The Afro-American., 1893-04-29
THE SOUTHERN GOVERNORS.
DENIED THE RIGHT OF
PETITION

Governors at Richmond recently, com
mittee Of AfroAmericans asked to present
4 petition through 4 delegation The
governors decided to receive the petitione
but were unwilling to receive the deIega
tion ii person The delegation declined
to send il their petition. The following is
the petition and names Of the delegation.
Whereas, Lawlessness-lynch Law and
kindred outrages form a menace to the
people Of the respective communities and
States ia which it prevails, drive out capi-
tai, check immigration and hinder the full
fllment Of the prophesies Of prosperity,
and make deplorable the condition Of those
who resides within their respectives con
fines, and
Whereas, The said violations Of the car
dinal principles Of right, and the defying Of
the DEGREES Of justice tend to work the
III oral degradation Of all classes, black and
white alike, and the location Of immigrants
in such communities and States subject.
them to the blasting effects OF such unfor
tunates conditions; and,
Whereas, 1t is therefore plainly evident
that the interest Of all are Identical and
the bond Of sympathy should closer unite
US, to the end that we may become mutu-
ally interested in each others welfare; andss
Whereas The unhappy state Of affairs
ofaaaar fai1s-laaa5 lssya ssass
publ ished to the detriment Of the South in
many parts Of the countries of Europe,
from which the much to be desired imni-
grafton is to come, and the result has been
that the major portion Of the people in
search of homes have Stunned our State
lines and directed their course to the fertile
land but rigorous climate of the North and
far West, and,
Whereas, We believe the question is easy
of solution and the remedy may be found
in cessation of lawlessness and the educa-
tional, moral and industrial elevation Of all
classes of our people, thereby raising them
to the proper plane of true American citi-
zen ship and enabling them TO fully appre-
binding obligations which rest upon each
and every one Of US to do his share in add
~e
and.
Whereas, The possession in this country
bv the race to which we belong Of 1864 000,
900 worth Of property, more than $12,0O0,-
600 of which. according to the statistics Of
the State Auditor, is accredited to our race
in Virginia, shows conclusively that, al
though peniless at the close Of the late
Civil War, they nevertheless share in the
sentiment and endorse the plea which we
are now making to your honorable and in
fuential body, realizing that the power
must come from within 10 work the change
and not from without. and that your infiu-
ence Is pOIenC OotH III 5ood CO. ~'Ai' ~
far as it concerns our future progress and
welfare; therefore, be it
Resolved, In as much as righteousness
oxalteth nation and sin is reproaeh to
any people, We respectfully call upon the
Governors Of the States embraced in the
designated section and urge them to use
their influence to wipe out the evil and es-
tablsh respect for tho law in keeping
with the practices Of chivalric and Chris
tian people.
Resolved, That We appreciate the spirit
manifested il the proclamations and utter
ances Of the Chief Executives Of Texas,