Georgia Equal Rights and Educational Association

“ If we are not cowards, we should shrink from honorable and wise effort that promises to bring; success; and we should be appaled at no opposition, for we knew that God assists those who labor to do good, and, trusting in Him, we should never cease our efforts, as long as any plan presents itself that is considered feasible.
When this Association was organized, I thought that it could and would easily support the paper. I knew that the object, and the only object in view, was to improve the condition of the colored citizens, and thus advance the interests of the State and Nation. ”

“ This would be a disaster to the cause of equal rights in Georgia greatly to be deplored, and I fear that it would take months, perhaps years, to repair the injury, caused by a failure on the part of the friends of justice to sustain one small paper in the State. I know there are obstacles to overcome that would appal cowards; but we are engaged in a warfare against wrong, injustice prejudice, ignorance, wickedness and villainy, and cowards have no business to enter into such a contest. ”

“ Men who but a few months before were slaves, having to use a please of politicians, 'no rights which white men were bound to respect,' had assembled to discuss and make known the condition of their people, and organize to labor, unitedly and successfully, to improve their condition, and secure for them those rights which the Declaration of Independence declares to be unalienable. ”

“ You were kept in ignorance that you might the more easily be kept in slavery, and, if you ever expect to secure justice and equal rights, your people must be educated. I would therefore advise that our Association, for the coming year, labor to arouse the colored people to the importance of gaining an education, and that we establish as many schools in the State as possible. ”

“ I desire that, if you are prepared to prove such charges, you will not fail to report them at this time, for I desire to appoint a committee to investigate all charges of this kind. If any officer of this Association has been dishonest, he should be expelled from office and denounced, We have undertaken a great work, and one of vast importance to the colored race, as well as to the State. We must raise money to enable us to prosecute our work; we must trust men, and, if they betray the confidence which we place in them, it is our duty to expose them and denounce them. ”

“ Hut, if these Spates do not adopt the amendment before the Fortieth Congress assembles, I have reason to believe that their present governments will be "wiped out," and new ones established, enfranchising all loyal men, white and colored, and disfranchising a certain specified class of men who have been disloyal, although no colored man should request it. I therefore conclude that political discussion on the part of colored citizens can do no good at this time. Whether it has or has not done good in the past, it matters not. ”

“ When peace was established, very many of the war party, perhaps a majority, certainly a large minority, were not in favor of giving full justice to the emancipated slaves, now citizens; and the Democratic, or peace party, were the enemies of justice and equal rights.
But the war party felt that they were in honor bound to protect the freedmen in their civil rights, and very many, perhaps a majority, were in favor of giving them full justice, and political rights. It was foreseen by the founders of this Association that these questions would be discussed for several months, perhaps years ”

“ I felt that a General of the United States Army had disgraced himself to please men who had fought to destroy the country, and had killed the very men whose graves we desired to decorate with flowers. ”

“ The strongest argument, and I might almost say the only argument, that your enemies adduce in favor of withholding from you the right of suffrage, is the ignorance of your people. It would be folly to deny that most of the colored people in the Southern States are ignorant. ”

“ I was fully aware of the fact that, but a few months before any white man, who attempted to do what I proposed to do, would have been severely punished in accordance with the laws of the State, and, if he had been killed, the verdict of the entire community would have been, 'served him right.' I knew that laws and customs as old as these, which the people were forced to give up against their will, must leave a prejudice, bitter and hard to overcome ”

“ Therefore, I have for the past year advised the friends in every part of the State to discuss political questions, and particularly to bring before the people the importance of securing impartial suffrage, before the present Governments of the non-reconstructed States were recognized by Congress. Reconstruction is the great question that has agitated for several months past, and now agitates the public mind. ”

“ Colored men being citizens, it follows of course that they are entitled to all and the same civil rights to which white citizens are entitled, and that they can not legally be denied them, any law, statute, ordinance, regulation or custom to the contrary notwithstanding. Colored citizens in Augusta were denied the privilege of entering the cemetery by the Mayor, but he would allow white citizens to enter. General Tillson was appealed to, to protect the colored citizens, and, as an officer of the Freedmen's Bureau, it, was his duty. ”

“ Labor to educate your people, and, while your white friends are laboring to secure for you those rights to which you are entitled, show by your own industry, economy and good behavior, that you will make good use of political rights, when they are granted to you. ”

“ I have long believed that, but for the over-ruling providence of God, your people would now be held in slavery, and thus held, until the people of this country had been educated to understand the enormity of the crime of holding human beings in slavery. ”

“ The Augusta cemetery is under the control of the city authorities. They have no more authority to prevent colored citizens from entering it, than they have to deny that right to white citizens. The Civil Rights Bill declares, 'that all persons, born in the United States, and not subject to any foreign power, excluding Indians not taxed,' are citizens of the United States. ”

“ ART. II—officers—The officers of the Association shall be a President, a Vice President, a Secretary, a Treasurer, a Chaplain, an Examining Committee of Five, and a Financial Committee of Six.
ART. III—The President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Chaplain shall be elected by ballot annually, at the first meeting in January. All the committees shall be appointed by the President on the night of his election, or as soon after as may be practicable. All officers are to continue until their places are filled. Vacancies may be filled at any of the regular meetings. ”

“ Resolved, That we cordially approve of the noble course pursued by the Loyal Georgian, and the able and fearless manner in which it has advocated our cause, and exposed all men who have sought to deprive us of our rights. ”

“ A few counties have continued to labor with zeal. Richmond, Jefferson, and Greene counties have given us the most assistance. Too much praise can not be given to the colored people of Augusta. Through evil report and good report they have never faltered, never failed us. They have given $384,50 and have loaned $1028,80. The money loaned should have been paid before, but as I have said above, it has been impossible to do so. The creditors have held a meeting, and have chosen a committee to consult with this Association, and, if possible, make a settlement. ”

“ Resolved, That the thanks of the Convention be hereby tendered to the President of this Association for the impartial and faithful performance of his duties.
Resolved, That whereas we have received no protection from the civil authorities we call upon the good citizens of the State to come to our relief, and help us to secure justice for our people.
Resolved, That whereas the colored people of this State are daily receiving the most unjust treatment on the cars, having to pay as much as white passengers while they are consigned to the most filthy cars, often cursed and driven about ”

“ I found that the Northern people take a deep interest in every undertaking that has for its object the improvement of the freed people of the South, and are willing to give liberally to sustain them; but there are so many calls for money that we cannot expect very much assistance from there. I must therefore say to you that, in my opinion, your paper can not be longer published by the Association. But I am of opinion that it may still be published as the organ of the Association. I was authorized by the council to hire money if necessary to continue the publication of the paper. ”

“ The Council may, by a two-thirds vote, suspend the President whenever he shall violate this Constitution, in which case, they shall immediately call a meeting of the State Association, and, if two thirds of the Association approved of the action of the Council, the President shall be expelled from office, and they shall also suspend any other officer for a violation of the Constitution, neglect of duty or gross immorality.
A majority of the Council shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. ”

“ A difference of opinion arose in regard to the policy which should be pursued towards the white friends, who might wish to assist in the efforts, made to secure for the colored race those rights to which every citizen in this free Government is entitled. Some, desirous of securing the practical assistance of white friends, advocated the election of a white man for President ”

“ I determined to continue to do right, leaving the result with God; believing that, if I lived, good men would at length acknowledge the purity of my motives, whatever they might think of the policy pursued. ”

“ The elections, that have been held, show that, the people will sustain Congress, and the decision of Congress must therefore be final. While the Republican members of Congress were, at first, nearly unanimous in claiming that Congress alone had the authority to reconstruct the rebel States, they were not, by any means, united upon a policy of reconstruction ”

“ Resolved, That whereas a large majority of the Bureau Agents are Southern men who will not take notice of outrages perpetrated upon our people, we most respectfully request the United States Government to give us Northern Agents or allow colored men to hold these offices. ”

“ I am convinced that the opposition would not be as great if political question were not discussed at the meetings of the Associations. If political discussions can do no good and may do harm, they had better be postponed for the present. ”

“ They have done their duty to themselves and their race by entering upon this discussion.
I have received information from nearly every part of the State that white men prevent, if possible, the organization of Subordinate Associations. Several influential colored men have been driven from their homes, because they assisted in the organization of these Associations, and the lives of others have been threatened. ”

“ A resolution was unanimously passed inviting the members of the Union League to seats on the floor of the Convention. Revs Flagg, Turner, and Purdy were appointed a committee to inform the members of the Union League of the action of the Association. Mr Jno A Rockwell, Superintendent of Free Schools at Macon, under the American Missionary Association, was introduced to the Convention by the President. ”

“ I knew that, if I accepted this position, I should be astrocized for years from the society of most white citizens of this State, and I knew that I risked even life itself, nevertheless I did not, for a moment, hesitate.
What is life! We have but a few years to live, and he who does most good, accomplishes most. It is pleasant to enjoy the advantages cf good society; it is pleasant to die a natural death, for die we all must, but that man is a coward who fails to do good, because there are dangers in the way ”

“ I have been informed that in some counties the money has been raised and given to the Vice President of the county, who has railed to forward it, all that, in other counties, the Vice President has failed to forward all that has been entrusted to his care. ”