The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1898-11-23
New York Negres Meet
and Pass Resolutions.

and Pass Resolutions.
Would Have Southern States
Representation in Congress
Cut Down.
New York. Nov. IA mass
meeing of colored men and women
to protes: against the treatment of
their race in some of the southern
States recently was held tonight in
Cooper Union. AS a precautionary
measure the police were out in force,
as in Hell's Kitchen district there
has been a considerable amount of
anti negro sentiment This precau-
ton, however, was not at all neces.
sary, as the gathering. although
enthusiastic at times, was very
peaceable one The hall was crowded
with colored people, with a
sprinkling of whites A number of
prominent white citizens, however,
sent letters commencing the object
of the meeting During tedious
wait for the speakers white man
with long flowing hair arose in his
seat in the center aisle and shouted {:
elf we only had William Lloyd
Garrison, Wendell Phillips, or an
Abraham Lincoln at this time" This
evoked tremendous applause
T T. Fortune appeared on the
stage few moments later and took
the presiding officers chair Mr..
Fortune in lengthy address told of
the race troubles of the south.
Ebenezer D Bassett, formerly min.
lister to Hayti, also spoke.
The following resolutions were
adopted. with lengthy preamble:
Resolved. That we, citizens of
Greater New York, protest against
the rioting and revolution which have
disgraced the States Of North Caro-
lima and South Carolina and which
has been contrary to the letter and
spirit of our institutions and calcu.
lated to subvert the guaranteed rights
of citizens and to damage the good
name, reputation and credit of the
republic, at home and abroad.
Resolved. That we feel that the
governors of North Carolina and
South Carolina are cepsurable for
their failure to suppress the said
rioting and revolution within their
States and for their failure to invoke
the aid of the federal authority, il
they were unable or unwilling to
cope with the condition of affairs
Resolved, That we deplore as an
un American and provocative of end
less friction and contention the antag'
onism to race and color which alone
appear to have caused the said riot
ing and revolution in North and
South Carolina and that we insist
upon it that the just rights of al
citizens under the constitution shal
be respected as the only safeguard
against lawlessness and as the only
guarantee of orderly government and
that we appeal to the conservative
law abiding Christians of the republic
to assist in the creation OF public
opinion which shall compel those il
authority to enforce the law and te
secure to each citizen adequate pro
lection in his life and property il
the exercise of his manhood and citi
zen rights under the constitution
Resolved, That at the States o
Mississippi, South Carolina ane
Louisiana have by constitutional en-
actment, disfranchised more thar
half of their population, we demand
that the basis of representation o
these States in congress and the
electoral college be reduced, in sh'
proportion which the number of sucl
male citizens shall bear to the mum
Der of male citizens 81 years of age
as made and directed by section 2
article ID, of the federal constitution
Resolved, That we recommend
such amendment to the constitution
as will enable the president to u.s.
the federal authority to protect tn
life and property of citizens of tn
United States from organized or mol
conspiracy whenever the governor o
any State, from fear or coliusion, fail
to afford such protection or to cal
upon the federal government t.
afford it.
Resolved, Tha: we implore the
guidance Of Almighty God in tn
shaping of homogeneous citizenship
to the end that it may make to
righteousness, for human progress
and for the interest of out great sne
beloved republic against the ele
ments of rioting and revolution from
within and the assaults of the enc