in M
wise encourage these iyn chngs. an(
VINO 1lrmly believe that the reign of law
ana order ls IN all respects most subser
went OF the general welfare of all, vel
we lell that IN view Of that universal
DroCherhood OF man which is alike the
teachings OF common sense, of science
| ana rellglon; III view Of all that is lust
ana true and right, which these midnight
marauders set at open defiance; in view
OF the civilization Of this last decade OF
The glorious nineteenth century; and in
view OF that God. who has made yery
man to some extent his brothers. keen.
or, We iccl that tins better class, this
laW-abldlng and Order-lovlng portion of
the white citizens are not doing all thew
can DO, nor all they should do to pre-
vent these acts OF violence and blood
shed on the part of the more vicious and
ignorant members Of their race that The
officers of the law sworn to bring tbe
guilty 10 justice are not faithful in car.
rylng out their VOWS in the punishment
OF these midnight murderers, and that
their Glsapproval of the hanging, shoot.
ing and butning of colored men without
even the form OF trial is not nearly as
positive and emphatic as it ought TO be-;
therefore, be it
Resolved, That we urge all our fellow.
citizens to listen to the appeals of hu.
manity, ofjustice and reason with ref
ence to this greatest evil o. the present
time; we urge all our iellow-citizens to
| allow just laws to be executed upon all
criminals in legal manner; we urge
all criminally disposed persons to see
that the punishment for crimes does not
depend upon the uncertain and waver.
ing acts OF any howllng mobs of mid
night assassins, but tnat law is ever
potent to punish the guilty and protect
the innocent. that they may thus
learn to respect the law and be restrain
ed in their vicious purposes.
Resolved, further, That we heartily
commend tho efforts made by his Excel
lcncy, B. IL. Tillman, to prevent lynch.
ing in the State of South Carolina. and
that we are grateful to him for the noble
stand he has taken since his inausura.
tlon as Governor in endeavorlng to put
a stop to this cruel and unjust mob VIC.
lence in our State, and that we hereby
relte rate our expressions of gratitude to
all those noble spirits who in any way
try to influence these lawlcss mobs
az ainst their unholy designs upon hu-
man life.
Resolved, That we hel eby solemnly
urge any member of our race who NAV
be crlminally inclined or disposed to dis.
regard the rights OF their fellowmen TO
cease their evil course and become
strictly obedient to law both human and
Divine; and that we appeal TO any and
all members of tie white race who NAV
have joined these mobs of lynchers and
cutthroats, or in any wise aided or abet.
thnnl :al..