Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-09-19
NEGRO DlCTATION.
A Lively Debate I'm the Radical state
Convention Caueus The Ceiored
Delegates Demand Civil Rights and
FfHhG-
Chattanooga Times Report

Conventf0n Caueus-Th The Ceiored
Delegates Demand Civil Rights and
a square Fight
Chattanooga Times Report.
Hon. Lewis Tillman made long,
rambling speech In opposition to a
nomination, on the ground that the
party could not hope to elect their
nominee. If they put out a man they
would be held responsible for the Civil
Rights bill. He hoped that the time
would come when the colored men
would not be spoken of as a separate
class of voters. He wanted no nomlna-
ton, and let the old Wings rally around
the county tickets. KS r.ra4 81 -.fgE !
w. ii. Porter, (colored,) ofKnox, wanted
a nomination, and 70 make square fight
and no back down. The men who are not
in favor of equal rights are not sound Re
publicans. III they are not willing. to stand
by the Republican party's doctrine, in Gods
name let them 60.
Mr.. TiIlman thought il should be left to
time to eradicate prejudices. BE was OPP
posed 10 enforcing social equality, and also
TO inter1narriage. The time has come when
all white Republicans Of the South, and es-
pecially of Tennessee, tell you plainly that
you have gone far enough, they are opposed
to Civil Rights. The time has come when
colO-ed men should be treated as men, and
no. further legislation should be given
them.
a running debate ensued between
Porter and Tillman, and others, IN
which Porter said he wanted to find
out how the white Republicans stand
The colored Republicans are all right.
a colored delegate from Shelby wanted
a candidate nominated and Republican
doctrine preached throughout the
State. .r -
The Civil Rights bill viii pass. He
wanted to ride in the cars with the
white people, to eat his dinner at the
table like any other gentleman. God
says every man shall have equal rights.
A good deal of this trouble comes from
men who pretended to be Republicans
but were not. rar .r-55 90 F-
Mr.. Thompson, (eolored) !of Shelby,
occupied the floor for about half an
hour, chiefly in regard to the Civil
Rights bill and defending the colored
race from any aspersions upon them.
Mr.. Thompson is a fluent, graceful
speaker, and seemedmore than match
for his white brethren, who continually
interrupted him with points of order
and questions or all kinds, to which he
returned ready answers. He seemed
determined, as did all the colOred dele
gates, to compel the white delegates to
endorse or oppose the Civil Rights bill
and to show their hands. u
After the speech of Mr.. Thompson,
the caucus dissolved and there was
much talk among the delegates. We
heard some one Of them denounce the
whole thing as a put up job by the
Office holders of the State to get May
nard the nomination. The real work
ingmen of the party, it is claimed, had
no voice IN it
So also the colored delegates were
equally emphatic IN their denunciation
of the shutting course of their white
brethren who were trying TO break up
the party rather than swallow the Civil
Rights bill ..- ..-..----
The white delegates, especially from
East Tennessee, were by no means
sparing of their denunciation Of the
niggers vino were demanding such ex-
travagant things and who would surely
break up the party.