Year: 1866

CAPTAIN J. E. BRYANTs SPEECH, DELIVERED BEroRI
THE FREEDMEN,s CONVENTION.


Gentlemen Of the Georgia Equal Rsghts association:


Having met in convention pursuance of to- the friends
impartial justice this State and having formed Association
YOU have elected me President


appear before accept the honor and thank you
confidence you have manifested in


The for convention addressed the friends of mpa
h Justice but responded by cooed only


live to the day. when call of this kind will be responded
to equally by both races. aaa


am informed that of your number felt that colored
only repsed in the convention the officers of this AS.
oaon should be colored exclusively But that
selection While believe that you wisely in choosing your
President from among your white friends could wish that the
honor had been conferred upon other person But after lis
tenng the remarks of the President of convention who
words that touched heart has seldom been touched assured
that choosing from the your oppresso
President of Association organized for your equal
rights manifested the confidence and for
by yourselves and those whom you represent not decline
the position and promise that with the help of Him. who
rules all nations and has almost miraculous display power
given freedom will not dsappout you If my efforts in the
past nave been such to lead place confidence
V notng my future conduct shall lose that
. has given


You have organized aid securing for all with
out regard color equal political rights you
for officers but coored would undoubtedly
have been created that although your Association as an
Equal Rights Association was, fact society cooed men
alone But action have shown that you desire
operate with aN your friends


Yo1 have taken the niatoy STEP but, believe you will be
Joined by large number Of the white friends freedom and
progress.


You only political equality conscious that social eouav do
not exist neither expect desire you claim yourselves
the right conceded white your and pro-
c your wives and daughters from insult promising safety their
wives and daughters far yourselves concerned


believe that this position right and that the time qcU come
wea equal political rights will be conceded every this
country without regard to race, descent or color
"Truth, crushed to earth will rise again.
.y The eternal years of God are hers,


But error, wounded writhes in pain


And dies amid her worshppers"
few hundred years the inhabitants of Europe ignorant
Of existence of this Western continent But suddenly
world opened its hinges and revealed to the wondering
gaze the old world continent rich everything which
could gv with mighty rivers broad lakes and lofty
tan whose snow~capped SUBMITS pierced the clouds.


Men who loDged for civil and religious liberty that wills
derness country bavng almost difficulties and hard
ships Amid the storms Of winter company landed upon the
iuhospitable shores Of what is now New England
Other coons settled in different parts of the country until they
numbered than three millions


Strange may SEEM these men, who here escape from


religious prosecution themselves prosecuted those who differed from
them religion


And yet strange men, who sought these
they might from tyranny established tyranny hateful
than that which they had endured


Such human Men deny others what they claim for
themselves The injunction Of Savior would that
should do you do also them likewise little regarded The


inhabitants of this country oppressed by Government of
Great Britain and after demonstrating until ceased
avail they declared against the mother country and presenting
to the world the Declaration Of Independence fought establish
@ truths therein contained They declared that all
'e nuenbut tall mem created equal that they
CreatOr
that among these life liberty and the pursuit of hap
pm Standing upon this broad platform of qnaI for all
men, and appealing the God Of battles free fathers fought
seven n years, when victory crowned their


er then thirteen colonies and to unite hem establish
justice aud secure domestic tranquility they formed constitution
c with some amendments the Constitution of the United
oatS before the late war
We would suppose that people who had fought for equal rights


men would have established Government that would
| . all that blessing II
D Tue of those who escaped from tyranny
% % 0 established religious prosecution in this the peo>
go a seven years struggle establish free Govern
IN their very midst ~ WV 'O' 'A 'N' "


ue sna inc statesmen who framed the constituon
TO De an evil that be soon rmedied but interest
ana tne institution speedily found able advocates and
% MINISTER'S e the Gospel held that was divine institution


at the South did this feeling preua but at the North
. slavery afsf61l On ~ sp0O"0y ot privately ueenueo


ABOUT the 1854 of the leaders of the two great noi
INTO which the country then divided beev;no n the


Of Independence and loving liberty brok off from these
s'Ns ~ and formed party.


eng slavery only to the master the slave and


but to the whole country they determined if possible n
sus rs It's extension into the territories. If


could not without violating the Constitution Of the


States which the supreme law of the country interfere with


the States but it could refuse to admit State whose
a did not prohibit slavery This the Republican party
l