The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-08-01
LOCAL POLITICS.
The Co,ored n.mocraex.

There was held last evening" at the rooms
of the Constitution Club, No. 165 Canal
street, political meeting of unusual signif-
cance-a meeting which, composed, as it was,
in great part of men of color-men who, re-
Gently admitted to the rights of citizenship,
had had the opportunity ofhearing but one side
of to-day's political issues; men who, deluded,
misguided, as they may for time have been,
are yet open to argument and to common
sense, was indicative of that revolution in
sentiment which is inevitably destined to
knock away the under-pinnings of Southern
radicalism, and prove a mighty agent in re-
storing that public peace and harmony which
all good citizens desire.
A natural curiosity was felt to hear the col
ored orator, Willis Rollins, of Baton Rouge,
who, it had been announced, would address
his colored fellow-citizens on the occasion.
By halfpast seven o'clock a crowd began to
collect about the building, both outside and
on the street. At first the negroes appeared
timid and evinced disposition not to under
take to force their way to the interior through
the dense mass which blocked the doorw ".
But, with the arrival of band of music and
the Lone Star Colored Democratic Club, num-
being two hundred and fifty men, who
marched into the hall amid enthusiastic
cheers from the crowd, the bystanders COM
menced to enter by twos and threes until at
least five hundred colored men were assem-
bled in the building
The meeting was organized by the choice
6akgH his Seat, finfroahcsd fo the audience
James Pennywit, secretary of the Lone Star
Club, as the first speaker of the evening
The remarks of the latter were full of sound
common sense. He appealed to his hearers,
men of his own race and color, who, with
him, had been born and raised in the South,
to tell him where on earth their permanent
interests rested, if not with those whom they
had known from childhood. At frequent
intervals his hearers received his remarks
with rapturous applause, and at their close
the cheers of the audience and the music of
the band mingled with the enthusiastic up
roar of the people outside.
Willis Rollins next took the platform and
delivered such speech as many an orator of
more windy pretensions might sigh to emu
late. 1t was full of telling hits, full of sound
logic, full of i resistible argument, full, brim
full of wit and anecdote, all clothed in words
which, while not giving evidence of a thorough
knowledge of the language, were yet in
telligible to the most humble nearer. The
colored men listened as Rollins talked, and
opened their ears attentively to hear side
Of ba haf
many of them, and when, in his fluent oratory,
the speaker said, with all the fire of Demos
themes, "Oh for broom in my hand, with
which I might sweep away every man who
does not pray for the success of the Demo-
cratic ticket" his hearers, as with one ac-
cord, rose to their feet and gave three hearty
cheers.
The chairman, William Banks, followed in
a sensible address of few moments duration,
after which the meeting adjourned. But the
crowd below, which musthave numbered two
thousand persons, insisted upon hearing Rol-
Inns, who mounted barrel in the middle of
the street, and by his eloquence, renewed the
enthusiasm which had attended his previous
effort.
Subsequently the Constitution Club formed
in line and escorted the Lone Star Club
through the streets to the various newspaper
offices, where hearty cheers were given by
the colored men, who with a praiseworthy
sincerity and independence, have thus pro-
claimed their sentiments to the community.
The officers of the Lone Star Club are Ben
Bowser, president; VIM. Mitchell, vice presi-
dent; Jim Pennywit, secretary; Z. Mccoy,
marshal.
Third Ward.
There was an immense and enthusiastic
meeting last night, at the rooms of the Third
Ward Club, 100 st. Charles street, for the
purpose of organizing the colored citizens of
the ward. After coming to order and elect
ing officers, the meeting adjourned to next
Friday, in order to hear Willis Rollins, the
famous colored stump speaker, from Baton
Rouge. The colored people of the third ward
are warmly invited to attend next Friday
evening. They will hear their interests dis
cussed by able men of their own race as well
as by white men.
The Tenth Ward Club.
The regular Democratic club of this ward
met on Thursday evening, at Pfster's, and
adopted the constitution and bylaws as re-
ported by the committee
Very important resolutions, urging unan-
unity and concert of action between the club
and the independent or auxiliary organiza-
lions being daily formed, were offered by Mr..