The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-02-06
PTT1FOt LAMENTATION.
The TtllmRnites. with their COnYen.
ton, Have Scared the Negroes Ont
Shnkr RnnSS

The TtllmRnites. with their COnYen.
tiOn, Have Scared the Negroes Ont
of their Boots.
To the Fair Minded, Humane and Patriotic
Men OF South Carolina:
the express purpose of disfranchising the
colored citizens of the State. for impos.
Ing a SO poll tax upon the already impoverish.
ed people of the State and repeating the mill
| school tax, has sn alarmed us ass race that we.
the representatives OF the colored peple, do
hereby appeal to you, the sons and grandsons
Of liberty loving fathers and grand fathers to
tecting that which is most dear to all men and
races. Why dlsfranchising the negro now
Had this convention been called twenty years
ago. there might have been some excuse for IT.,
for we acknowledge at that time there were
many things for which the wife man of the
State had just cause to complain. But after
having control OF the State government twen-
ty years, during which time the negro has
grown intellectually financially and morally,
It seems both unreasonable and unjust to at.
tempt al this late day to attempt at this late
date TO eliminate him from the body polite,
of which he Is part and parcel. Is II because
he is ungovernable? No, all will admit that
the negro Is peaceable, law-abiding and ever
ready to strike blow for his State and coun-
try. And though, almost without represen.
tatiion in their branch of his Stale or National
government, he is not only amenable TO the
laws OF his State, but helps to maintain It's
government, even If IL takes the last pig out
OF his pen.
Has the negro made no improvement In the
last twenty years?
The records In the State will show that the
colored people OF the State pay more than fl We
times as much taxes now on real property
than they did twenty years ago. And the
school records In each and all OF the counties
will show that the cUlOred teachers compare
favorably with the whites in all points; and
In a II professions the negro Is making his
mark and that against great odds, for when 1t
is remembered that the white schools in the
State receive from 100000 TO $500 for higher
education, while the colored schools receive
but 5000 a year. 1t is wonderful to see how
the negro has kept SO close TO his white broth
er in education. But the politician says the
negro is dangerous quantity in politics and
one thinks this but that class of men who are
anxious 10 hold offices. IL Is that cry which
has brought the State TO her present condition
nut politician and the office-seeker can con.
tinue thus to fool the better thinking white
men of the State, 30 long will South Carolina
remain In her present condition.
And we, the representatives of the colored
people In South Carolina, wish here and now
10 inform the white people that we, as a race,
do not wish TO control the State. The idea Is
foolish one TO begin with, for no colored
man with common sense would think for
moment that the colored race in Its present
condition could control this State against the
wishes OF the white race. But, remembering
that we constitute part Of the citizenship OF
edC hoCoLCs dho huonluB LudO VIC dEC cuuOWcu
by our creator, God, with certain inalIenable
rights, and that among these are life, liberty
and the pursuits of happiness, we contend
that as citizens we are entitled to some rep
resentation from each and sill the counties In
the State, though IL be minority representa-
ton, and this Is all we ask.
Therefore, we, the representatives OF the
colored race in conference assembled and
now sitting in the city of Columbia, do advise
the colored people throughout the State to
spare no efforts In obtaining their registra-
ercise the right of citizenship at the approach.
Ing election; and we further recommend that
the colored people support for the Constitu-
white men, and especially that class of white
men whom we know 10 be too proud, broad
and humane to take advantage of the weak.
r. H. Richardson,
G. F. Holmes, Chairman.
Secretary.