Letter from William H. Fleming to Theodore Roosevelt
Subject(s): African American universities and colleges, African Americans--Education, Blease, Coleman Livingston, 1868-1942, Constitutional amendments--U.S. states, Constitutional law--U.S. states, Georgia, Georgia--Augusta, Hardwick, Thomas W. (Thomas William), 1872-1944, Miller, Alexander L. (Alexander Lawton), 1848-1934, Politics and culture, Race relations, Riots--Influence, Smith, Hoke, 1855-1931, South Carolina, South Carolina--Spartanburg, Speeches, addresses, etc., Speer, Emory, Taft, William H. (William Howard), 1857-1930, United States. Congress. House, Washington (D.C.)
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Politician and orator William H. Fleming believes President Roosevelt wishes “to do the best thing possible for the whole country, including our Southern white people, and not excluding the negroes.” Many Georgia locals agree with outspoken men like T. W. Hardwick though the South owes no allegiance to the 14th and 15th Amendment. South Carolina politician Coleman Livingston Blease has argued against education for African Americans and called for the university in Orangeburg to be torn down. Fleming asks Roosevelt if the government can make a statement of clarity regarding the amendments to help “check the riotous tendency down here.” Fleming believes that any man not willing to commit to the Constitution and its amendments should be stripped of their seat and discusses counter efforts against the passage of disenfranchisement laws.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1906-08-24
Creator(s)
Fleming, William H. (William Henry), 1856-1944
Recipient
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919
Language
English
Period
U.S. President – 2nd Term (March 1905-February 1909)
Repository
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Page Count
6
Production Method
Record Type
Multi-image
Resource Type
Rights
These images are presented through a cooperative effort between the Library of Congress and Dickinson State University. No known restrictions on publication.
Citation
Cite this Record
Chicago:
Letter from William H. Fleming to Theodore Roosevelt. [August 24, 1906]. Theodore Roosevelt Papers. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o53960. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Fleming, William H. (William Henry), 1856-1944. Letter from William H. Fleming to Theodore Roosevelt. [24 Aug. 1906]. Multi-image. Theodore Roosevelt Papers. Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. November 25, 2025. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o53960.
APA:
Fleming, William H. (William Henry), 1856-1944.: , [1906, August 24]. Letter from William H. Fleming to Theodore Roosevelt. Theodore Roosevelt Papers. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o53960.
Cite this Collection
Chicago:
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Papers. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/library-of-congress-manuscript-division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Papers. Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. November 25, 2025. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/library-of-congress-manuscript-division.
APA:
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Papers. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/library-of-congress-manuscript-division.