New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1873-09-04

. 49, 4 u MeSsEss J9CpD
and William Still. Jr.. of Reading; Mr.. G.
NJ. Brown, of Harrisburg, publisher of oar
National Progress, besides many other gen.
tlemen whose acquaintance / should have
been glad to have formed had time permitted,
but from what / saw of them | can con-
scientiously say tina. they are men of whom
their constituencies may feel just pride, and
in whom they may place unquestionable re-
lance. With such men at the front, persist
emily assaultng the strongholds of prejudice
in the Keystone State, their ultimate demoli-
, ton is but question of very short" time.
1 shall not attempt to give a detailed ac-
count of the doings of the convention, for we
could not, if so wishing. You will doubtless,
receive from other sources more correct
information than l could give at our best
| Some good measures have originated in this
| deliberative body, one of which was the pass
age of a resolution calling for national con-
vention at Washington on the second Tues
day in December, in which it is the expressed
desire that every State and Territory shall
be fully represented. The purpose of the
convention is to concert and agree upon
measures TO urge upon the next Congress the
imperative necessity Of the speedy passage of
the Hon. Charles Summers supplementary
civil rights bill. This our Republican legis-
| lators must do if they would retain for the
party its black arm of mighty power, on
which now depends its veal or woe; we
have too much reason to feel that the party
begins to believe they own the negro vote,
and that they will receive it at any rate,
however much they may now ignore our just
claims to equal and exact justice. If that
party does not speedily correct this error of
opinion, disastrous results to the now do,ni-
nant party may ensue, for intelligent colore1
men all over the country are already discuss
ing the ACCESSIBILITY of administering to the
party rebuke at the ballot box, that will
teach them, when, perhaps, too late to repent,
their negligence in performing what may
have been only half-hearted promises. The
Harrisburg delegates received instructions
which cmbody the gist of our wants and
grievances, and clearly indicate what should
1 be the political attitude of the colored men
of the country where similar abuses exist
The points covered were briefly as follows ::
Full recognition by the Republican party,
which implies not only the right to vote, but
to be voted for. The passage Of the supple
mentary civil rights bill. The admission of
colored pupils to all of the schools of the
State. Recognition of true Republcanism in
the State; and adherence to all officials who
give appointments to qualified men without
regard to color. A resolution was passed
expressing the Interpretation of the colored
citizens of Harris burg at the manner in which
jurors were selected in Dauphn county, the
commissioners studiously passing over GER
tain names because they were the names Of
colored men. This statement, we presume,
is equally true Of other parts Of the State.
The resolutions of instruction conclude with
the declaration that "wc regard this emission
as MUST to us, and we will no longer sup
port men who treat us in this manner"
These instructions were fully carried out by
the Harrisburg delegation in the convention,
and the impress Of their patriotic labors was
left upon the records.
Among the notabilties present during the
convention were three colored Senators from
Louisiana, General Barbour, Colonel Ingra-
ham, and Hon. J. Henri Burch; also General
7. Morris Chester-they addressed the con-
venton on Tuesday evening. These gen.
tlemen have been sent north by the Legisla-
ture Of their State to explain to the people
the true nature Of the louisiana embrOgliO,
that war Of factions which has been about as
clear to the most of us as was that European
muddle known as the " Schleswig- Holster"
question. The gentlemen are performing the
duties of their mission in manner that
reflects credit upon themselves, and upon
those who sent them, and they will without
doubt materially aid in creating and form
ing a public opinion that will force Congress
to adopt such measures rs will in the future
prevent the recurrence OF such hgh-handed
outrages as were practiced by McEnery and
his satellites.
Miss lie Count, of Philadelphia, the colored
American lady who SO pluckily castigated the
lady managers of the centennial for theiI
unpatriotc color-phobic prejudices, was also
present, and at the close of the addresses Of
the louisiana delegation, favored the au-
dience with rectatons Of the poems " Sheri.
dams Ride" and Barbara Freitche." Miss
lie Counts faultless elocution, graceful poses
and heart-melting pathos, were only sur.
passed by her modest and lady-like demeanor
while receiving the wild oyations Of applause
that greeted her efforts.
Mr.. Editor, this communication, We are
afraid, is already transcending the limits Of
your forbearance, and We must curb oui
willing pencil, and while admitting that
we have only given a cursory glance at men
and things as we send them at Wilkesbarre
we can do no better than BY giving in full
Professor Neale's address to the colored men
Of Pennsylvania, for it is equally applicable
to our race all over the country.
SPEECH OF PROF. NEALE5.
FELLow-CITIZESs No words that we can
use could indicate TO you the earnest hopes
we entertain for your future well-beng as
citizens of Pennsylvania. We are brothers,
sons Of common progenitors, awaiting pa
tiently and hopefully common, and we
hope, glorious destiny. We are the archi-