The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1867-05-25
Republicanism. in Alabama..

r. Republicanism In AiaDamas
We make the following extracts from th
!. Address. of the late Colored Convention o
i Alabama to the people of that State. TIL
sentiments and views contained in this Ad,s
dress are admirable, and are as well suite
! to North Carolina as to Alabama This doc
ument should have wide circulation. Rea'
these extracts, and then hand the paper t
your neighbor.
| FELLOW CITIZENS When, upon tn
passage of Steven Shellabarger bill, the CO
ored people were invested with all the right
of manhood heretofore withheld from them.
it was thought best that convention, COM
posed entirely of our own people, should be
held, before deciding upon our future polit-
cal course. Such convention has been held
in Mobile; it has deliberated upon the state
of the country. upon the rights and duties
of the colored people of Alabama, and au-
thorized us, in its name, to issue this address
to the voters of the State.
AS there seems to be considerable differ
ence of opinion concerning the legal rights
of the colored man." it will not be amiss to
say. that we claim exactly the same rights,
privileges, and immunities as are enjoyed by
white men-we ask nothing more, and will
be content with nothing less. All legal dis
tinctions between the races are now abolish
ed. The word white is stricken from our
laws, and every privilege which white men
were formerly permitted to enjoy merely be-
cause they were white men, now that word
is stricken out, we are entitled 20 on the
ground that we are men. Color can no long
er be pleaded for the purpose of curtailing
privileges, and every public right, privilege,
and immunity is enjoyable by every individ-
ual member of the public. This is the touch
stone that determines all these points. So
long as park or street is a public park
or street the entire public has right to use
it so long as car or steamboat is public
conveyance it must carry all who come to it,
and serve all alike who pay alike The law
no longer knows white or black, but SIM
ply men, and consequently we are entitled
to ride in public conveyances hold office,
sit on iuries, aud do everything else which
we have in the past been prevented from
doing solely on the ground of our color.
Of course it is understood by all that we
lay no claim to social privileges. Every man
controls his own house according to his own
ideas, and associates with whomsoever he
peases- they are willing to asso-
ciate with him. This is matter which must
scorn to thrust ourselves into the society of
those who do not like US we protest against
the idea inculcated by some that riding in
cars or sitting in jury-boxes or steamboat
cabins are social acts and privileges. We
do not intend to be dragged down to lev
! ell with thousands of white men who are
! found in those places, and we ask no more
attention from Others while in them than We
| do on the street.
| We have said that We intend to claim all
our rights. and We submit to our white
friends that it is height of folly on their part
to withhold them any longer. One-half Of
the voters in Alabama are black men, and
in Il few months there is to be an entire re-
| organization of the State government. The
new officers-legislative, executive, and ju-
dcial-will owe their election largely, if
not mainly to the colored people, and every
| one must see clearly that the voters will then
be certain to require and the officers to COM
pei cessation of all illegal determinations.
The question which every man now illegal
ly disseminating against US has to decide is.
whether it is polite to insist upon crafty
ing prejudices during few dull months,
with the certainty by so doing of mourning
the lasting displeasure of one-half of the vo-
ting population of the State. We can stand
it if they can, but we assure them that they
are DelnS WdtCntu CLOSELY, IudI
conduct will be remembered when we have
power.
There are some good people who are al
ways preaching patience and procrastlna-
ton They would have us wait few
months, years, or generations, until the
whites voluntarily give US ours rights, but
we wish to tell them, once for all, that we
do not intend to wait one day longer than
we are absolutely compelled to. Look at
our demand, and then at theirs. We ask OF
them simply that they surrender an unrea-
sonable and unreasoning prejudice; that
they cease initiating the dog in the man.
ger; that they consent to allow other as
we'll as themselves to prosper and be happy.
But they would have us pay for what we do
not get tramp through the broiling sun or
pelting rain, or stand upon platform, while
empty seats mockingly invite us to rest our
wearied limbs; our sick must suffer or sub
NIT to indignity; we must put up with in
convenience of every kind; and the vlrtu-
ous aspirations of our children must be
continually checked by the knowledge that
no matter how upright their conduct, they
will be looked on as less worthy of respect
than the lowest wretch on earth who wears
"a white skin. We ask you-only while in
public, however-to surrender your preju-
dices-nothing but prejudice; and you ask
us to sacrifice our personal comfort, health,
pecuniary interests, selfrespect, and the flu
ture prospects of our children. The men
who make such requests must suppose us
devoid of spirit and of brains, but they will
tdd themselves mistaken. Solemnly and
distinctly we again say to you, men of Ala
bama, that we will not submit voluntarily
to such infamous determinations, and if you
will insist upon trampling on the rights and
outraging the feelings of those who are soon
to pass judgment upon you, then upon your
own heads will rest the responsibility for
effect of your course.
All over the State of Alabama--all over
the South, indeed-the colored people have,
with singular unanilnity, arrayed them
selves under the Republican banner, upon
the Republican platform, and it isconfident-
ly predicted that nine-tenths of them will
vote the Republican ticket. Do you ask,
Why is thisi We answer because:
1. The Republican party opposed and
prohibited the extension of slavery.
2. 1t repealed the fugitive-slave law.
8. 1t abolished slavery in the District of
Columbia.
4. 1t abolished slavery in the rebellious
States.