New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1872-05-09

Address, -s
FREDERICK DOUGLASS, JR.,
ef Lock Box 81.
Our Southern Trip Concluded.
The Colored National Convention at New
Orleans may have just cause Of complaint
about many other things, but it certainly has
no cause to complain that it was sighted,
ignored, or spitefully used by the press Of
New Orleans. Even the Times, the Demo-
cratic organ, did nothing more malignant
than to poke little fun at the Convention,
while the two ''RepMblicans," (for they have
two in that city, the ''NationaW and the
"New Orleans" gave the convention fair
and full reports. The New Orleans Repabli-
con made FREDERICK DOUGLASS say some
thing he did not say about General GRANT
having ''crotchets" that FREDERICK DoUa-
LASS never said or thought. But upon the
whole, as newspaper reporting goes, that
papers reports were quite fair, especially
when its hatred of General GRANT il remem-
bered. The National Republican gave the
convention the benefit of the best reports
from day to day, and SO far as our own
speeches were concerned, its reports were
in some instances an Improvement on the
speeches themselves. This paper, however,
fell into the mistake of representing one Of
these speeches as saying, s'That while on our
way to the Loyalist Convention in 1866, that
the Louisiana delegation sent the Indiana
delegation to persuade US to keep out of that
convention" This was entirely reversing
what was really said. The fact was, whether
the statement was accurately made or not,
''That several gentlemen of the Louisiana
delegation, or pmporting to be of that dele
cation, did approach Frederick DOUGLASS,
when within seventy-five miles Of Philadel-
phia, representing themselves as sent by the
Indiana delegation to urge him to keep out
of the Philadelphia Convention" We make
this statement here that justice may be done
to all parties concerned. 1t is, however,
very gratifying to find, that part of the
Louisiana delegation have felt themselves
called upon to disavow all knowledge Of
transaction, which at the time it happened
was very popular, though really mean and
paltry, and was even seen to be uncalled for
before we had past two blocks in the loyal
procession, for our presence in company with
THEODORE Triton was everywhere hailed
with cheers and congratulations. But let
that pass. The gentlemen who importuned
Us on that occasion did 30, we have no doubt,
from the very best motives.
In the little that it was our privilege to
hear in the discussions of this convention,
there was far too much regard given to form
and too little to substance, too much effort to
raise points Of order, and too little disposition
to observe the plainest rules of order. Far
too many privileged questions and personal
explanations and too little concern for prin-
ciple, too much self-respect demanded and
too little given. Two of the best informed
men in the convention invited this sort Of
criticism by using harsh words in very harsh
manner.
There was one man in the convention who
surprised Us by the calm and gentlemanly
manner with which he handled every ques-
ton upon which he ventured to speak, and
that was J. SELLA MARTIN. For his ability
and eloquence we were quite prepared. We
had witnessed both in Boston and elsewhere,
but from some cause we had feared that his
political life at the South had injured and
soured him. But among all the men at the
convention, not one deported himself with
more temperance and dignity than Mr.. MAR
TIN, or spoke more to the purpose when he
did speak, than he. Few men in the South
have it in their power to be more useful than
J. SELLA MARTIN. ia-f e. ..
We heard our esteemed friend, Mr.. CAR
DozA, In q political convention for the first
time. It was our fortune to meet him
dozen years ago on the soil of Scotland
bravely in seach Of an education which was
then denied him upon his native South Caro-
lima soil. He was then young and smooth
faced man. He was performing daily labor
with his hands to obtain the means of going
to college. His aim, spirit, and determine
ton were high and manly. His life since
that time has been one of marvellous success,
and he is to-day a foremost man in South
Carolina, having creditably filled the Office
Of Secretary of State. If we have any re-
Election TO throw upon this man, 1t is that he
il altogether too harsh and personal to those
from whom he happens to differ. There may
be much Of the lamb in him, but somehow or
other he managed only to show the lion.
Governor RANsIER, Of South Carolina.
seemed to be Of the same cloth with Mr..
CARDozA. What is really the matter with
South Carolina? 1t does seem that both the
colored and white men from that State have
peculiarly bellicose tendency. Prof. A. NJ.
GREENE spoke often and a. often spoke well.
1dr. DOWNING gave US written argument
Answering constitutional objections to the
Supplementary Civil Rights Bill which was
nstsnsd 70 with very earnest attention and
applanse. ss 1sgz
ons q tie most genial men in the convsn-
ton was MTFLrN W. .GIBBs, formerly Of
Philadelphia, who has resided much on the
Pacific coast, but he now lives in Little