The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1895-07-17
: The Negro in Politics.
Organized to Fight the Con
stitutloual Question.
An Address Issued Appealing to
the National Government and
to theConservative Faction.

the NaC1OQ8l dOV9EEmeuG ou0
to the heConservative Faction.
The State conference Of negroes,
which was called by the Ministerial
Union to consider the Constitutional
convention outlook so far as the
black race is concerned. assembled
at noon yesterday in the State Senate
chamber. There were about twenty
FIVE representative negroes from the
various sections of the State present.
Among them were many of the lead
ing negro preachers of the State.
George Washington Murray, Bishop
Salter and others.
The conference was called to order
at noon by the Rev. E. 81 Colt. of
this city. as president of the Minis
terial Union. The proceedings were
opened with prayer by the Rev. I. L.
Miller, of Orangeburg On motion
of the Rev. r. E. Hart, of this city,
the Rev E. a. Colt, of this city, was
elected temporary chairman, and
Judge of Probate Green, of George
town county. was elected secretary
The call Of the roll by counties
was then commenced. When Aiken
county was reached it was seen that
so much time would be consumed
that Murray suggested that they have
the chairman of each delegation
hand in the names of those who we're
delegates, and that the roll be made
up in that way. This was agreed to.
BE also suggested that inasmuch as
the smighty Irby committee with all
it's powerful engines of election" and
the Conservatives had met with
closed doors. they, the weak and
helpless, should meet with closed
doors too. This was agreed to. A
session was then held lasting until
2.30 o. m. The conference reassem-
bled at 4p m and was in session
until about 1870 o'clock last night
before any results were made known
At that hour the following address
was sent to the representatives of
the press:
THE ADDRESS.
To the People of the United States:
AS part of the constituent elements
from which our National government
draws its life blood in time of peace,
and from whose life blood it exacts
tribute in time of war, under the
broad reciprocal relations that should
exist among all the people of one
common country, that should be
elastic, ofensire or defensive wea-
pons for every American citizen.
however humble at home or abroad,
in order that the theory of govern
nent handed down by the fathers
might be fully realized and enjoyed
by every individual on every inch of
national territory, we submit that a
small, but desperate minority Of the
population has declared its purpose
to perpetuate its power by unlawful
~ trampling under feet all the rights
and franchises granted US by the
Federal Constitution as means of
protecting life. liberty and property.
We have used every means in de-
fence of our constitutional rights and
franchises known to Iaw-abiding citi
zens in this State, without effect, and
as last resort are forced to call upon
the strong arm of the national
government for a defense of rights
granted and guaranteed by itself.
AS the army and navy are held as
reserve force to uphold local autho.
rites in every State, the Federal
government. in order not to be inn
posed upon and to support anarchy
under the pretense Of suppressing it..
should see to it that republican
form of government, which we
understand to be government lnstl-
tuted by tue sovereign Will OF
majority of the constitutionally quail
fed voters, actually exists in every
State.
We humbly crave your influence
with the constituted authorities of
the nation, in order that their con-
sciences and arms might be strength
ened in efforts to have the Constita-
ton and laws of the nation upheld,
so that each American citizen might
have the equal protection of the law,
without which constitutional guaran-
tees are mere mockeries. and life
itself burden to the people of the
State.