The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-05-29
MEMORIAL BY NEGROES
lCoLoRED MEN APPEAL TO THE
 CoNvENTIoN.
Tn q Spirit to Be Commanded, They Ask That Rights of the Blacks
 -'n Be at Least Considered.

ASK That Hightg or tno 0Ahc1s -'n Be at Least Considered.
 The following has been sent to the Constitutional Convention by the rep resentatiye leaders of the conservative and industrious negroes of Alabama: :. To the Members of the Constituuonai
 Convention:
 bers in this State about s0o,e00 and there is no member of the race mem Der of your body, who can speak di- rectly for us in an official capacity, we do not think that you will misunder- stand the object and spirit Of this com- munication, for 1t is not sent to you in dictaterial. fault-finding spirit. but with an earnest desire to be Of some assistance in the performance Of a grave and perplexing task. we make ourselves all the more bold 10 send you this communication because members of your body In nearly every part of the State have expressed a de- sire to hear from us,
 1t could not be expected that the 800, 900 colored people in this State would not have some interest in the deliberations of . body that is to frame the fundamental law under which both races are to be governed In this State. perhaps for all future time.
 Your petitioners are not gtirrers up of strife between the races, but we feel that the questions with which you are to deal are above and beynod party politics. Each of us, in some calling. Is a hard working, tax-paying. and, we trust. law-abiding citizen, and we believe that we represent In a large thar and dnQirQ0 of the masses of our people in the State.
 We beg of your honorable body to keep in mind in dealing with the prob lems that grow out of our presence, that, as a race, we did not force our selves upon you, but were brought here in most cases. against our will; but, nevertheless. we recognize that since being here, we have been vastly bene- flied. We have gotten habits of in- dustry, the English language, and the Christian religion. and at the same time we have tried in an humble way, to render valuable service to the white man in clearing the forests, building the railroads. cultivating the lands, working the mines, as well as in many forms of domestic service and In other activities. Our fathers and mothers have helped nurse you and your chil- dren. and when the male members of the family were away from home fighting in war that might have meant our continued enslavement, we re- mained at home. working your farms, supporting and protecting your help less wives and daughters. When we have been called to perform any duty of citizenship. whether fighting a for eign foe. working the public roads. or any other duty, We have tried to do our best.
 We beg of you to bear in mind that for more than twenty years the negro in this State has not, as a rule, been disturbing or offensive element. Im- mediateiy after the war. we made mis- takes. just as would have been true of any people placed in the same po- sition. but we have learned our lesson from those mistakes and they are not likely to be repeated.
 The changes wrought by time and the providence of God, it seems to us, places your body in a peculiarly re- sponsible position. You assemble at time when your action will not be di- rected or restricted by any pressure from the Federal government or else- where. The North is almost unani- nous in its agreement that the future of the negro is a large degree rests with the South. Almost for the first time since freedom came to us. law making body assemofes in the South, bearing the supreme law making power of the State. and is left free to act ences. Almost for the first time, the negro is to rest his future in a large degree upon the conscience and intel ligence of a great law-making body of a great Southern State You have the power. The world will watch while you act.
 It requires little thought, effort or strength to degrade and pull down a week race, but 1t is the sign of great statesmanship to encourage and lift up weak and unfortunate race. Des- truction Is easy; construction Is diff ioult.
 There are those among your peti- tioners who have consistently urged the negro to learn to trust his future with his Southern white neighbors and that when the supreme test came. he would receive justice at his hands. This is a crucial hour for those who have thus advised our race. but We do not believe that our faith in you will be misplaced. We believe that the pos- l session of great power will deepen your sympathy for the weak and dependent clements of your population.
 1t seems to Us on the whole, that the relations of the two races in this State are reasonably satisfactory, and We tremble and fear lest something will be done to disturb these relations and to bring discouragement and demorali- zation to our race.
 Of the greatest importance is the economic consideration. The greater of our people are settled upon the plantations in the cotton raising districts, while q large number of others are in the mining districts These people are occupying and cul- tivating laud that is largely owned by white people or operating other in- duStries owned by white people. Still | others are buying homes and therby | contributing to the welfare of the | State. In most cases, they are con- tented. producing. law-abiding people. | Already, alarm is beginning to spread | them and their fears are being | worked upon by emigration agents and exodus associations who are telling them that under the new constitution the negro's citizenship will be taken from him and that his schools will be plotted out. These agencies expect in one way or another to reau gain by reason of something that you will do in your convention.
 Anything that will unsettle and cause at the present time when more than ever, in all parts of the State, the race is beginning to improve. to settle down to habits of thrift economy and common sense, will not only prove injurious to our race, but to yours also. The history of all races nroves that a contented intelligent