Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-02-25
Second Day-Thursday.

Beyond the appointment of several COM
mlttees, and the transactions of some un-
interesting miscellaneous business, this DAYS
proceedings were devoid of general interest.
Third Days Friday.
The convention was called to order BY
Ed. Shaw, Vice President.
After prayer by Rev. A. E. Anderson,
the convention took recess to visit, by
invitation, the Fisk University, after
which the members returned to the co.,
vention hall.
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE on EDUcAT1oH.
President VIM. Butler called the conven-
ton to order, when the Committee on Ed
ucation made the following highly cOl0red
report:
yTbe outrages on the school teachers,
both white and colored, are so great that
they have broken up nearly all the schools
outside of the large cities, which is done
by the Ku-Klux outlaws, who with impu-
nifty defy successfully all attempts that
have been made to stop them. The con-
sequence is, there are thousands of child
rem growing up uneducated, and ignorance
Is by this course sown broadcast In our
State. Your committee can see no hope
for the general education of the children
OF our race in Tennessee unless it be es-
tablished and adopted by the General Gov
eminent. Each colored citizen
cannot but feel degraded, so long as
he is forced by local authorities
to separate schools, often the most unfit
IN character and purpose. We have a
large number of reports of various coun-
ties IN which there are no schools at all.
In Shelby county alone there are 4, 900 chill
dren Of color not attending schools, and
most all the schools they have are either
private or kept up by subscription. We
most respectfully request this Convention
to make known our wants to the General
Government and request them to take
some action to assist US.
We most respectfully ask this honora-
bic Convention to adopt this report and
the resolutions, ETC.
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON CONTRACTS.
The Committee on Contracts and Agree
ments reported in substance as follows:
l. Contracts aud agreements are made
In good faith by the employee to be bro
ken by the employer.
2. Wages are extremely low, causing
want and restitution.
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON CRIMES.
The Committee on Crimes reported in
substance as follows:
l. That for the smallest offence men are
put to death, their families outraged and
there seems no power to bring to justice
the guilty parties.
Davidson and Shelby counties, owing to
their numerical strength, are better treat
ed and protected. In the last nine months
there have been numerous murders COM
mltted by unknown persons. Besides,
outrages and murders have been commit
ted by persons known to the authorities,
and no steps have been taken to bring
them to justice. We therefore pray that
Congress enforce the present laws of the
country.
We most respectfully submit this report
to this honorable assembly for its adop-
ton.
The Finance Committee reported in
favor of every member paying one dollar
to defray expenses.
All the above reports were adopted
A committee on transportation was ap-
pointed, after which the Convention Rd-
journed to visit Central College.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
A report from DeKslb county was read
anu ACAo4AOCA' al AH'lNodOu " uuSlChA
entertainment at Fisk University at Z
o'clock this morning was received. A vote
of thanks was extended to the President of
the United States and members of Con-
gress who are friends to the colored race
A motion was made to labor to organize
the Republican party in the State.
A Committee was appointed on Print
ing,
1t was agreed that three Executive Com
mittees for the State be appointed, one at
Nashville, one at Memphis and one at
Knoxville, with discretionary powers to
act for the interest of the colored citizens.
1t was moved that delegate be sent to
Washington to represent the cause of the
colored people to Congress.
Adjourned till o'clock this morning.