Under these words no colored minor in the State is safe for one moment from compulsory serfdom. The lash is also prescribed as a means of enforcing contracts.[31] The lash once more is to resound. The planters at their public meetings give utterance to the same brutal spirit. Here is a series of resolutions, where, after calling for the withdrawal of the troops of the United States, and declaring themselves pledged to the existing state of things, and that it is their “honest purpose to abide thereby,” they proceed as follows. “_Resolved_, That, if inconsistent with the views of the authorities to remove the military, we express the opinion that the plan of the military _to compel the freedman_ to contract with his former owner, when desired by the latter, is wise, prudent, and absolutely necessary. “_Resolved_, That we, the planters of the district, pledge ourselves not to contract with any freedman, unless he can produce a certificate of regular discharge from his former owner. “_Resolved_, That under no circumstances whatsoever will we rent land to any freedmen, nor will we permit them to live on our premises as employees.” Thus is the freedman, whose liberty the United States are bound to maintain, handed over to _compulsory service_, and under no circumstances is land to be rented to him. And yet these people announce that they accept the existing state of things, and that it is their honest purpose to abide thereby! Of course they accept a state of things which leaves them once more “masters” of their former slaves. Of course they will abide by this. Be it our function to teach them the duty and necessity of Equal Rights. * * * * * From South Carolina pass to Georgia, and there is the same wretched story. The spirit of the State appears in the language of Mr. Simmons in the Convention:-- “Let us repudiate only under the lash and the application of military power; and then, as soon as we are an independent sovereignty, restored to our equal rights and privileges in the Union, let us immediately call another Convention and resume the debt.” Testimony from various quarters shows the same spirit. A recent writer, of unimpeachable authority, now sitting as reporter in your galleries, thus testifies:--