Letters in American history
This is a letter from a community of concerned black men in the North
about a lynching in Palmetto, Georgia. One of those men is my great
great grand-father's brother.
From the Canton Repository circa 1911
Strong Protest
"Massillon Colored People Adopt Resolutions:
Want Law Upheld"
They Declare that Outrages Perpertrated at Palmetto
Georgia and have a Debasing Effect on Nation
The colored people of Massillon, probably for the first time in the history of the town, have been aroused to a definite consciousness of the wrongs being done their race in the South, and the result is the adoption of the following resolutions.
"Resolved, That we abhor crimes of every description: that we have no sympathy for criminals of any race or nationality [and] that honor and virtue should have the fullest protection; and we hearby pledge ourselves to do everything in our power to sustain the law, lessen crime and elevate mankind in general and more particularly the race variety which are identified.
Be it further resolved, That we view with alarm the practice that prevails in some sections of our country, the most recent example of which occurred at Palmetto Georgia, a few days ago, of men accused of crime being put to death without a trial and in a manner too horrible and barbarous to think of , because such practices have a debasing and brutalizing effect upon the people, arouse bitter strife between two peoples that are destined to dwell together, do our country great harm by injuring its standing as the foremost civilized nation, and because the laws of man and God are outraged by such inhuman methods of punishing offenders, real or alleged. We believe that the strong arm of the law is adequate to punish all criminals.
Therefore, in the name of humanity, in the name of the down-trodden people, in the name of our beloved country, whose name is being sullied in the name of a just God we protest against these wrongs."
The resolutions bear the signatures of Rev. Little, pastor of the A.M.E. Zion church, J. Clemens, G.N. Porter, J. Fields, C. Peters, R. Lacy, A.Jackson, W.Bell, A. Jackson,J. Goins, C. Robinson, R. Emery, A. Simms. The only persons who refused to sign were J.Emery and C.Weber.
From the Canton Repository circa 1911
Strong Protest
"Massillon Colored People Adopt Resolutions:
Want Law Upheld"
They Declare that Outrages Perpertrated at Palmetto
Georgia and have a Debasing Effect on Nation
The colored people of Massillon, probably for the first time in the history of the town, have been aroused to a definite consciousness of the wrongs being done their race in the South, and the result is the adoption of the following resolutions.
"Resolved, That we abhor crimes of every description: that we have no sympathy for criminals of any race or nationality [and] that honor and virtue should have the fullest protection; and we hearby pledge ourselves to do everything in our power to sustain the law, lessen crime and elevate mankind in general and more particularly the race variety which are identified.
Be it further resolved, That we view with alarm the practice that prevails in some sections of our country, the most recent example of which occurred at Palmetto Georgia, a few days ago, of men accused of crime being put to death without a trial and in a manner too horrible and barbarous to think of , because such practices have a debasing and brutalizing effect upon the people, arouse bitter strife between two peoples that are destined to dwell together, do our country great harm by injuring its standing as the foremost civilized nation, and because the laws of man and God are outraged by such inhuman methods of punishing offenders, real or alleged. We believe that the strong arm of the law is adequate to punish all criminals.
Therefore, in the name of humanity, in the name of the down-trodden people, in the name of our beloved country, whose name is being sullied in the name of a just God we protest against these wrongs."
The resolutions bear the signatures of Rev. Little, pastor of the A.M.E. Zion church, J. Clemens, G.N. Porter, J. Fields, C. Peters, R. Lacy, A.Jackson, W.Bell, A. Jackson,J. Goins, C. Robinson, R. Emery, A. Simms. The only persons who refused to sign were J.Emery and C.Weber.
