Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-08-05
THE WEST INDIA EMANCIPATION,
AND a CONVENTION AT NASH
WILLIE

An organization OF negroes called the
''Sons Of Ham" on Wednesday celebrated
the anniversary Of the West India emanci-
patton, and appointed delegates to the negro
convention which is TO assemble in this city
during the present month. Speeches were
made, and eating and dancing and other
forms Of merrymaking observed. We eI-
tract from the report Of the Memphis Com
meroial the following, as indicative of the
spirit Of the occasion:
The first speaker, SHAW by name, spoke
as follows:-This day has no parallel in the
history of man, it was one Of momentous
importance, it was preliminary TO a grand
and glorious epoch in the history Of the
down trodden and prosecuted sons Of Africa
This day twenty-nine years ago England
emancipated her slaves in the West Indies ;
this day twenty-nine years ago, thousands Of
beings having the human form emerged from
a state Of servitude, degradation too re-
voting 10 contemplate. No people were
ever tyrannised over as they had been my
colored citizens-I say citizens-will we
soon be. We have fought for this country
and yet are denied the privilege Of partici-
pating in its management. We hare right
10 seats iE The Legislature hall A.; 10 dispense JUS
tee from the bench and 10 exercise the functions
Of Office as much as any lciite man, and more
than The traitors rho trdiied the United States
flag in the dust In intellect we are not their
interiors.
It had been proved by teachers Of wide
spread and stainless reputation that the in
tcllcct Of hc c0L0red child uds far superior to
tint Of the wLle child Most Of our people do
not pretend to intelligence now, because
three hundred years Of slavery had benight-
ed their minds The 9th Of July was day
to be celebrated instead Of the 4th The
white mans blood flowed in his veins. but
he owed his intellect to his African blood
One Of the trainers ofthe Constitution, JOHN
@. ADAMS, was also an anti-slavery man,
and no Esicle had been inserted in the Con-
stitution which protected this stain upon
Americas fair name" The same spirit ami
mated them that animated the white
man the same blood flowed in their veins.
This was in allusion to HAMS decent
The Constitution declares all men equal.
They have never rebelled against the Gov
crnmcnt, yet rebels had more rights than
they.
Let US be officers Of the law, and battle
against the allied powers Of the whites or
we will never have justice meted out to US
the white man, Northern and Southern,
Radical or Conservative, would never give
it to them. They nigh have white friend,
but IN a controversy with a white man he
would decide against them. Applause,
and cries of hurrah for our side.) 1t was
their business TO represent TO the delegated
powers of Nashville their grievances, and
ask for a method Of redress Immense ap-
plase-dats what we wants.) Do away with
social slavery, and the sun never shone on
happier land than this would be. ANDREW
JOHNSON had said he he had never bought
or sold a slave. (Cries Of "Kase he didn't
have de sponduliX") What had Southern
chivalry done for the country? 1t had de-
Urged the country in blood; had trmled the
United States flag in the dust, but the color
ed man had raised it again to its lofty posi-
ton. The chivalry had attempted to tight
en- their bonds, but in uoing 50 had made
a nation free"
When SHAW had concluded his speech,
the greater portion Of his hearers ap-
plauded him vehemently and spoke out,
% I'll vote for dat niger he got de biggest
mouf NV any nv UNI" Hurrah for equali-
fzalation. De white man aint no bettern
is. Ise gwine 10 ride in de street kar wild
him when | wants to, and 60 whar please,
have plenty Of whisky and somtin 10 sweeten
it w:d too, and every thing jist as he do"
One dark complexioned gentleman said " a
nigger is a nigger and you can't make nofin
else outn him. Better let dis legislator
bisnis lone" Another darkey responded.
90 dat 30, God knows"
A eaorpl prof,- 4 "a r,1~r-r ,vz-. ,1,,.,F ..
time and said Fellow-citizens, it has been
said don't 90 in as strong for our rights as
-iellow-citizens IL was said-come up here
all of you, | want you to hear it. for l am
going to tell it out tellOw-Citizens-"
We ieR.
The electioneering being more interesting
than the speaking, we left to listen awhile
TO the groups engaged in that business, when
we heard the following conversation, which
we took down ucrbatim
E'ectjoneerer 10 Niggc- No. I, who was talk
ing about stealing. No use stealing or work
ing airy one, if you ies elec dis here man to
de Legislator, cause den you have all you
want, and if you does steal dey let you go
like dey do de white man.
Niger No. Aye law you can't fool dis
chile. It's cheaper TO buy now dan steal.
When l had a master / could steal, and all
dat wus done wus 10 make me work little
harder two or free days; but now, my God,
ef l iis take de least ting, l have de Jail to
90 TO and eber so much foolishness.
EicctioRoercr objected to this admission Of
the benefits 10 be derived from slavery as it
existed in the South, but two-thirds ma
iority Of those around concurred in the opin-
ion that "tother was best
ectiOnccrcr-Noumusta all vote for SHAW,
case he's gwyne TO get us our rights, same as
de white man. We's as good and has right
vou know.
Niggc No. IL won't vote for SHAW case
he's noriern niger.
Elociionc0cr-Where was our friends du-
rim NV de war? Want dey in de Norf?
Niger No. Dem what freed Us wus.
But dcm what comes here aint no friend for
me- I wait on um mighty nice and when
/ axe um fur money dey tell me I'm as good
as de white men, and sich as dat. Oats de
way dey pay me- l never waited on
Southern man yet 'dout he paid me fur it.
Go way wild your Norlern folks, black or
white.
And so SHAW got very few votes in ;hat
crowd.
The colorcd orator, named CARTER, made
some remarks offensive 70 negro named
CoLwELI, for which CoLwELL has de-
clared his intention TO call him to account
A majority Of the darkies paid no attention
whatever to the speaking, but gathered in
groups around the refreshment tables, or
joined in the dance, or the famous old play
Of " Old Sister Feedledy." and 4" Here we 90
round the rosemary bush the latter be-
ing conducted by a young lady Of color,
whose melifous voice answered the place Of
a string or brass baHd.
And 80 on, and so on, until coming dark
ness warned the Convention il was time 10
quit" and the Sons OF Ham, in gay and
festive mood with a most sClfsatished air
marched back TO their quarters, and there
dispersed for home.
There was no fighting nor any manifesta-
tions Of disorder, and the utmost good feel
ing prevailed throughout the day. We did
not learn the names Of the elected, but
understand that quite two thousand votes
we're polled.
- Attorney General SrANBrRRY has eiyee an