New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-08-14
THE FREEDMANS CIVIL RIGHTS.

VIEWS OF PROMINENT CoIoRRD MEN NORTH AND
SOUTH on THE RELATIONS OF THE MCBs-MA-
TERIAL PROGRESS IN FLORIDA.
During the late Colored Convention held al
Saratoga some Of the speakers complained that the
colored people not given proper proportion OF
the public offices. Itwas alleged that the Republican
politicians were only too glad to obtain the votes Of the
colored men, but that when it came to giving them
Office o backwardness displayed that contrasted
strangely with the lavish promises made before election
Wishing the sentiment Of the colored people
OF this city this point, reporter Of THE TRIBUNE
called several Of the representative cofored neD,
among others the Rev. Henry Highland Garnet.t He
said that far be could the coored people were
very well satisfied with the condition of affairs He
thought the great majority not anxious to
hold Office. They much more desirous of OBJ
tanning full recognition of their civil rights, and
progress Of public opinion in this respect most
gratifying Colored people were now allowed 10 ride in
public conveyances and to attend concerts, thesters
and other public entertainments, without dscrinina
ton on account Of color. There were probably colored
men who anxious to hold Office, butthey did not
represent the aiortyf He believed that The solid
OF the coored anxious that the ooored voters
should not act separately but rather that they should
act with either OF the political parties as seemed to
them best calculated TO promote their interests For
this they we're desrous that the distinctive col
ored political organizations should be gradually dis
political organizations, act with either ofhe political
parties TO which their preferences might lead them
Others held somewhat similar views. There were few
who seemed to think the claims OF the cOOred men
warranted something better than appointments por
tiers in the Custom house and other public Offices,
streetsweepers under the streetcleanng Inspector
still all were quick 70 confess that the change in pub
lie sentiment in regard to the civil rights OF coored men
was very marked, and tended elevate the condition
Of the colored race both North and South.
j. c. Gibbs an intelligent colored man, State superin-
tendent OF Education In Florida is III this city He
recently paper Education in the South before
the National Educational Association at its meeting
Elmira. He speaks IN terms OF the welcome he
has received throughout the North. This the
gratifying inasmuch he had been told by Southern
ers that ne would be gwen the cold shoulder; that,
10 use their own expression, while the
North were willing that the South should
eat crow they themselves were not willing TO partake
of it," His treatment had entirely refuted this BY in
yitatiOn OF the Rev Henry Highland Garnet, and the
canSreSation Of old Shiloh Church now gorshipne in
Republican Hall, at Twentythirdst and Broadway.
Mr. Gibbs will deliver on sunday evening at tnai place
work Of Reconciliation" He thinks that the problem
OF reconciliation between the white and eoored people
state very much had been done by both sides There
those who had made no attempt 10 win the friend
ship OF the colored people, and who would he glad TO
the old order Of things restored. There were many,
however, who evinced sincere desire 10 have the two
races live together in amty. The coored people had
made great advances since their Acknowledgement. A
large number Of them have secured homes, and Others
are working for the object During the past year
over 900 parcels Government land have been taken
by settlers, large proportion of whom are col0red.
Emigration is setting rapidly toward Florida. There
have been large accessions Of colOred people from
Georgia. The lumber interest the various streams
heading the interior of the State increasing with
wonderful rapdity. Large saw-mills are building. A
large proportion OF the laborers employed IN these mills
are coored They make good wages, and are thus en-
abed homes for themselves The area OF cuI
tyated land also largely increased from year 10
year. Northern men had brought IN large
amount Of capital, and were using 1t
20 develop the resources Of the State. AS
an Of what Northern capital was doing 10 the
recently put up a large MILL and meant TO turn out
yearly 100000 railroad ties OF anew patent The debt
az the State declared had been overrated The ae
tasl debt less than $2O0000 although the coming
m i9dorsing or guaranteeing the mortgage bonds OF
railroads. and these rs lien on the roads rend-
eriug the State secure in they defauted IN pay
ment Jacksonville FernandIna and other places Had
been built up by Northern capital. and were prosperous
10 an unusual degree.