The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-08-05
CONDITION OF TIE SOUTH.
Meeting NJ the Cooper Uaion-Addrcsses by
shc Colored Congressman, III. b. Elliott, on


she Cosored Conuressmun, II. b. Elliott, ON
the PreGress of the Coiorea People.
Last evening rather poorly attended meeting OF
the sympathizers with the colored people OF the
South was held in the han Of the Cooper Union for
the purpose or hearing An address by II. b. Elliott,
colored member OF Congress- on the condition of the
South and the progress OF the colored race in the
road OF material and educational advancement. The
chair was taken LITTLE after eight O'Clock by Horace
Greeley, nut not until the rather
MEAGEE-LooKING RAND
which was In attendance had made praiseworthy
efforts 10 attract crowd by discoursng such patri-
otic airs as the sstar Spanecd Banner'' and "Rule
Britannia"
The CHAIRMAN came forward III once and sad:-
LADIES AND GnNrLIAES-f there mad been given
;oerable notice OF this meeiln. 10 tne public there
| would have been Il better attendance; gut those
who had the arrangement IN hand do not seem to
have understood their business. While we have
heard so much about the coored race that was wise
aud otherwise. we have heard little from the col
| ored people themselves. TO-nghs have the pleas
ure OF introducing 10 you
= coLoREp GENTLEMAN,
Mr.. Elliott, WIZ explain the hopes and feelings
! OF The coiorel race.
Al Tins point Ir. Greeley sat down, and soae one
Of the c0ored gentlemen came forward ana eX.
planned that nr Crosoie would precede the speaker
OF the evening.
Mir. CRosBE, young colorea gentleman read
long composition welcoming Mr.. Elliott in the name
of the state Of New York, which, in view OF the very
empty benches sounded little magnloquen', ana
proceeded TO review al some length the slavery qes
ton and its resIlt-the civil warfeelingly iou hing
on the facts that Tragic Wagner and Fort Pillow
tel.r
During the delivery OF this composition Horace
seemed deeply interested, not to say instructed, but
was evidently relieved when
THE ORATOR or THE EVENING
was announced.
Mr.. ELLIOTT said:-
ME-. PRESIDENT LADIES AND GrNTLEMgN-Allow
me to return my most sincere thanks for the KIND
welcome you have extended to me on this OCCASION.
sion or kindly sympathy Ior the section to when
belong. The gentleman who presented rue has
| spoken CT Carolina, OF her great rnen ana Their
ACTION TOWARDS THE CoLoRED RACE
IL Is not my intention 10 speak OF the great issues
mastery, but RAJ ner to speak oil the condition OF the
colUred race in the South; state VIVA has been me
progress and TO show to you what our hopes shall
be In The iutnie. If succeed IN contradlctlng tie
runl0rs spread by our common political enemies
against the colored race; IT can convince some Of
MOST NEED OF FRIENDSHIP,
and who now express dissatisfaction at our slow
repaid. would ask our friends to remember that
amer 200 years OF bondage ana enforced
to think, freedom 10 speak and freedom to worship
TO give freedom required the enlightened action OF
the States but the situation demanded that the
freedman should solve the problem for himself, and
VIII undertake 10 show how 1t has been solved.
Four millions OF the coored race, homeless, land
less, worn out by the work OF hard rasknasters,
without money without resources, were asked in a
moment to think and act for themselves -Four mil
lions with freedom Of loc0motion. OF which they
could not avail themselves from want OF means
were met on every side by
THE BITTER HATE OF THE WHITE MAN,
maddened by the loss OF this hitherto valuable PROP
erty while the poor whites were mcensed because
they were told the blacks would IN time become
Their equals. They SAID to the cOiored that they
should WORK Tor them. and enacted laws that all
black men unemployed should be treated as va
grants, at the same time that they would not give
Here was al attempt TO perpetudte the hard rule or
superiority and To eradicate ali sense OF maDliness
from the mind or the colored The speaker
then went on 1t great length to describe the hard
ships,
EXPRESSIONS AND INJUSTICE
to which the colOred race had been aud still were
subjected 10 by tae whites Of the South, and con.
trasted IL with the iorbearance OF the coored
be concluded by saying grant that all danger
oil CONFLICT may b. avoided Tor ae sake oil the South
ern whites, a1d Tor the sase OF the blacks, IA well
AZ the glory OK American freedom. Let Us bury the
past III obbtion, and pursue such cOnciliatury
course As may enable Us TO make
ORR AGEkfCAE FLAG A SIGNAL. OF CIVILIZATION
and sigd OF peace and good Vi Ill 10 ali men.
The gentleman On the conclusion OF his speech
was loudly appauded. Several other speakers ad-
dressed The meeting in the course OF the evening;
man. who is Secretary Of State for SCUM Carolina
VINO was listened 90 with great attention while he
defended the action OF the cCorcd Legislature and
showed that the trouble which had existed
tlrely due The intolerance OF the OLD shareholders,
VINO could hot bear TO see their Old slaves IN the
al