The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1895-03-20
THE G R PROTEST.
The Resolutions Adopted at the
Mass Meeting.

The mass meeting Of negroes, which was
held on The Court House square on Monday,
adopted the following resolutions. which
have been sent in with a request that they be
published
Whereas, the law requires non-registered
voters 10 obtain registration certificates
during ten days of the present month, begin
ming on the 4th and on the first Monday of
each month thereafter till August, and
Whereas, The said law requires all nom
such registration certificates, snd
Whereas, Gov Evans did, on Wednesday,
March 9Th. revoke, without cause, the com
mission Of Notary Public W. T. Andrews,
who WAS discharging his duties az Il public
officer in taking the afidavits Of non-register-
ed voters, and
Whereas, the revocation Of the commission,
Of the said Notary Public Was manifestlv for
the purpose Of hindering, delaying and de-
barring the registration Of colored voters.
Now, therefore,
RESOLVED, that we, the colored citizens of
Sumter County, in mass meeting assembled,
enter our solemn protest against this t3rauni-
cal. arbitrary, and unjust act of Gov. Evans !;
and that We denounce the unjust and coward
~ methods being daily used nv the Governor
and bis willing henchmen TO hinder the regis
%tration of colored citizens and thereby de-
prive many of them Of the right OF suffrage.
Resolued further, That we declare it to be a
God given and a natural right for every citi-
zeo 10 participate in the framing and
adoption OF a State Consiituiion-,he funda-
mental principle, and the foundation of the
government-and that 10 free people will
tAmely submit 10 the REIMBURSEMENT of such a
right; that We warn those who ruthlessly,
arbitrarily ADD dramatically hinder Us in the
exercise Of our rights, under the lawa, which
they themselves have given, that there is a
limit beyond which, if they pass, they will
cal forth the indignation, protest and legal
RESOLVED further, That in our endesvor to
quietly and peaceably register, aud in our
efforts to preserve the rights now given and
guaranteed to US, we solicit, and shall en-
courage the efforts and advice of all those
liberal and fair white men, who desire peace
and good feeling between the races.
RESOLVED further, That we deny any and all
assertions that there is a spirit Of "negro-
denomination" among rs but, to the con-
trary, we wait TO support and uphold those
white msn, whose efforts will be directed to
giving 10 our State a fair, just and liberal
constitution. under which the rights of all
citizens will be protected.
Resolved further, That we condemn the
action ofE1-Gov. Tillman and Gov. Evans,
and their henchmen in exciting against US the
bitter feeling of the white race, and to i'm
bue them With the spirit of depriving US ofall
righ' of sufrrage, and of free common school
system and we call upou our people to dis
cuss these matters. ponder, to ferret out, and
6od the men who are bitterly opposing our
rights and our progress, and to pass them by,
as far as they can, in all business relations
RESOLVED further, That we call upon every
colored citizen to register, or to endeavor, at
every sacrifice, to register; and further, that
WI express our gratitude TO that portion of
the press of our State that is making a noble
fight for a fair election, an honest count, and
a liberal constitution.
Rssolued finally, That we call upon all fair
and honest citizens 'to fight to the last
ditch" honestly, legally and peaceably, all
efforts to deprive citizens Of the right of suf-
frage, and Of good free school system.