New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-04-16

hcan party in the future as he has oeen uniai'ois
g. Having been by solemn legislation Of tn! the
American Congress raised to the dignity Of cltl
States, and especially to those who in the days
of the fugitive slave law exhorted obedlence 70
statutes however offensive, to protect ana ae,
fend US in the enjoyment of our just rights ana
privileges upon all conveyances which are COM
mon carriers at all resorts Of public amnsemsnts,
%neis and aae in al places nf public
character or corporate associations which owe
their existence to the legislation of the nation on
tempts to degrade our standard of intelligence
and virtue by force our refined ladies and gen;
When onr Sy
ing us first class accommodations on steambOats,
and compelling us to eat and sleep with servants,
have the best accommodations, and which closes
the door of hotels against furnishing cOlored per
sons however wealthy, intelligent or Iespeetanie
veyances welcome and entertain all white PERSONS
whatever may be their character who may apply.
afectation of prejudice this rebellion against the
laws of God humanity and the nation. we appeal
to the justice the American people to protect us
in our civil rights in public places and upon puD1c
cOnveyances, which are readily accorded, and
very Justly to the most degraded specimens Of our
:. That wherever Republicans have BETRAYED
colored constituencies, we recommend that better
men be elected o succeed them and especially DO
We pledge ourselves to elect successors in Con
gress, wherever we have the power. to every Re-
publican who voted against OF lodged the supple
entary civil rights bill recently introduced into the
United States Senate BY Hon. Charles Sumner; and
also successors to those who shall not show sat-
isfactdrv record on the civil rights bill now in the
United States House of Representatives.
The address on civil rights was then read
and adopted unanimously.
The report of the committee on Organiza-
tion was also read and adopted.
The convention then, on motion OF Mr..
Pinchback, took a recess until half-past
seven in the evening.
EVENING SESSION.
The convention was called to order by
Hon. F. Douglass at 1880 p. NJ.
Mr.. Cardoza rose to call fol- the unfinished
business.
Mr.. Martin, of Massachusetts, objected;
the evenings were to be devoted exclu-
sively to speech-making, and he, therefore,
maintained that the unfinished business
was not in order.
The chair decided Mr.. Martins point i'll
taken, and ruled that unfinished business
was in order
Mr. Cardoza-On Saturday evening l
moved q reconsideration of the vote to
send delegation to Washington. l was
actuated in this because you, Mr.. Presi-
dent, objected to being appointed chair
man. Having heard that you have changed
your mind, l withdraw my motion to re-
consider
Mr.. Lewis, of Louisiana, offered resO-
luton requesting the press throughout the
country to publish the platform and civil
rights address adopted by this convention.
The resolution was adopted.
Mr. Turner, OF Georgia, offered a resolu-
ton that the first Of January be hencefOrth
observed with honor and respect by the
colOred race.
Mr.. Jones, of Arkansas, offered resolu-
nc IN <1,o NJ of ha n
ton to the orphans and widows of those
who have fallen in the cause of the cOlOred
people. Adopted.
Mr.. T. Morris Chester. from the committee
on orators, reported: We have the honor
to introduce as the first orator of the eve
ming Mr.. G. Downing, of Rhode Island.
Mr.. Downing-I have been introduced as
the orator of the evening. claim no such
honor. / have not the gift of OratOry
Being sent here by the colored people Of
Rhode Island, l can say on behalf OF my
constituents that they are terribly in earn
est-that they are true Republicans. They
feel they are more indebted to Charles
Sumner than any other man. They feel it
proper that bill should be passed securing
all civil rights to all cOl0rs and classes.
They fully indOrse Grants administration
They desire amnesty as a duty and policy;
they think, however, that those to be am
nestled should first show that they are
willing to accept the results of the war.
Mr.. Downing then reviewed the various
phases in which the civil rights questions
may be seen. The question is, it a man be
free man, how ia it to be recOnciled that
he may be invidiously prescribed, color and
race not being recognized by the govern
ment as a cause of enjoyment or the depri-
vation thereof. 1t has been said. let the
State governments move in this matter. l
fo1y
government exacts obedience from all cOlOrs
of people, and it is bound to protect them,
one and all, alike, by guaranteeing to every
State a republican form Of government, as
required by article four of the constitution.
Mr.. Downing continued: FellOw-citizens, the
important relation we sustain in regard to
the Presidential election is a question which
calls for serious consideration; it is fact
that in November there will be 500, 900 votes
cast hy colored people in this country. In
the South the colored people hold the bal
ance of power. IT we can present ourselves
as 2 unit we could obtain anything lawful
and reasonable we choose to demand. Let
us pull together to remedy the evils that
have sprung from the accursed institution
of slavery.
A vote of thanks was moved 10 Mr..
Downing and carried.
Mr.. r. Morris Chester then introduced
Columbia.
Professor Green-If desired to 90 over in
detail the many rough experiences we have
gone through in the period which has inter
vened since the time when colored people
were not permitted to converse Of their
own accord, could relate some curious
tales. have been repeatedly told by Con
federate soldiers that had it not been for
the negroes rallying round the federal ban.
| L., h, fhoV Von
| loud applause. The war wac not war
for the negro; it commenced against the
negro on both sides it ended in favor OF
| the negro on both sides.
We are standing in position where the
| opportunity is as grand as it was at the
| time the rebellion closed. 1t depends upon
| us whether we shall make backward or a
! forward movement in the coming Preslden-
| tial canvass. 1t is not alone question OF
securing to the negro his vote, but also in
| protecting ourselves against the expressions
of those who carried tue confederate nag tu,
| ing the war. / say whenever the lnterventlon
| of the federal Government is made mani
| fest. the r,pre secure will be the Repueilcan
marty. We can not afford to lose the power
of victory in the Presidential campaign.
would not make any concession to those
| Who still nourish the spirit Of treason and
! ku-kluxism, because l believe that th0se
/ Who ask it, however much they accept the
position in theory, they will not accept it
in practice. .,ons 60,
on the second Tuesday in November, We
shall have witnessed another success OF the
administration that is now conducting oul
party. want the colored men OF the soutl
backed by the millions OF votes IN an part'
t;cnaI capital and see that their representa-
tiyes attend to their duties and vindicatt