The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-02-22
CHARLOTTE is AROUSED
MEETINGS. spFrcHEs AMI REsO! UTiONe
FAvORlNG A DlspEaSaRy.
Senator from Meeklenburg Requested TO With
draw his0pposlton If he Refuses
the People Appeal 10 Senate.

Charlotte. y. c., Feb 81 .--(Spccial.)--
A large aud enthusiastic meeting Of the
leading citizens Of Charlotte. called at
o'clock this afternoon, was held here
tonight in the interest of the dispen-
sary bill. Strong resolutions were adopt
ed asking Senator Osborne 10 withdraw
his opposition to the bill and lct II pass
the Senate. Ringing speeches were
madc by Hugh w. Harris, Esq. Judge
Arnistead Bnrwcl and others. The
resolutions adopted are as follows:
'Whereas. a majority of the white
citizens of Meclllcnbnrg have expressed
their will. moi by secret ballot, which
would shield them from the consequences
Of their action and where fraud would
he possible, bnt by petition to which their
names are signed. open to inspection and
exposing every man to political and
iinapcial consequences of his action. and
whereas the mum 2lhsl ~ iorltr lilelAfes
an overwhelming minority of the moral
intelligent and tax-paying element and
whereas the county is in earnest as it
never was before. and whereas the Rep
resentatiycs in the lower House have
passed The bill unanimously. and whereas
the vote III The Senate on similar petit
tions has shown that the Senate is at
least not hostile to the dispensary sys-
TEN. and whereas it is commonly re-
ported that the Senator from Mecklen
burg has expressed himself as opposed
to the dispensary bill.
Resolved, that we, the citizens Of
Charlotte, in mass meeting assembled
do respectfully bnt firmly and earnestly
request the Senator from Mecklenburg
to withdraw his opposition to this bill.
and III case the Senator from Mccklen
burg does not withdraw such opposition
we most earnestly and sincerely request
the Senate of North Carolina 10 pass
this dispensary bill notwitlstandin, =
After the adoption of these resolutions
by unanimous vote. Mr.. Hugh w.
Harris, Esq. arose in reply TO a re-
mark by Colonel Anthony and said:
NO discourtesy is intended to Sena-
tor Osborne. This meeting is called TO
instruct him lcheers). The right to pc
tition legislative bodies is right we
have received from our ancestors. The
right of 5000 white citizens of Neck
lenburg to instruct one of their public
servants is indisputable. The people
who are here have spoken with not only
IL numerical majority, hut we go TO him
with 1000 white voters of Mecklen-
burg behind us. and demand that he hear
MS for the public good. He cannot say
ro us: You are discourteous.' If Mr..
Osborne has tied his hands by promises.
Us some say. then he may lock askance
al this request; and if he says that his
bands are tied when 5000 freemcn send
him this petition and these instructions.
then we say to the Senate of North
Carolina: We have no representative
in the Senate. and we appeal to YOU
who are able to represent the whole peo-
pie to pass this bill When 5000 white
men of Mecklenburg demand hear
ing at the hands of the Lawmakers.
Senatorial courtesy must go TO the dogs.
prolonged cheering.) These people com
posed of the intelligence and the man
hood of the county, have a right to be
heard Ind no one should question that
right
Judge Armistead Burwell arose and
was greeted with applause. He said:
II heartily agree with Mr.. Harris. |
had some doubt as to the opportuneness
Of this movement ut first. | have none
now. The opponents of the movement
have said that the churches We're behind
this movement If that be true | do
not hesitate to say, after thirty years
residence III this county, that the oppo-
nents of the churches had better stand
from under (Applause.l
what is it that we say TO Mr.. Os-
borne by our resolutions: We say You
may defeat us now, but 5000 freemen
declare that you will not defeat us
again.
BY vote of the meeting Judge Burwcli
was asked to go TO Raleigh with the
delegation from Charlotte.
Mass meetings were held tonight at
Pineyile and Newell and delegates APP
pointed There will also be delegation
from Davidson, Huntersyille and Mat
thews.