Year: 1868




In a. free country, where the schools and the
churches are open to all; where the newspapers
speak freely; where every man is ut liberty to
think and act rs he pleases provided he does not
injure others; where the law stretches its strong
arm around the humblcst citizen; where the
liberties of the people are secured in every de-
partment of the government, i'll such country
secret societies Of any kind are unnecessary, in
fact should be put down, But this is not our
condition at present. Our school houses are torn
down; our newspapers destroyed; men are mur-
dered daily for no other reason than because they
are loyal to the government; the laws are not
enforced, and the only protection to life proper
ty and principle for Union men is to organise
and join toget her in secret and make their plans
for open action. This necessity has produced
the InIon League.


The country is full ofsecret societies of bad
and reasonable natnre; this fact also makes it
the more necessary for loyal men to have seer et
We heieye every patriotic man VINO Is "IlItng
70 600 the terrible and dangerous condition OF
onr country will acknowledge that the patriotic
society known as the Union League is not only


necessity but a blessing to the recently entran-
chised colored men.


sosf,r as the ritual of the League is concerned
il could all be made public it is simply a plain
lesson on patriotism, but in order to insure
meetings free from spies and enemies, the door is
closed and the most timid feel that every manis
q friend and a brother in the League.


Mich bad has been said about the League but
we challenge any one to point to Il single act OF
riolence in this State which has originated i'll
this State from the Union League The docttrse
of peace is the only one that is taught inside the
League.


The Union League deserves the credit of pre-
venting the colored men from taking the law in
their own hands and wreaking bloody yens'
ca nee upon those who have followed them with
sue h relentless persecution.


If there was ever any danger from war OF
races to the Union League belongs the credit OF
preventing that calamity.


The Union League has inspired hope in the
colorcd man; and proved to him that in the end
he will be left to enjoy his rights as citizen nn.
moested.


The Union League has been school OF poll
| tica to a race of men who have come suddenly
III
! advantages of education; without the slightest
idea of politics.


| Wemake these remarks in defense ofthe League


We now desire to impress the members ofthe
| Union League and all Union men to renew their
interest in the League make it stronger thar
ever, keep up its meetings. And each League
| should take one or more newspapers which should
be read by one of the p2embers at each meeting


The election for President will soon come of
and everything that pertains tothat election in
terests every loyal man. The newspapers are tn
only medfuan to- get true information from.
Let us keep up our Leagues, making then
schools i'll whi ch good morals and good citizen
ship is taught.


And when the day of complete peace and liber
| ty does come; when every man, no matter how
humble can sit in peace at his cabin door, tn
| League will have done its work and gone int
history as one of the best secret political soeie
| ties tina ever existed.