"Address to the Colored People of North Carolina," December 19, 1870
Title
"Address to the Colored People of North Carolina," December 19, 1870
Description
Seventeen state representatives wrote the “Address to the Colored People of North Carolina.†They wrote this address as a warning to the African Americans of North Carolina urging them to support Governor W. W. Holden. They warned them of the harsh consequences they would face at the hands of the Democratic party. This came five days after Governor Holden's impeachment and just a few months after the Republican electoral defeat. After the Republican electoral defeat, the political power of the state was in the Democrats’ hands. The representatives warned the African American population that, with the Democrats in charge of the state, the impeachment of Holden would bring a Democratic governor to office. As a result, any rights that African Americans previously possessed would more than likely be revoked.
Creator
Geo. L. Mabson
Edw'd R. Dudley
Rob't Fletcher
Geo. B. Willis
Richard Tucker
Stewart Ellison
R. Falkner
W.H. Reavis
Augustus Robbins
Wm. D. Newsom
B.H. Jones
Willis Bunn
John Bryant
W.W. Morgan
Charles Smith
J.R. Page
R.M. Johnson
Source
"Address to the Colored People of North Carolina," Documenting the American South, accessed September 18, 2014, http://docsouth.unc.edu/nc/address/menu.html.
Date
1870-12-19
Contributor
Shanlyn Wagoner
Type
Document
Original Format
Broadside
Text
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA, RALEIGH, Dec. 19th, 1870.
To the colored people throughout the State:
The undersigned Representatives send greeting:
Know ye that since the time that Haman conspired to destroy all the Jews who dwelt in the Persian Dominions, because he hated Mordecai, no wickedness hath been devised that will bear any comparison with some of the measures proposed by the dominant party in the present General Assembly. Indeed there is some analogy between our case and that of the Jews at that time. In Gov. Holden we have the despised Mordecai. His enemies stand forth as the exact counterpart of Haman. The poor people, especially the colored people are the great body of victims appointed for the slaughter, and we as Representatives, ocupying the place of power, as did Esther, feel it to be our duty to warn you of the impending danger, and arouse you to such action as may tend to avert, if possible, the threatened evil.
The only offence of Gov. Holden, and that which has brought down the wrath of the dominant party upon him is that he thwarted the designs of a band of Assassins, who had prepared to saturate this State in the blood of the poor people on the night before the last election on account of their political sentiments, and to prevent them from voting. Because he dispersed this murderous host, organized by the so called Conservative party they propose to destroy him. First they propose to suspend him, then to go through with a mock trial before the Senate as they have already done before the House, where a true bill has been found without taking testimony.
After impeachment, his enemies will not be satisfied until he is hanged, unless happily their own gallows should overtake them. When Gov. Holden is disposed of those whom he protected will be the next victims. For the blood of one man will not satiate their thirst. They are mad because their slave property is lost. They are mad because the Reconstruction measures have triumphed, and we are permited to represent you in this body. They are mad because we refuse to bow the knee to them.
Like Haman, who, after speaking of his riches, the multitude. of his children, and his preferment both by the King and Queen, yet declared it availed nothing so long as Mordecai sat at the King's gate--so with our enemies. It avails nothing, that they have got control of the General Assembly, by deception, fraud, and intimidation; so long as the friend of the poor, and protector of the innocent and defenceless, occupies the Chair of State, and you have the right to go to the polls unmolested. They have therefore commenced a system of disfranchisement, by amending the charters of towns, by allowing but one day for voting, by allowing voters to be challenged at the polls, and by requiring each to vote in the township in which he resides. They have thereby already disfranchised thousands. But progress in this way is too slow for their purpose. They therefore propose to call a Convention. Having repealed the Militia law, they propose to let loose their murderous band, upon us and thus secure a majority of the delgates to this Convention. When this is done our liberties are at an end.
To avert the impending evil we see no power in the arm of flesh. We feel that we have too long neglected to seek aid at that source that never fails. The laws of righteous retribution have not been repealed, but are in force upon the statutes of the Almighty. Justice will riot sleep forever. If we call upon God he will hear and answer us.
We therefore propose a day of fasting and prayer throughout the State. Let us ask God to bring our good friend the governor triumphantly through this ordeal, and to avert the evils that are hanging over us.
LET FRIDAY THE 13TH DAY OF JANUARY, be set apart as a day of fasting and prayer, throughout our habitations. Let no strong drink or other luxuries, be used for the three days preceding. Let the people assemble in their places of worship and cry unto the Lord. Let the maid-servants, whose employment will not permit them to worship during the forenoon ask their employers to allow them the afternoon, that they may spend it in fasting and prayer on behalf of the Governor and our suffering people.
Let the Ministers of the Gospel proclaim this fast and see that it is observed. If this call is heartily responded to God will deliver us.
Very Respectfully,
GEO. L. MABSON, 
Rep. From New Hanover County.
EDW'D R. DUDLEY, 
Rep. From Craven County.
ROB'T FLETCHER, 
Rep. From Richmond County.
GEO. B. WILLIS,
RICHARD TUCKER, 
Reps. from Craven County.
STEWART ELLISON, 
Rep. from Wake County.
E. FALKNER, 
Rep. from Warren County.
W. H. REAVIS. 
Rep. from Granville County.
AUGUSTUS R0BBINS, 
Rep. from Bertie County,
Wm. D. NEWSOME, 
Rep. from Hertford County,
B. H. JONES, 
from Northampton County.
WILLIS BUNN, 
Rep. from Edgecombe County.
JOHN BRYANT, 
Rep. from Halifax County.
W. W. MORGAN, 
Rep. from Wake County.
CHARLES SMITH, 
Rep. from Halifax County.
J. R. PAGE, 
Rep. from Chowan County.
R. M. JOHNSON, 
Rep. from Edgecombe County.
To the colored people throughout the State:
The undersigned Representatives send greeting:
Know ye that since the time that Haman conspired to destroy all the Jews who dwelt in the Persian Dominions, because he hated Mordecai, no wickedness hath been devised that will bear any comparison with some of the measures proposed by the dominant party in the present General Assembly. Indeed there is some analogy between our case and that of the Jews at that time. In Gov. Holden we have the despised Mordecai. His enemies stand forth as the exact counterpart of Haman. The poor people, especially the colored people are the great body of victims appointed for the slaughter, and we as Representatives, ocupying the place of power, as did Esther, feel it to be our duty to warn you of the impending danger, and arouse you to such action as may tend to avert, if possible, the threatened evil.
The only offence of Gov. Holden, and that which has brought down the wrath of the dominant party upon him is that he thwarted the designs of a band of Assassins, who had prepared to saturate this State in the blood of the poor people on the night before the last election on account of their political sentiments, and to prevent them from voting. Because he dispersed this murderous host, organized by the so called Conservative party they propose to destroy him. First they propose to suspend him, then to go through with a mock trial before the Senate as they have already done before the House, where a true bill has been found without taking testimony.
After impeachment, his enemies will not be satisfied until he is hanged, unless happily their own gallows should overtake them. When Gov. Holden is disposed of those whom he protected will be the next victims. For the blood of one man will not satiate their thirst. They are mad because their slave property is lost. They are mad because the Reconstruction measures have triumphed, and we are permited to represent you in this body. They are mad because we refuse to bow the knee to them.
Like Haman, who, after speaking of his riches, the multitude. of his children, and his preferment both by the King and Queen, yet declared it availed nothing so long as Mordecai sat at the King's gate--so with our enemies. It avails nothing, that they have got control of the General Assembly, by deception, fraud, and intimidation; so long as the friend of the poor, and protector of the innocent and defenceless, occupies the Chair of State, and you have the right to go to the polls unmolested. They have therefore commenced a system of disfranchisement, by amending the charters of towns, by allowing but one day for voting, by allowing voters to be challenged at the polls, and by requiring each to vote in the township in which he resides. They have thereby already disfranchised thousands. But progress in this way is too slow for their purpose. They therefore propose to call a Convention. Having repealed the Militia law, they propose to let loose their murderous band, upon us and thus secure a majority of the delgates to this Convention. When this is done our liberties are at an end.
To avert the impending evil we see no power in the arm of flesh. We feel that we have too long neglected to seek aid at that source that never fails. The laws of righteous retribution have not been repealed, but are in force upon the statutes of the Almighty. Justice will riot sleep forever. If we call upon God he will hear and answer us.
We therefore propose a day of fasting and prayer throughout the State. Let us ask God to bring our good friend the governor triumphantly through this ordeal, and to avert the evils that are hanging over us.
LET FRIDAY THE 13TH DAY OF JANUARY, be set apart as a day of fasting and prayer, throughout our habitations. Let no strong drink or other luxuries, be used for the three days preceding. Let the people assemble in their places of worship and cry unto the Lord. Let the maid-servants, whose employment will not permit them to worship during the forenoon ask their employers to allow them the afternoon, that they may spend it in fasting and prayer on behalf of the Governor and our suffering people.
Let the Ministers of the Gospel proclaim this fast and see that it is observed. If this call is heartily responded to God will deliver us.
Very Respectfully,
GEO. L. MABSON, 
Rep. From New Hanover County.
EDW'D R. DUDLEY, 
Rep. From Craven County.
ROB'T FLETCHER, 
Rep. From Richmond County.
GEO. B. WILLIS,
RICHARD TUCKER, 
Reps. from Craven County.
STEWART ELLISON, 
Rep. from Wake County.
E. FALKNER, 
Rep. from Warren County.
W. H. REAVIS. 
Rep. from Granville County.
AUGUSTUS R0BBINS, 
Rep. from Bertie County,
Wm. D. NEWSOME, 
Rep. from Hertford County,
B. H. JONES, 
from Northampton County.
WILLIS BUNN, 
Rep. from Edgecombe County.
JOHN BRYANT, 
Rep. from Halifax County.
W. W. MORGAN, 
Rep. from Wake County.
CHARLES SMITH, 
Rep. from Halifax County.
J. R. PAGE, 
Rep. from Chowan County.
R. M. JOHNSON, 
Rep. from Edgecombe County.
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Citation
Geo. L. Mabson, "Address to the Colored People of North Carolina," December 19, 1870, Civil War Era NC, accessed April 25, 2024, https://cwnc.omeka.chass.ncsu.edu/items/show/906.