The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1897-08-18
As To Lynchings.
Second Delegation of Negroes
Waits on Governor.
From The State.

From The State.
Columbia Aug 1l.-Yesterday
Governor Ellerbe was waited upon by
another committee of negroes rep
resenting the Florence district cohfer-
ence of the A. NJ E church in re-
gard to the matter of lynchings The
committee was composed of those
whose names are signed to the paper
below. Governor Ellerbe accorded
them patient hearing He told
them that he was glad to see that
they were not for condoning the
crimes which caused lynchings. He
thought that they should earnestly
preach against such crimes. He ex-
pressed his well known views in re-
gard to the matter Of lynchings, say
ing tha& he did not think it was ever
justified.
The members of the committee as
sured him that they would do all in
their power to prevent the commits
sion of such crimes, both through the
influence of the pulpit and otherwise.
They presented 70 him the follow
ing payer:
Your committee on lynching
and general Iawleasness beg leave to
report that they view with serious
apprehension the growing disregard
of law aud order which is 80 painfully
manifest throughout the length and
breadth of our country In the north
east, south and west the orderly In
vestigatioc and punishment of crime
By our time honored courts are too
often disgraced by heated, excited
and prejudiced judgment and the
cruel and inhuman taking of life by
lawless and Goddess mods.
Your committee wish to submit
that they are surprised at the failure
on the part of the past administration
to bring to justice the perpetrators of
these crimes of in:amy upon a poor
and helpless people We are also
surprised at the repeated announce
ments made to the public through the
press that the best people engage in
these lynchings. This condition of
affairs is fast becoming alarming in
the south. and unless something is
done speedily to re establish the ma.
jesty Of law, decrease crime and stop
lynchings, an era of bloodshed, car
mage aud devastation such as has
never been Witnessed under the stars
and strips of the American republic
will be precipitated upon US. We
therefore recommend !:
l. That the preachers of this dis.
trict conference be required and all
other colored preachers in the State
be requested to condemn from their
pulpits any and every violation Of
law. whether it be insulting white
child or lynching negro that they
be urged to teach by both precept
and example high moral standard
and obedience to law.
2. That we extend to his excel
lency, Governor Elerbe, our grateful
thanks for the efforts that he has
made and has promised to make to
prevent lynch;ng and punish lynchers
and other tawbreakers as the laws of
our State direct they shall be- That
we assure him. and through him the
white citizens of the State and ma
ton, that We have no sympathy for
those Of our race who commit name
less crimes upon the fair sex, and
will do all within our power in bring
ing such to just punishment But we
insist that they should be tried and
convicted by due process of law aud
not made scape goats for the crimes
of other races, as is too often done
when mobs are allowed to convict
and punish without even a form of
trial
8 That we appeal to the white
pulpit of the State to assist Us in ere.
ating strong public sentiment
against all forms Of lawlessness, es
pccially that Of mob violence, which
is becoming so common and threat
ening in our otherwise peaceful, pros
porous and beautiful country That
We appreciate the strong and manly
fight made by the press of our State
against mob law, believing es we do
that more can be accomplished
through the efforts of the press and
the pulpit along this line than by any
other means.
4. That a comm;tte be appointed
by this conference to present copy
of this report to the governor with
snch additional explanation Of our
positior on the subject matter Of this
paper as they may think proper, and
that the same committee be caargad
with the duty Of publishing the said