The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1867-04-22

annppss TO THE CoLoRED PEoPLE.-WepuD-
lish below the address OF wyatt LEWIS ~
colored fellow citizens. 1t contains nany
plain truths, and will be- read Win ID ' -:
the colored people, emanating, rs IL u,i
from one of their own number, VINO - w.n
and favorably known TO the entire coihii"
nifty:
Fellow citizens, An attempt has been made
10 deprive us of your confidence ana aoou
will by ascribing to us improper motives ~
lately inviting certain white gentlemen y,
this city-Mr. mcfarland, Mr.. Johnson, anu
others-to address us on the subject OF our
political relations towards the white peopio
of the South.
We had seen n very industrious effort going
on to draw our colored people into party OF
ganiZation pledged 10 oppose the southern
whites as such and chain them 10 the leader
ship OF set Of men, chiefly white, whose at
tempts TO foster antagonism and hatred be.
tween the two races we deemed nnwise un'
necessary, and of dangerous tendency.
1t was very clear 10 Us that II orr toiored
people were made TO array themselves INTO y
party of their own, led by Il few White men OF
violent political feelings aud temper, VINO IN.
dulged the habit of severely denouncing that
class Of whites whom we had always thonght
1t least rs respectable rs the one 10 Which
these men belonged, so far from promoung
the interests of the coiored race, they wouia
seriously compromise those interests.
If We are citizens and freemen In trutn,
surely we ought to be allowed the right Oh
freely Judging who are our real friends ainouS
the many professed ones bidding for our iaNor'
IL colored men surrender their wills ana ireo-
dom Of political action TO leaders of any soIt,
and deliberately put away from themselves
the prerogatiye OF free, indiyidual cnoice "
tween political parties, the shackles whlcn
they thus voluntarily assume VIII DE iounu
more degrading TO their minds than the slavery
which the law once imposed upon them. we
cannot conceive of 4 bondage more dsgraceiui
than that imposed by freemen upon them
selves in surrendcring the right to act upon
their own judgments and consciences nor Is
there any use more base and vile that the CO.
Ored man can allow himself To ba put 10 than
the dirty work of party and faction. What Is
left of the freedom which we have so lately
received from our country as priceless boon
If we have already lost the liberty OF exercis-
ing so plain right as that of hearing from re-
spectacle men belonging 10 one party OF the
whites explanations of their views on SUBJ
lects yitaly concerning us after listening
hundreds of times even unto fatigue, TO the
other party? We should be- unworthy OF our
blessed freedom if we should consent To give
up the right of hearing both sides OF 4 discus
sion involving our highest interests, and III we
should surrender our right of individually
Judging how we should act III an emergency
so important as the present.
There could not be Il more conclusive PROOF
Of the danger into which our new freedom has
fallen than this bold attempt 10 deprive us OF
the right 10 meet in public 10 hear addresses
from whOmSoeyer we please on public ques-
tIons. And this very attempt To deprive us OF
50 valuable right shows that those who make
1t are afraid Of free discussion, aud ready TO
wage war upon those very political Liberties
which they boast of having under their own
exclusive Keeping.
These men require OF rs, moreover species
of conduct positively dShouorable. Many OF
MS are III the employment of gentlemen VINO,
as we have reason TO think, are disposed 10
deal towards Us with fairness and honor IN
our business relations. But We are expected
and required, after receiving employment
Y11l Ion IN flu day ifna
20 at night into political meetings aud socie-
ties, where violent abuse OF these employers,
their class and race, are the principal theme
Of the speeches. II we are forced into THIS
course of conduct, then the common Ins tincts
Of honor require that we should quit our EN-
pigments, leave homes which are pleasant
TO ourselves and families, In order that we
may indulge, without the pluEs OF dishonor
and ingratitude, in the new and unnatural
hatred which violent men insist upon kindlmg
III the breasts OF the colorcd people.
The impolIcy of this course Is as palpable rs
its inprOpri.ty. H. Virginia the COlored race
is in minority. T. band them together Is TO
| force the white race INTO = counter combina-
tion, in which event our race must certainly
| De outvoted. 1t Is claimed In opposition 10
| this view that the white laborers and me-
| chanigs will unite with MS against the we'll
| off whites. But You know there l. less alice
| ton and sympathy between our race and the
| laborinE whites than with the richer class
| We compete with each other in the labor mar
ket. We want many things OF the new State
| government. We want the new Constitution 10
| provide for the education of all children white
| and colored, out Of the public taxes. We
| want this Constitution To level and obliterate
| all distinctions of color before the law. We
| cannot secure these most desirable and most
| vital and priceless objects by forming ourselves
| into 4 minority party OF colored men, and
| forcing the white majority 10 vote Ms down.
| Our great aim should b., not TO create enc
mics. but to make sure and safe our rights aud