Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1867-12-17
A Negro Speech i'm the Louisiana
"a ,,.-.-s-,- Convention.

I
| correspondent, gives a speech of negro
deleg tie in the Louisi ara Convention. 1t
is no far rcy sketch but verbatim repors.
The gu sstiOn was on certain resolution in
troduced by q Radical, denouncing the
author OF a memorial to Congress declar-
ing q war of races imminent. On this,
CROMWELL, negro, spoke, the reporter
pl deserving, as nearly as possible, the negro
dialect. as follows:
Mr. PREsIDENT.-I hab listened to de
readin' oh de resolutions for de second
time. Dey is genuine doctrine. wants
dis 'Merican people to know dat to day my
race stands out in bold and graphic relief
as de stanchion dat upholds de government
of dis country. / thinks we are able to
taAe keer OBJ ourselves. Ebery wind hear
rushin' in de leaves proclaims the black
man who fought for the national honor am
the equal OBJ de white. We is able to vim
decate our cause. I'se not skeered. (Sen-
sation outside the bar and excitement
! among the police.) This government has
! and agin been on de battle field and shed
dere blood for it. Dey claim dere rights
| upon the floor and in dis country, and
let me say dat we will rule dc rebels
dat loyal blacks must rule dis Gobernment.
profound sensation in the lobbies.] De
=
Talk of a war of races, we ar ready tor it.
We will rule until the last one OF US goes
down forever. We don't intend to get down
upon our knees and beg for our rights
Gentlemens, I ask you that you will not
deprive US of our rights. This Govern
ment is pledged to maintain the rights OF
| negroes. Gentlemens, much is said about
anodder rebblelution. say if we cannot
gain our rights and be placed on full
equality with the whites, let it come, let it
come. Let de rebblelution come. Equal
rights demand, and nothing else will 1
have. I will die fust. I acts as man. L
feels as man, and 1 asks no more than
oider men if dey possess de fine
sentiments of manhood as / does.-
We car nothin' for Andy johnson or any
other man in dis government. We are goin
to have our rights if it is to be obtained by
revolution and blood. (Swaying to and fro
Of negroes outside the BARI We claim
from dis convention equal liberty and equal
privileges of de white man. 1 stand here,
sir, to advocate the cause of my race-dat
all de rights and privileges be enjoyed that
pertains to Andy johnson or any other
man. We wants all liberties, civil and re-
ligious, and dem we shall have. I wants
dem for de white man and de black man har
in dis Convention. Dar ar rebels. (Here
he pointed to a representative of New
York paper, who wore gray pantalOOns and
Giie UduSe Vi lHOtnaS' Olu Army OF Gne
Cumberland.) Dar ar secret blows agin
us. Let US go into secret meetings and
prepar for dem. Let dem hold their secret
meetings at the St. Charles Hotel and other
holes. Let dem telegraph fiom the st.
Charles dat L, Cromwell, will demand his
rights. Hisses.] Gentlemen, pardon me
for dis harangue. Gentlemens, L know my
rights-I demand dem. l demand dem for
my race, and shall endeavor to have dem
embodied in de constitution. 1 demand
guaranty. Do you know what dat is?
When de proper time comes, you will know
what mean by de guaranty Is zzrr,
A mulatto named PINcHBACK replied
All the political rights the Negro race could
get must come from the Whites.
! A White named BLACKBURN defended the
position of the Negro CROMWELL, that the
Negro should demand his rights. The de-
bate was cut of by the Convention adjourn
ng.