New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1872-09-19

Mr.. GEORGEL RUFFIN, of Boston, Massa-
chusetts, delivered the opening address at
the late convention of New England colored
men in that city, as follows:
Gentlemen Of the Contention:
Another Presidential election is at hand,
and for the first time in the history of the
colored men of this country, will they be
called upon as whole to join with the rest
of their telOw-citizens in choosin. a Presi-
dent.
Here in Massachusetts,, and in nearly all
the New England States, it is no new thing
for colored men to vote ; most of us have
exercised that privilege since our majority.
And with our knowledge of political parties,
their history and character, let us in the de-
alterations Of this convention offer the bene-
fit Of our experience to our brethren in other
parts of the land, who are dcpositing their
ballots for the first time. A little confusion
and doubt were at first created by the action
of old parties and the advice of old friends.
which is now being dispelled as time wears
on, and we begin to see clearly the issue, and
how we are to be affected in their settlement.
AS l understand it., there are but two par
ties in the field, the Republican party, with
General Grant at its head, and the Demo-
cratic party, with Horace Greeley at its
head; the success of Grant is the success OF
Republicanism, the success of Greeley is the
success of Democracy.
Taken all in all, General Grant has done
more for the colored man than any other per-
son. He beat down the Confederate armies
he scattered to the four winds of heaven its
government, whose cornerstone was African
slavery; he finished the work commenced by
Garrison, Phillips, and other Abolitionsts, in
making emancipation secure.
The Administration which preceded his
(Andrew JohnsOn's) in recognizing the late
rebelious States, laid down this rule in the
rebuilding Of State governments at the South
No person should be permitted to vote who
was disqualified under the State laws as they
existed previous to the ordinance of seces-
sion; that is to say, no cOlored person would
be allowed to vote in any of the seeded
States. This rule was enforced BY Andrew
Johnson, the tool of the negotiating De.
mocracy, in the reconstruction of Nortl,
Carolina and other States. The result OF
this action was, the fruits of the war were to
be lost; the traitors who took the States out
of the Union were to have all political power
placed in their hands when brought back
the colored people were, so to speak, bound
hand and foot and delivered over to thei,
old masters. Under this rule they adopted
voting, and made code ;" among the pro.
visions of which were laws which prevented
colored inen from testifying in court against
white men, denied them the right to sit on
jury, established system of apprenticeship
nearly as bad as slavery, excluded them from
school privileges, made certain acts criminal
and affixed severe penalties to them if com
| mitted by black men, which, if committed BY
white men, were not criminal. To uproot
the pernicious work Of the Democracy, and
to save the black loyalists from such perse
cution, was tho work Of Congress and Gen
eral Grant, who at that time had the Southern
States under military law, and afterwards
came to be Pre- ident. He brought to the
displayed at Vicksburg and before the breast
works of Richmond to enforce the recon
struction acts of Republican Congress
which was now keenly alive to the necessity
of arresting the traitorous work. These re-
construction acts tear down JohnsOn's State
| governments, constitutions, codes and all
and place the power of rehabilitating the
State governments where it rightfully and
safely belongs, in the hands of the loyal
people Of that section, both white and black
1t is due to General Grants sympathy anC
| active efforts in our behalf that the enforce
ment of these measures to the letter was
successfully accomplished, and all the re-
| bellious States were reconstructed and brought
back into the Union on the basis. of equa
rights to all.
Taking these steps and following them VI
with the directness of purpose and vigor that
he has, shows him to be not only states
man and possessed Of great executive abili
ties, but also shows that he is philanthro
pist and well-wisher of the colored people
He never made any loud professions of anti
slavery, or what he was going to do, blu
when the test hour came he did it. He has
done many things for the colored people since
he has been President. He has appointed
colored men ministers to foreign courts, HI
has appointed them assessors and collector,
of internal revenue, and under his admins
tration large numbers of them have beer
placed in important positions in the diferen
departments at Washington and elsewhere
But rotEH< ~ tlaa3 ! II