New Orleans Republican., 1871-10-01
a Presidential campaign in 1874 be stricken

4
Mr.. Wedley moved to amend by striking
out those portions Of the report relating t.
the San Domingo question and railroad en-
terprise.
Captain Mathews, of Kansas rose to lift
his voice against the annexation Of SaI
! Domingo.
Mr.. Burd, of Illinois, claimed that they
| were under obligations to act in all things
with the Republican party, the party OF re
form and liberal education, and which had
the 1obiest record Of any party in the
world: [Applause.]
| Mr.. w. G. Robinson, of Indiana, was op
posed to the colored men pledging them
selves to the support of any candidate in
the campaign of 1872. The resolution tina,
I'VE look with pride to the mention Of U. S
Grant as our next President was intended
to deceive. As a gentleman said, lit was
| capable OF instruction.
! Mr.. +. X. Williams. the president, re.
| signed the chair to speak on the question
He said: Il came to this convention not in
the interest Of any political party. came
| here solely in the interest OF people whose
| interests desire to see perpet,iated. The
calling OF this convention was for that pur-
pose. The great question is, how can we
best secure that interest! How can we best
enliSnten the masses OF our people to deposit
their ballots! How can we bring influences
cation, to become ladies and gentlemen, and
in acquiring that refinement that will
mt them to occupy any position!
Now to the question The first resolution
Is that 1--WE refer with pride to the history
of the Republican party and congratul
the people upon its successful career, which
you have heard read can not conceive
for my life that means General Grant shall
be renOminated. don't understand it that
way: but. Mr.. Chairman. do believe there
Is no candidate that can be put forward by
the Republican party. or any other party.
that the cOlOred people OF this country will
understand as they will General Grant
That is what l mean. Applause Mr..
President, ladies and gentlemen, there is
another fact Let lis not forget it. SO far
as defining line Of policy is concerned. it
does not say that DO so i'll favor OF the
Democratic or Republican party, but We DO
SO i'll favor of the one by which the best in
terests of our people will he subserved.
tApplause And SO far as am concerned.
l do not conceive that the mere mention OF
General Grants name will affect it. feel
1t my duty to otter my views in regard 10
the question. and define the exact position
l occupy. Now. as 10 San Domingo, II the
question had not been brought forward. it
would not be necessary for me to say any
thing about it, In taking the position do |
wish to say that have read enough to know
that those men who oppose the annexation
OF San Domingo do not act from any great
love they have for the negro. The men
who have opposed the measure have placed
themselves in opposition to the administra-
ton. and have used the measure as the
greatest weapon they could use to affect
President Grants chances in the next presi-
dental election. 1t is for us to look these
questions in the face. There is no gentle
man in this country who respects the great
mind and brilliant intellect of Charles
Sumner more than ! 60. but yet do not
look upon the position be has taken as that
OF a friend to the eolored people. As to
the good to be derived from annexation,
believe. ladies and gentleman. that the an
ne nexation of San Domingo will be the means
Of infusing into the people of that country
the great and glorious enterprise of the
American people: is great resources will be
brought out, ard instead OF what it
is, it will be one " the garden spots
OF the world. Applause l believe by
annexation that the great and liberal edu-
cation at institutions OF this country will
he planted there, which will intuse the
great energy OF tits country into its peo
pie, and bring them out OF chaos. | believe
by annexation these results will be accom-
l,llShed. 1t does Lot matter to me whether
1t is a Democratic measure or a Republican
measure. l believe II 70 be right. and l
sanction it. Its anne Xation is strict Monroe
doctrine. That has already been advocated |
by the Democratic party before it became |
infused with tie spirit of slavery Then
why should we oppose II, It's not matter
that can he carried " any schemers. be- |
lieve that by annexation we will 90 more |
to cast out the spirit Of caste than we can
by any other means. because it will be the |
means of placing colored men in power !
there. Ibelieve bv The anne xation of San |
I u
tween the two countries will do more to |
break down tie barrier between the races
than all the efforts that can be made hv
cOlored men in tiiis country. ApplauSe.1
Mr. Iandy, of 81 Louis. believed that if
they attempted. III 4 convention composed !
of so few States. u lay down a line OF
policy to govern TIE colored people III the
of lSl1 that they showed them
selves unworthy OF the task and untit tor
their positions as delegates to the conyen-
ton. The call was NOT a political call 1t
was for the purpose OF providing some plan
for the elevation OF the colored people. His
position was that the press of this country
has decided against drawing lines of dis
tinctlon between nationalities. When the
opened il would be time to prove
N which side they stood. but he did not be-
ieve in looking forward and answering
questions before they were put to him. To
,e detrimental to the interests of the col
,red people all over The United States Tie
it. Louis delegation came there instructed
" their constituents TO take no action on
,olitical questions, and he thought the
curse was wise one.
The main question was then put on the
notion to adopt the report and the vote of
ach State was announced by the chairman
t each delegation, as follows:
IllinOiS-SiX votes Tor the reDOrt
Nebraska-One for.
Arkansas-Twenty- five for.
Iowa-Two for.
Indiana-Three for, three declining to
Ote.
Mr.. James, OF Indiana. as secretary Of the
usiness committee presented report ask
~ that the legislatures of the several
tates enact law compelling all children ,
attend school between the ages Of seven
nd fifteen. .
Mr. j. L. Mahorney. of Indiana. the oriy- =.
al mover of the resolution, arose and said: :,
here is no subject that interests us so much F.,
the subject OF education. The imi, OF y
me will only permit me to read a few sta :
sites. Mr.. Mah0rnev read the following ,
BILE, showing the number of white persons /
-er twenty years OF age who are una bic 10 :,
ad or write: a
inois s......,...39"4 lowa...............l9 10 9il l.
chigan .........l l9,:55 Ninnesota......,...4 4.d3
lio ............. .64,62. Wisconsin ~ Is SIS a
diana 60 ,.iJ =
Tie amount of public lands donated nv =
,ngress is 79, s'i4 acres a
The resolution was adopted i,
The business committee reported back a n
solution referred them. that inasmuch AS n
le who would be no slave must have no n
,ves, and those vino deny freedom to h
hers deserve il not for themselves, there :.
re woman is justly entitled to all the II
,hts of citizen i'll the light of the spirit ff
our government and the fourteenth | h