New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-04-16
NEW ORLEANS, TUESDAY, APRIL IT, 1872

RACES perpetrated upon them and make the
same known to the military commander Of
the post. One Of the very men who Op-
posed the calling of the meeting, because he
considered it dangerous, and called him
(Mr. Pinchback) crazy or something else
even worse for advising such a course. is
now member Of Congress. and when he
(Mr. Pinchback) was in Washington re,
Gently, that very member Of Congress had
acknowledged that the course taken by the
speaker in Alabama in 1865 had been the
means of ameliorating the. condition Of
colored men in that State and sending him
to Congress-, and Mr.. Pinchback said
the name of that member Of Congress
is Turner. Mr.. Pinchback said he
was satisfied that nothing is to be
gained by timorous and time-serving
pie speaking out like men for all those rights
that belong to American citizenship.
Messrs Martin, Ransier and Burch con-
tinued the discussion in favor OF civil rights,
and were followed by Mr.. Douglass, who
spoke substantially as follows:
Mr.. President and Gentlemen Of the Con-
vention-I do not propose to occupy the
attention of this convention for more than
one or two minutes, but / must say to those
whe are opposing this section of the
report Of the committee on civil rights,
l do not wish to do injustice to my distin-
guished and exemplary friend Mr.. Clarke,
for know him to be a man in every re-
spect worthy. He is a gentleman who has
been battling for this same cause OF liberty
that have, but must say that he has only
shown the conservative side OF this queS-
ton, and he must have known that this was
a radical convention. He has given his
views in regard to this supplemental civil
rights bill, from which must differ little
with him. His idea Of the Republican
platform differs little from mine, but / do
not think that Mr.. Clarke would do any
thing or say anything that would prove
disastrous to the Republican party or its
principles. Iwant the Republican cause to
hoist its standard; want it to come higher,
for it is, az said before, the party Of prog
ress, but want it to have a solid platform,
and to do this we, as the representatives of
the colored race, must make platform that
will stand firm in the coming election
Now, in reference to this question OF civil
rights, l will relate to you an anecdote.
While in Philadelphia was nominated as
delegate to the loyalist convention, which
was to meet in the above named city. Whlle
attending to my duty as member outside
OF the convention, the delegation came to
me in the name of the Indiana delegation,
and asked me to waive my right-tO give
up my seat-not that they objected to sit
beside me, for one of them said he would
occupy the seat next to mine on any other
occasion but at the present time; they could
not bear the idea Of having a colOred man
hold seat in that convention, under
the circumstances; they did not like
the idea of amalgamation. / said to
them: Gentlemen, you might as we'll
ask me to put pistol to my head and blow
my brains out" and, gentlemen, kept my
seat and carried my points in this loyalist
convention. [Applause,] l, as Repub-
lican, will never give up my principles. l
will never cease to work for the interests OF
my race. Let weakened Republicans do
it; l never will. You. want civil rights
bill passed that will enable your wife and
family to occupy decent carriages on the
railroads, and not be thrust into dirty
smoking car, your wife's clothes and your
own to be covered with the filthy mass that
surrounds such accommodations. / have
talked with railroad managers, and they
have told me that they did not object, but
their passengers might.
Another incident l will relate to you.
While in St. Louis l went to the Planters
Hotel and registered my name. had no
more than turned my back than the clerk
scratched my name out OF the book.
asked him why ne did so. He did not an
swer l asked him again. He said: Il
have no answer to give.' l turned around
to him and said: II understand sir. You
can give no reason. You decline to give a
reason, for if you were to give any it would
be an infamous one So 1t is, my friends
They can give no reasons but infamous
ones. There is no prejudice against color
You might go into the finest society, sit IN a
carriage beside lovely lady, her hand
covered with gold and her neck sparkling
with diamonds, but you must go as a
servant, as a menial. There is no prejudice
against color, but this idea of social equal
ity these white people can not bear.
in reference to this resolution l hope the
members will vote unanimously. Let there
not be dissenting voice. Stand by civil
rights. Look out for the black mans rights.
Do whatever you think conducive to their
interest and welfare.
While am up l may speak Of General
Grant He has done a great deal for me-
He has. by the iron hand, stayed bloOdshed
in this Southern country. He has kept
thousands of my race from being assassin
ated. He has in every way showed his ap-
probation. He may be little crOtchety.
but MANY of those crotchets are Influenced
by his wife, Mrs. Grant.
Alter again appealing to the convention
to stand by its platform and adopt such
measures as would secure success to the
Republican party, he retired amid the
cheers of the immense crowd present.
Mr. Clarke, OI Oulo. dHSNeTct NSiS
able manner the remarks of Mr.. Douglass.
and was followed by Mr.. Downing. OF
Rhode Island. who was not satisfied to
have the colosed man wait any longer for
a recognition Of his rights.
Mr.. Turner then obtained the floor and
moved the previous question, hut the mo-
ton was withdrawn in order to give MI
Green an opportunity to offer the following
additional clause to the platform:
That while men protesting strong Radical senti-
ments and elected to congress by overwhelming
maiorties of colored voters were found Young
against the supplementary civil rights OIL IN the
| Senate of the United States We honor that
| manly exhibition of devotion to the prin-
| ciples of the Republican party which lnfu,
enced the Hon Schuyler Coifax vice M o.
recording his vote, as President of the senate. IN
favor of equality before the law, as indicted IN the
supplementary civil rights bill as it passed the
| Senate by virtue of the Aforesaid casting vote.
| The following is the report of the COM
| mittee on platform and resolutions sub
mi5ted by Governor Ransier, Of South Car
| olina, which, together with the above addi'
tional clause passed unanimously:
Regretting the necessity which has called into
existence a colored convention, and deeply ensi
be of the responsibilities which have been in
trusted to cur consideration, we hereby ackn9wl,
| edge our gratitude for past triumphs in behalf o.
equal rights and respectfully submit our pc culial
| grievances to the Immediate attention of the
| American people ia the following platform and
| resolutions.
f, ]. We thank God the friends Of universal lib
erty in this and other lands the braves Of coloreo
soldiers and the loyalty OF the colored people tol
emancipation, our citizenship and our enffs'il
! cbisemeut.
2. Owing our political emancipation in this eoun
try to Repu blican legislation, to which all othel
parties and political shades OF opinion were an
| fnstly and bitterly opposed we would be blind t.
our prospects and false TO our best interests die
| we IDENTIFY ourselves with any other organization
| and as ali roads out of the Republican party Leaf
| into the Democratic camp, we pledge our unsWerv