The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-10-25
COLORED NATIONAL CONVENTION.
Political Status Of the COIOreG
Race in the South.
Review Of Affairs Since the Close Of the War
The Negroes Fully Appreciate the situa-
tion-Attempt to Reduce Them to
vamalage- Organization Of
Ku Klux Orders

WASHINGTON, Oct. "A, 1871.
The Col0red Convention In session al Columbia.
8 c., has adopted address to the people OF the
United States OF which The following are the sig
| nincant sentences:-
Since the close of the war q settled policy has
controlled the public ana private action Of the great
body OF the white people OF the South towards us.
ned servitude so that We should be able to COM
pete with the industry OF the country. They have
not been cGnsned to %poy inc %Ss r1
private affairs confer, but have res0rted to com.
pulsory means, unsanctiOned Dy the laws OF the
country, the spirit OF American institutions and the
practice Of civilized nations The nrst great effort to
carry into effect This line OF policy was, perhaps.
code OF laws commonly known as the "Black
Code, passed oy the provisional government Of
other States 1t Is unnecessary TO give in detail the
features OF this system. IL established caste OF the
questions Of caste 1t provided for legal compuislon
as o means OF procuring our labor and
liking the rates OF compensation and rules
OF performance; 1t provided separate laws civil
and criminal and separate courts for their enforce
ment. finally, 1t allowed US no voice In the passing
the laws that were to govern US or hand In dis
posing of the proceeds OF our labor taken from rs
taxes for the support OF the governments OF our
respective States. The action Of the military au-
thorites followed by that OF Congress- and finally
the amendments to the Constitution OF the United
States took from the hands OF those seeking to es
tablish system OF slavery scarceiv less objection
able than that which had Just been overthrow the
means OF accomplishing their purpose through
the next resort was to substitute and control,
through the motives OF favor and fear, the political
and civil powers conferred by the lberality OF the
government. On the one hand, the friendship and
patronage OF the white citizens were oferea as the
condition OF complete political sub5ery1ency while
on the other hand threats OF being deprived Of
homes ana employment as the means or subsistence
were made by the landhoder5 and employers OF our
| respective States. These threats were in many
| instances carried into effect. 1t was found, how
ever that the necessity that existed Tor our labor
| left in our hands power SUFFICIENT to
meet tn 9 new difficulty resort had to secret
| ganiZatlons, with a view TO the control OF the
masses OF the coiored people by the murder Of the
prominent representative men Of our class and by
the infection or bodily pam upon q certain number
OF their followers AS the means proposed involved
| the commission Of the highest crimes known among
men-the protection OF oaths-secret organiza-
tions and DISCUSSES were resorted TO- We nave been
hunted like beasts by armed and disguised bands;
| many. both men and women have been killed; vast
| numbers have received severe corporal punishment
and many more found shelter in the swamp5 BY day
and by night from this storm OF human hatred.
We owe 1t to ourselves and to our government to
acknowledge the wedrected efforts that are now
being made to bring the perpetrators OF these crimes
to Justice. We are assured that the American peo-
pie are In earnest to secure TO US the fruits Of the
great measures for our civil and political hablita-
ton, and that the executive and judicial depart
ments OF the government are thoroughly sincere In
their determination To give effect to the constitution
and the Will OF Congress In our behalf
COLUMBIA, 8. o., Oct. "a, 1877.
An Arkansas delegate to-day offered resolution
favoring the denomination Of President Grant; but
the Convention adopted a substitute declaring It
impohtc to anticipate the action OF the republican