The Negro Controversy

Title

Subject

Description

A statement from the Southern Watchman addressing the controversy originating from a letter published in the newspaper over the use of a Baptist Church by persons of color in Athens.

Creator

Southern Watchman

Source

"The Negro Controversy.” The Southern Watchman (Athens, GA), December 10, 1857. http://dlg.galileo.usg.edu/athnewspapers/id:swm1857-0190 (accessed October 29, 2015).

Publisher

Southern Watchman

Date

December 10, 1857

Format

.jpg

Language

English

Type

Newspaper

Coverage

1857

Text

THE NEGRO CONTROVERSY
"Sambo" is a troublesome fellow. North or South-take him as you will. Reverend ministers, grave senators, governors, legislatures, judges, political economists, editors, and indeed, almost every body else, are troubled, more or less, at some time or other, with Sambo and his affairs. Little did we think, however, when we admitted into our columns the communication over the signature of "An Ounce of Preventive" that it would give rise to a controversy in our columns. We knew nothing of the truth of the allegations contained in said communication, much less did we suspect that the author intended to wound the feelings of any Christian denomination in the community.-We believed him to be a truthful and worthy citizen, and supposed his only object was to call the attention of the proper authorities to the fact, that at one of the colored churches in the town the congregation were taking wider latitude than allowed by the statutes of the State and the town ordinances.
Although we are disposed to encourage the most perfect freedom of the press, there is one subject which we do not think proper to introduce into secular papers-we mean religious controversy. Having published, as above stated, the first communication on this subject, without the remotest idea that it would lead to controversy, we felt bound to admit in our last issue the reply of Gov. Lumpkin. Since its publication we have received a communication from Prof. Rutherford and also an explanatory article from the author of "An Ounce of Preventive," both of which we admit this week out of a high respect for the authors, and with the hope that the matter will be suffered to rest.

Original Format

Newspaper Article

Collection

Newspaper Abstracts

Citation

Southern Watchman, “The Negro Controversy,” African American Experience in Athens, accessed September 25, 2023, https://digihum.libs.uga.edu/items/show/27.