The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1865-08-09
The Negro Convention.

.THE American citizens Of African de-
scent of the State of Virginia, i'll Con-
veution assembled il. the city of Alexan.
dria. have been quarreling for several
days about the manifest destiny OF their
race. and Grating" extensively upon
their right to the elective franchise aud
all the other privileges which have here,
tofore appertained to the whites. In
fact they have been making grand
"splurge," regardless Of the hot weather
and the health of the city Of Alexandria.
The whereases and resolves OF this mass
OF sable wisdom are intended to settle
tho whole question of the government OF
the United States and lay down q pre-
gramme for President JOHNSON and Gov
ernor PIERPoINT, from which it will be
perilous for them to deviate. They think
that any attempt to reconstruct the
States late in rebellion without giving
to American citizens of African descent
all the rights and immunities accorded
tn white citizens "is an act of gross III
Justice done to the loyal blacks" They
propose to petition Congress not to adj
nit representatives from the Southern
States, but to keep those States under
military control until all the rights and
immunities accorded to white citizens
In ,r;,,,p fn Tho panr0aa
The resolutions relating to Governor
PiERPoINT were as follows:
Resolred, That we, members of the Con
vention of Colored Citizens of Virginia,
assembled, do most respectfully but earn
estly call upon Governor Pierpoint to
define his position in reference to the re-
peal of all the black laws of Virginia
which Cypress and degrade us; also, in
reference to the franchise of colored citl-
gens ct Virginia.
Pesolred, That unless he does this fav-
orably we cannot consider him as our
friend
Resolred, That the very dubious course
of the Governor has left both US, and
all true friends of the Union in a great
uncertainty as to his fidelity to the prin-
ciples upon which he was exalted to his
position as Governor Of Virginia.
RESOLVED, That we thank all true friends
of our race, Of all schools, but especially
Hons Charles Summer, Benjamin Wade,
Henry Wilson, Generals Terry and Tur-
ncr, who have so recently suppressed the
election Of our enemies; but none have Il
greater share of our love and respect
than Gen. Butler, who first decided the
fate of slavery.
It will be seen that the negroes
seem to have entirely forgotten Prcsi-
dent LINCOLN, or at least rank him infe-
rior in merit to the especial friends whom
they enumerate and to whom they. re-
turn thanks. Ben BUTLER is their hero
and to him their songs of thanksgiving
and peans of praise are poured forth. He
is very welcome to them, and these negro
honors-the only ones he has ever Won
will not be envied him by this or any sue
ceeding generation of white people. The
mysterious threat which is uttered
against Governor PIERPOINT to be visited
upon him in case he refuses to define
his position" in obedience to the demand
of the convention will not be likely to
seriously disturb his Excellency's peace
of mind
The spirit displayed by the negroes
during the sitting of the convention was
supercilious and arrogant in the extreme.
They do not ask for political equality as
aprivilege, but demand it as right
This is the result Of the teachings of the
fanatics who, by SOME strange mistake,
have been born with white skins, but
whose love for the negro race is far greater
than their regard for the welfare OF lac
whites. They believe With WENDELL
PHILLIPS that "in the bravery and hero
ism of the war, the negro bears the palm"
and they seem to have made the negroes
believe so too. 4 terrible awakening
from these delusious will come, some
day, aud the question whether or not
this is white mans government will he
settled for ~ '','.