New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1872-05-02
National Convention Of the Col
Ored People of the United
States, Held i'm New
Orleans.
Speech or Hon. Frederick Douglass.

SATURDAY-FOURTH DAYS SESSION.
About IL o'clock yesterday Mr.. Frederick
Douglass entered the room in company with
Mr. Pinchback, and surrounded by a large
number of his friends. All those present
rose to their feet and received him with
cheers and applause. He is quite fine
looking man, a little over six feet in height,
with long, white, slightly wOolly hair nearly
down to his shoulders, dark mustache and
mulatto complexion.
Shortly after IL O'Clock Mr.. Ingraham
called the Convention to order, Mr.. Douglass
and Mr. Pinchback sitting together.
The roll was called and quorum declared
present.
Prayer by the Rev. Mr.. Thompson.
The names of the delegates, Fred. Doug
lass and l.. II. Douglass, from New York !;
A. M. Green, from the District of Columbia !;
and G. Il. Downing, from Rhode Island, were
added to the roll.
After some discussion, the honor of con-
Quoting Mr.. Douglass to the stand was con-
ferred upon Lieutenant Governor Pinchback,
Lieutenant Governor Ransier, and the Hon.
Isaac Myers.
MR.. DOUGLASS INTRODUCED BY Mr.. IN
GRAHAM.
Chairman Ingraham, in presenting Mr..
Douglass, said it was the greatest pleasure
and the greatest honor of his life; and it was
all the more gratifying to him because of the
fact that when, eight years ago he had met
| Mr.. Douglass in the National Convention at
| Syracuse, New York, he little expected ever
| to have the pleasure of introducing that dis
| tinguished man to National Convention of
colOred men in New Orleans, over which he
was to preside. 1t was fit place, in that
very hall, where so many colored men had
been murdered for opinions sake, for him
who stands head and shoulders above all of
his race, for him who has done so much
through so many weary years to elevate and
ameliorate the condition of his people, to
preside over the assembled representatives
of those who love and honor him.
MR.. DOUGLASS REMARKS.
Mr.. Douglass gracefully thanked the Con.
| yention for the cordial manner in which he
had been introduced, and earnestly expressed
his gratitude for the feeling exhibited in Sc
lecting him as the permanent President Of
the Convention, inasmuch as there were al
least twenty men present better qualified b,
their mental aptitudes than himself for thu
i peculiar duties of a presiding officer. HI
Judged that the choice was intended not 81
much to compliment him as a chairman, a.
it was to convey to him grateful recognition
of his earnest labor in their behalf through
all the vicissitudes of their long struggle 70
liberty. [Applause.] From the response h
saw his inference was right. He regretted
his arrival at the end instead of the begin
ming of the Convention. He labored unde
the disadvantage therefore of not knowing
what sentiments had been uttered, wha
principles had been asserted, or what resolu
tons had been adopted, and this almost pre-
vented him from speaking intelligently. H
was likely to repeat what had already beel
said. He had been six days upon his way
but had used due diligence to arrive in time
and the toll and fatigue almost unnerved hir
to speak.
Mr.. Douglass said he supposed the objee
of the convention had already been fully sta
ted. According to his view 1t had two dis
tinct objects. The first was to gather tn
moral and political force of the colored peopl
Of the United States; and the second was t