North Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1867-current, 1869-01-27
COlOred OulnlOn.
COlored Opinion.
The Washington correspondent of the
Cincinnati Commercial talks of the Ma.
tinnal Calnrad Convention NJ Enllo,rs.

| A"c VasAiHStoH correspondent OF the
Cincinnati Commercial talks of the Ma
tional Colored Convention as follows:
The colorcd convention now in session
here, is well worth attending. 1t is a
dignifed body of earnest men, and, so far
as intellect goes, compares favorably with
white assemblies of like sort. The
speakers are clear, forcible, and, in some
instances eloquent, while the body of the
convention is attentiye and we'll behaved.
had long talk with southern dele
gate, who gave some startling facts--at
least to me-concerning his race. He had
been slave in his youth; escaped long
before the war, in which he had taken an
active part, and had picked up, one way
and another, very good education.
asked him if he thought his people would
vote the democratic ticket at the south if
the masters were disfranchised.
| II think not, sir,'' he replied; "they
are well organized and getting better en-
lightened every day."
"But the poor whites always voted for
the masters, and l believe,"'I continued,
''that there is more affection for the mas
ter on the part of the colored man than
there ever was on the part of the poor
white"
"That is very true. But then the right
of suffrage is q precious privilege to the
black man more than it ever was to the
+, poor white. He treasures it up with al
most religious veneration, and will be
careful to consult with his friends, and
bcstow his vote where it is best for him
self and his country"
"You say they are learning rapidly ?"
"Yes. There are two things a colored
man seeks for, above all others, at the
south. The one is to learn to read, and
the other to own the land he cultivates.-
You'd be astonished to see men after
working hard all day, walk five and six
miles to night SCHOOL,
SIS it not the novelty of the affair, that
will wear off after a while?'
II think not sir Of course there is
some falling of-but this sort of thing has
gone on for some time, now, and at this
time the colored people are better educa-
ted at the south than the whites are."
"You have a right, then, to anticipate
bright future for your race.'
My friend paused a moment, and then
said sadly:
"No, sir; have no bright anticipa.
tons. In few generations the colored
races of America will haye disappeared.
We have taken the vices with the virtues
of the stronger race, and they are fatal to
u.s."
II don't clearly understand you"
"Well, sir, it is generally believed that
the black race is hardy race. This is
not so. The average duration of life, un-
der the whip, on the plantations, was only
10 years. The supply was kept up by the
masters care in breeding-it being his
interest. Now, this is not the case, and
while the mortality continues through
dissipation, the increase through popula-
ton has fallen off painfully. On planta-
tons, and in neighborhoods where, before
the war, children swarmed almost, you
scarcely find one now.
"Why, how do you account for that +?
What becomes Of the children?''
'The mothers have learned from New
England how to kill them. You know,
sir, that New England is dying out from
lack of Yankees, and the poor colored
people have not been slow to learn. But
while the whites receive fresh supply
from immigration, the colored race has
nOne,",