Year: 1878




The funeral services of Collins and
Chambers, the two unfortunates who
were judicially murdered at New Castle
on Friday last, was held at Bethel A.
M. Il. Church, on last Sunday evening.
Rev. c. G. Felts, pastor, pronounced
the panegyric. The church was well
filled by an eager congregation, brought
together to hear what might be said in
connection with the illegal death of two
of their race.


The clergyman took his text from
John 8, IL. He gave sketch of the
lives of the two men, and dwelt upon
the early training of the men, as spo.
ken by their own lips. He said that
between the ages of five and six years,
they were turned from parental or guar
dian care, and consequently had no re-
ligious or educational training. He
then denounced the law that provides
educational advantages only for the
white portion of citizens.


There seems to be only one place in
this State where colored man can
have an equal chance with his equals,
and tlat place is the white mans liquor
hell;-and this is not the worse place
in Society as lucrative business, yet
the Governor of Delaware is too relig.
iously scrupulous to interfere when a
colored man is about to be hung, for
committing what the Governor pieases
to term breach of the moral law.


The moral wrong of the act of
the two men we are not here to endorse,
he said, but to discountenance with all
our heart its commission. Moses in his
law commands any who shall commit a
like offence to be stoned; but what
says Gov. Cochran? He says: Let us
have the execution of Moses. law
Let us turn to the Bible which says:
"keep the commandments, ''love
righteousness" and we find there more
than fifty passages in the bible between
the one that says ''such shall be
stoned" and the one that says ego in
peace and sin no more"


The Bible declares adultery in every
form to be a sin and curse upon the
people; and there is more comment up
ON the seventh commandment than up
on any one of the ten. This book de-
clares its violation the worst OF wicked
ness; but through the mercy of Jesus it
also says ego i'll peace and sin no more,
neither do condemn thee.'


As to the evidence of the guilt the
witness himself comes forward, even
the woman herself, and testities that
they have perjured themselves, and
that the convicts were innocent OF the
charge. They said upon the eve of be-
ing launched into eternity we are in
nocent of the charge.


My conversation with them in
their cell, the day previous to their
execution, leads Inc to say they were
innocent men, and died Christians
Chambers said he expected no favor
from Governor Cochran, nOtwithstand
ing the bast of citizens, the jury which
condemned them, and the Christian
Association petitioned the Governor to
interfere The Governor entertained a
sIecial hatred toward the negro since
he got his head cut, on an election day,
by coored man. He also said that
the Governor was bad Irishman, and
had sworn eternal vengeance against
the negro, but my prayers are for him,
though he is sending me to heaven
sooner than expected to go.


The condition of the colored people of
this state is not an enviable one He
is shut out of the church and school
by a special act of the Legislature Of
1873. The darkness of ignorance in
which he is kept, accounts largely for
his misdemeanorl and the evil prac-
tee CAN but multiply unless he has
more religious and educational advan-
tages. The safety of honor as well as
life depends more upon the education
Of the negro, than attempting to ex-
terminate him by the means practiced
in this country, i. e., poisoning his
whiskey and righteous executions"


We are Gods black Americans and
shall appeal to him for justice. We are
persuaded that the wrath of man, shall
be made to praise God relative to us. |
call upon the excited minds of my
brethren tonight, to stand still and see
the salvation of God, in behalf of JUS
tice toward the colored people in this
state, and that providential guidance
may be given us to honorable graves.
At the close Of the pastors remarks,
several persons made appropriate re-
~, VIC