Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1907-04-20
THE BLACK
BATTALION.
The Constitution League
Appeals for Help.
THE ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS STATEMENT OF RESULTS
RFALIZED-TO CONTINUE THE
GULTY-READ AND GIVE ASSISTANCE.

The Constitution League appeals
to patriotic citizens throughout the
United States for moral and fnan-
cial support in it's defense of the
constitutional rights of all citizens
regardless of locality. race, sex. pO-
litical or religious creed.
We make the following statement
In answer TO many inquiries and for
new friends of the cause. The pres
ent incorporated league is the out
come of the preliminary organiza-
ton OF 1903. IL is a betated express
sion OF American conscience and pa
triotism, organized TO achieve spe-
cihc results The league believes
that the Constitution of the United
STATES is "the supreme law of the
land and that "the judges I'm every
state shall be bound thereby, any
thing i'm the Constitution or laws of
any State TO the contrary notwith-
standing' (Article Va; that The
United States sha-- guarantee TO ev-
cry state In this Union a Republican
form OF government" (Article IVD:|
tnat the Constitution guarantees
freedom of speech" and "the right
oi the people peaceably TO assemble,
and 20 petition the government for
ment ID; that "the trial OF all
crimes SHALL be by jury" (Arti-
Gle lIl.). and tina. all persons ac-
cused or crime shall have "the right
90 speedy and public trial. by an
Impartial jury" and have the as
sistance of counsel for his defense"
(Amendment VII; Chat 'excessi
bail shall not be required. nor ex-
ceSsiVe fines imposed, nor cruel and
unusual punishments inflicted" CA
mendment Wild that no "invoiun-
t0ry servitude (eXccpt as punishment
Tor crime) shall exist within the u
nitea States" amendment XIII):|
that "All persons born in the United
states are citizens" amendment
AlN.); that. in States where citizens
are unlawfully disfranchised. its Re
presentatives IN Congress shall be
reduced in the proportion" prescrib-
ed in the Fourteenth Amendment.
that the right of the citizens of the
United States to vote shall not be de-
MED or abridged by the United
states. or by any state, on account
OF race, color. or previous condition
OF servitude" amendment XVI
that Congress by special provision of
the Constitution itself. is given pow
er to enforce the provisions (of the
last three) articles by appropriate
legislation" That the President the
Congress and political parties should
De held accountable for long neglect
OF this constitution obligation.
THE FEDERAL ADMINISTRATIONS
The League recognizes the valua-
hxr h. II.
Administration in the prosecution of
violations OF the Thirteenth Amend
ment In the so-called peonage cases"
first inflated by independent effort.
All friends Of the cause hope that
violations and disregard of otaer con-
Sututional provisions will not in the
Iuture remain ignored either by the
Executive or by the Congress.
with trial by jury ignored. free
dom or speech denied, the mandates
or the Supreme Court defied. wito
the constitutional rights of citizens
denied. abridged" or more dan
gerously circumvented by perversion
OF the forms OF law; with a weekly
average of three citizens put to deat5
without legal trial. every week for
nineteen years, IL would seem that
the time for organized protest and
action had arrived.
IL is 10 the credit OF sympathetic
America that we have been hor-ifad
at the Jewish massacres and Armen-
Ian assassinations, but the outside
world has also stood aghast az the
race mobs, lynchings and massacresI
In Christian America" North and
South.
UNITED INFLUENCES TO WORK.
The League desires the united in
nuences OF Christian civilization. 4
North and South. 70 uphold the law
adequately punish the guilty and
make every citizen respect the guar
antees OF the Federal Constitution.
without regard to person or locality.
the League proposes, by means
Of organized lawful resistance and
positive action. TO aid In supprsssing