New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-04-11
THE NATIONAL COLORED CONVEN-
TION.


together yesterday in the Hall of the House
of Representatives forty very intelligent
specimens of our colored fellow-cltlzens.
Quite large number of outsldeIs-wMte
and colored, of the male gender, and lew
of the female gender-were present to wit
ness the proceedings.
The convention was called to order few
minutes after twelve O'Clock by the Hon.
Alonzo j. Ransier, Lieutenant Governor OF
South Carolina, who, after reading the call
for the convention, addressed it as fol
lows:
GENTLEMEN-We are here pursuant to the
above call, to consider ways and means
necessary to the conservation of the mate
rial and political interests of the cOlored
people of our country.
know, gentlemen. that there are those
among us, white and colored, who question
the propriety or the wisdom of colOred men,
as such, coming together in regular cOnven-
ton to the exclusion of the other race or
races, to consider matters relating to them
selves, being as they are a component part
of the great American body polite, com
posed OF other races. But in my humble
Judgment, gentlemen, If those who take this
position will give themselves sufficient time
TO retlect-will consider for moment what
kind of government we are living under;
the wrongs we. as a class have suffered Tor
years; the tremendous revolution that has
swept over the country within the past ten
years; the position in which we find our
selves TO day, though declared to be Ameri-
can citizens; still laborIng without adequate
compensation, our education and that OF our
children almost totally neglected: shut out
from decent accommodation at the hotels.
places of amusement and III common car
riers and exercising that most valuable
OF freeman rights. the right to vote as our
conscience and Judgment may dictate, at
the very peril of our lives i'll many local!-
ties, they would see the propriety, they
would be at once convinced OF the necessity
if they claim to be human and so regard
us-of our coming together, being the ag-
grieved party, that we may bring our grlev-
snces before the country and ask for that
relief from this conGiii ion. and that protec-
tion from these Outrages as citizens OF this
country, which it is it's duty to give.
| trust. gentlemen, that you will be cool
and deliberate, yet firm and independent
in vour deliberations: that you will allow
no inharlnonious elements to obtrude them
selves upon you and cngratt themselves
upon the records of this most important as
scmbly. The eyes Of the country are upon
you. and not only your immediate constltu-
encies but the friends of liberty, law, order
and progress everywhere are aDXiousiy
looking to you for such report Of your do
ings as Will gladden. their hearts, confirm
their hopes and strengthen their faith IN
republican institutions III this country.
behold. gentlemen. before ME those who
have fought the good fight; gentlemen who
labored in the cause of freedom and equal
rights through good report and through
evil report. to whom our people are looking
for guidance, for counsel. for direction:
men to whom we are indebted for much,
and to whom the country is indebted.
The remarks of Lieutenant Governor
Ransier were listened 20 with marked at
members of the convention with IA proper
sense of their duties at this time.
Immediately after Lieutenant Govern or
Rausier had concluded his address. Mr..
Rulfin. delegate from Mass achusetts.
moved that Lieutenant Governor p. i. $.
Pinchback. of Louisiana. be elected tenn
porarv president of the convention. which
motion prevailed. and Mr.. Pinchback was
escorted to the chair by Mr. Rutfin and Mr..
j. Henri Burch
In taking the chair NJ. Pinchbach briefly
thanked the convention for the honor it had
conferred upon him. remaIking that as he
was not fully informed as 70 the object, OF
the convention. he must refrain from max
in. any further remarks at that time.
On motion. Senator G.. I. Ruby, OF Texas.
was then chosen secretary.
A committee on credentials was then ap-
pointed, and on motion, made ten minutes
after one o'clock. tie convention took re
cess for twenty minutes. IN order to give
the committee time to examine and report
upon the credentials Of members.
When the committee on credentials had
retired to examine tue documents. the mem
bers of the convention employed the inter
vening time in discussion and opinion ex
pressing. in which the future political bear-
Ings had large share.
About one thousand lockers on. not
wholly uninterested, filed the lobby of the
hall, thronged the stairway5 and peopled
the sidewalks in front of the building
When the session again took place. TEN
porary chairman Pinchback asked if the
committee were ready to report. This was
answered by,the secretary of the commit
tee. who rose and read the following report
which is found to embrace the complete
list OF all accredited delegates ami the re
spectve States which they represent:
Alabama-Jerrv Harralson, James T. Ra
pier. G. w. Washington, II. Thompson. K
w. Whitaker, Frank McKid, William v
Turner.
Arkansas-M. w. Gibbs.
District of Columbia-John NJ. Langston
Georgia-H. NJ. Turner.
Lo,lisiana-P. b. S. Pinchback, James
Lewis, J. II. lngraham, George Devizan, j
II. Burch, Harry Lott. David Young.
Maryland-Isaac Meyers.
Massachusetts-George l.. Ruffin,' j. Sella
Martin.
Nississippi-James Hill. j. j. Spellman
G. w. White, H. b. Jacobs, j. II. Piles, c
NJ. Boles, A. Handy. J. D. Webster, A. X
Davis.
Ohio-Peter H. Clarke. W. H. Jones.
Pennsylvania-F. Morris Chester.
South Carolina-A. J. Ransier +. l.. Car
dozo, K. +. Elliot. W. 3. Nash, +. Fl. Frost
w. j. Mckinley.
Texas-Richard Alien. G. T. Ruby. John
son Reed, Walter NJ. Burton, N. w. Cuny
81. Webb.
Virginia-W. n. Stevens, w II. Trent
Albert Brooks, p. G. Carter, K. G. l.. Page
Rufus Morse, William z. Mosely, JOHN
Freeman
The report being adopted, the accompany
ing resolution concerning the future diposi
ton of delegates having been carried, Mr.
Pinchback moved that q committee on per
manent organzation to consist OF one dele
gate from each Ssate, be appointed, which