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

NATIONAL COLORED' CONVENTION.
The proceedings Of the fifth and last day
of this convention were confined principally
to discussions on the platform" submitted
by the committee on platform and resolu-
tiOns.
The convention was called to order at
halfpast ten o'clock by the Hon. FREQ.
Douglass.
Mr.: J. Sella Martin rose to question Of
privilege. He asked the secretary to read
an extract that appeared in the Times OF
yesterday morning taken from the German
Gazette. He said the purport of the article
was calculated to depreciate the talent and
intelligence of the cOlOred representatives
here assembled, place the negro element OF
this country in a wrong attitude, and mis-
interpret the objects of the convention. He
understood the objects of this convention TO
be the securement of the same civil
rights for the colored people that
are enjoyed by other citizens of this
country. He denied the assertion that
this convention had been called either to
build up negrosparty to threaten the integ-
rity Of the Republican party or in any way
act in antagOnism to the Caucasian race.
As he understood it, the object of the con-
vention was to secure fair and full Oppor-
tunity to show that the cOlOred people of
this country are capable of improvement,
possess. The very fact, said Mr.. Martin,
that unfriendly journals were throwing OBJ
structions in the way of the development OF
negro intelligence and full recognition of
their rights, proves that they are fearful, If
We are given an equal opportunity with 9TH
ers, we may contradict, by the progress we
make, their assertions of negro inferiOrity
In consideration of this fact, and to place
the colored people of this country right in
the eyes of the world, he would ask that
this convention disavOw the charge made
by the German Gazette, to wit: That this
convention desires to build up negro
party in this country.
Mr. Clarke, of Ohio. followed in the same
strain, deprecating the idea thai. any such
motive should be imputed to the cOnven-
ton as body.
Mr.. Burch, Of Louisiana, would only ask
for the negro fair and square chance in
the race Of life. To fully appreciate the
slime and spleen that animated the articles
in the Times and German Gdsstte in regard
to this convention, they should be read in
full. When the men who control ttose
papers would compare the ,.twaddle' OF this
convention to the proceedings OF the mass
meeting recently held in Cooper Institute.
New York, they show the real animus of
their motive for misrepresenting this con-
ventiOn.
Mr.. Burch thought the colored people had
no ill-feeli1g toward the followers OF either
John Mitchell or Carl Schurz. He believed
there was no disposition to build up a
separate party in this country to be known
as the negro party. He would insist on the
adoption Of Mr.. Martins resolution, dis
avowing that the object Of this convention
was to build upa negro party. The reso-
luton to that effect was then placed before
the convention and unanimously adopted.
Mr. T. Morris Chester, of Pennsylvania,
from the committee on platform and reso-
lutiOns, read a lengthy report, and Mr.
Pinchback moved its adoption.
Mr.. Rapier. Of Alabama, would like TO
have stricken from the report that portion
that condemned members of Congress for
not sustaining the civil rights bill when be-
fore Congress, known as the supplementary
civil rights bill.
Mr.. Clarke, of Ohio, thought it impOlitic to
have anything in the platform calculated TO
embarrass the Republican party in the COM
ing Presidential election. That party was
not able to carry any dead weight in the
race about to be run. Its success uext fail
is of more importance to the cOlOred people
than any attempt at this time to force social
equality He would have them look at this
| matter in a sensible way, and not attempt
to do anything that is calculated to bring
defeat upon the party.
Mr. Green OF the District of Columbia,
thought the time had passed when the mil
lion Of negro voters in this country are to
asking their rights. He thought the col
ored people could not afford TO lower the
| dignity of their manhood. He said the
| time had passed when bullies and braves
| in any section Of the country - either
| in the wards of cities or the precincts of
| the country-could longer deter freemen
! from exercising their rights. Mr. Green
was in favor of the. platform as reported by
| the committee, and hoped that gentlemen
would not attempt to dodge the responsible
| ty of manhood and the enlarged principles
| laid down in the platform now being discus
! sed. He was opposed to lowering the poll
| tical standard of the Republican party. He
| thought such action would do as much
| good to the Cincinnati convention as harm
| to the Philadelphia Republicans, who will
| meet in that city the coming summer to-
make choice OF a Presidential candidate,
| and believed the best way to make the Gin
| cinnati movement success was for the
| friends OF the Philadelphia convention 70
| lower their standard on the subject of civil
| rights. He hoped the present convention
| would not make any concessions to the hu-
| Klux rebel element of the country. He
| wanted the platform clear and explicit on
| the subject Of civil rights.
Mr.. Turner, of Georgia. was also point
of the colored people, and hoped the conven-
! ton would not compromise its manhood by
| striking from the platform now under con-
sideration the very just rebuke admins
tered to those members of Congress who
have been sent there by negro votes, and
| from fear or otherwise have failed to sup
port the supplementary civil rights bill pre-
sented in Congress by Hon. Charles
Sumner
Mr.. Brooks, OF Arkansas, hoped that the
| convention would not adjourn until 1t had
expressed itself fully in favor of the enforce
ment of civil rights for the colored people
He was in favor Of the platform as reported
| by the committee.
| Mr.. Harralson, Of Alabama, was not Ior
| threatening members of Congress. He
had seen Just as good men as his friend
from Georgia (Mr. Turner), who were also
anxious to die foR principle-when making
a speech: but when the time came to die
| by the hand of the Ku-Klux they were not
| ready-no more ready to die than himself,
who certainly had no desire to hand in his
| checks in that way. Mr.. Harralson did not
think it good policy to threaten anybody.
He thought that when. tne time comes we
could get 11u OF men who had not done
tier whole duty; but we should DO this
without threatening anybody or MAKING
divisions in the party.
Mr.. Jones, of Arkansas, was opposed tt
| striking out" Whatever gentlemen might
think of the policy of letting the plat
form 90 forth to the world as reported, ht
thought it right that the sentiments ane
acts of the convention on the subject O.
civil rights should be known. He woult
duty. but speak out boldly upon subjec
| r ~ ,,;+a1 i,unortance To them He wa.