The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1865-10-26

I 0CTf d. q
| qiance to the same; that L take this obliga-
zion freely, without any mental reservation or
purpose of evasion, and that will well and
faithfully discharge the duties of the Office on
which am about to enter. So help me God.
.ftf
.Colored Mems Convention IN Raleigh.
There has recently been held at Raleigh,
North Carolina, convention of the colored
men of that State, the object of which was
tyo-fold, first, to discuss and endeavor to
come to a clearer understanding of their own
rights, duties, and wants at the present junct-
ture, and, second, to call the attention of their
white w-citizens-just now so busy with
projects of re-construetioa--to some of the
pressing evils of their present anomalous and
painful position. The proceedings of the
meeting were marked by great decorum, and
its discussions by spirit of moderation which
might be initiated to advantage by many white
assemblages of similar character. From the
report given by the correspondent of New
York paper we copy the following,-
The session was held in the African Methodist
church, small edifce in back street of the city
The delegates were about hundred and twenty in
ed spectators for four days. and the house always
full. 1t was neatly but cheaply furnished the only
ornament being large plaster bust of Lincoln fixed
to the wall above the pulpit, against background of
mourning drapery j ust over his head were inscrb-
cd some Of the closing paris o. his last inaugural adj
dress-the passage which begins thus: with malice
towards none, with charity for al, with frmnes in
the right ,.af a'
Could it have been possible for men circum-
stanced like these to have chosen as their mot
to and the guide of their action any nobler
words? No fierce denunciation, no utterance
of angry resentment for the terrible wrongs of
the past, no undue exuitation over the op-
pressor whose defeat has brought to them de-
livcrance, no insolent demands, no angry
threats, but only these calm, wise, magnani-
nous words. Surely, the bare fact that men
having such deep cause of proyocation can
rise to a height enabling them to appreciate
the spirit of that sentence and to set it before
them as model, is enough to entitle them to
no small degree of consideration
The composition of the convention was
striking. The same report continues
already quoted,- Ut .g
Among the delegates were some that wore the fed
eral UNIFORM and these were treated with mnch ra-
spect by their fellow members. In pursuance of q
fashion that seems to obtain elsewhere, one Of them,
sergeant, was chosen 20 office, and served among
the presidents. RE, like the Others was fine
looking young fellow. perfectly neat and clean with
every button polished, and even his facs shining
goin', Is"
There were several men dressed in black broad
cicih. ministers and chapains who did large share
of the talking, and bore main part in the manage
mentof the business, and here and there young
er man, natty dressed, and evidently hotel waiter
by profession, or barber; but the great majority
were mechanics and plantation hands, men who had
grown up in ignorance, whose forms were bent with
long labor whose aces expressed patient endurance
rather than thought or any passion. On two or
three occasions some of these would rise to
deprecate long discussions of things merely formal
speech perhaps in this way: s.My dear brotIisrs
don't Place myself in this honorable convention
Henry Clay or Webster, fur know kin not do il,
onlarnt don't-Bnow-A-from- Is been rocked in o
hard CRADLE from my youth up to the present age
But these men though ignorant were intelligent,
and often spoke exceedingly well. YES, said one
of the ceverest among them-sfyes are Ignorant.
Ms knew am i0rdn anti a95 one, ana they say an
constitution means Blu five don't know enough
to know what the Constitution is, we Know enough
to know what justice is can see for myself down
at my own courthouse. If thy makes white man
pay five dollars for doing something to-day, and
makes Niger pay ten dollars for doing that thing
Tomorrow, don't know that amt justice? They've
got figure OF q woman with q sword hung up thar,
sr; Mr.. President, don't know what you call it
over her eyes, and the sword is in one hand and a.
pair O. scales in the other. When awhile man and
Niger gets into the scales don't know the nlgger
is always mighty light? Don't we ali see it? Amt
it 50 at your courthouse, MIR. President?"
Some of the delegates, however were of a
different type. Having been 50 fortunate as
to have received the advantages of education
they showed much clearness in the discussion
of principles and ability in the transaction of
business, made fluent, sensible and straight
forward speeches, instructing the more ignorant
and keeping the convention up to the proper
business and objects which were before it,
very much as a few able leaders are apt to en-
gineer white conventions on occasion. There
were-as might be expected--a few hot heads
in the meeting, but, says the same account,
The moderate men among the negroes those who
thought it best to petition and not to demand, and
to petition only for equality before the law and not
obtained control Of the convention Everything that
they thought conld justly offend any class of their
tellovciizens at the South or Nofthiwas carefully
rejected. A resolution was offered which declared
that If negro knew as much when sober Irish
man knew when drunk, he knew enough to vote
good American principles This was thrown aside
without dissenting voice. Another one, framed
with the prasew0rthy intention Of encouraging col
ored youth to educate themselves and pronouncng it
the duty OF c0l0rea people 70 employ, whenever prac-
hcable properly prepared pastors and instructors of
their own race, became the subject Of animated de-
bate 81 come here to stick fast to my friends SAID
tie gals read and I'd ha' voted to bite of snakes
head before I'd ha' voted for that The resolution
was laid on the table and substitute was passed
which thanks the Northern aid societies and Northern
teachers who have done much 10 encourage and
elevate the negro race. The address which has been
laid before the State Convention is conceived in a
similar spirit, and breathes nothing but moderation
and cancellation. The Raleigh newspapers praise its
ability and consider it wonderfully, conservative
document, undsfgured by the marks oflevellng rad
icalism. Yet itcontains the following sentences:
SWe desire educatiod for our children, that they
may be made useful In all the relations of life. we
most earnestly desire to have the disabilities under
which we formerly labored removed, and to have all
the oppressive laws which make unjust discrimina-
tions account OF or color wiped from the stat
utes of the State"