Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-12-09
BITING OFF THEIR NOSE.
Some Negro fanatics Propose to Do tn.
To Smile Their. K,uco

to Spite Their Face.
Arrangements are now being made to
have called at an early day national con-
vent1on Of colored men, the object of which
will be to memorabilia Congress to take
away the representation in Congress which
is based upon the colored population of the
various States of the Union. The memorial
will set forth that, inasmuch as the four
tenth amendment to the constitution pro-
yldes that ''when the right to vote at any
election for the choice of electors for Presi-
dent and Vice-President of the United
States, Representatives in Congress, the
executive and judicial officers of State, or
the members of the legislature thereof, is
denied to any of the male inhabitants of
such State, being 81 years of age and
citizens of the United States, or in any way
abridged for participation in rebellion or
other crimes, the basis of representation
therein shall be reduced in the proportion
which the number of such male citizens
shall bear to the whole number of male cit
liens 81 years of age in such State;'' and
that it is notorious fact that in certain of
the late slave-holding States the right to vote
is not only practically denied to the great
mass of colored electors, but the suspected
intention on their part to exercise, untram-
meled, the right conferred upon them
by the fourteenth amendment sub
jects them to every species of
persecution and outrage. Therefore
they pray Congress to exercise the power
conferred upon it by section five of the four
teenth amendment to abridge the basis of
representation in the States where colored
citizens are denied the right to vote in such
proportion as the number of intimidated
male citizens bears to the whole number of
male citizens p years of age. The initia-
tory movement looking to the calling of this
national convention of colored men was be-
gun in South Carolina mot long since. 1t
has been quietly worked up in all the South
ern States, and the call for the convention
will be issued in due time. It is doubtless a
part of the general programme which has
been agreed upon by the leaders of the Re-
publican party to make the Southern ques-
ton the paramount one in the coming Presi-
deetial campaign.
A conference Of Southern men was held
this evening at Randall Gibson's residence on
street. There were present Randall Glib
son, d. John Ellis of Louisiana: Senator
Gordon, Senator Lamar, Senator Morgan,
Representatives Elliott, Evans of South
Carolina, and Slemons of Arkansas. and
Senator M. G. Butler. The object of the
meeting was to see what steps should be
taken to meet the charges of Southern viola
lions of law, made in the President's message.
1t was said IN this meeting that all of the re.
cent stories about frauds in the Southern
elections were lies, and that they, the South
ern members) should make it point to so
prove them to the country at large. 1t was
also asserted at this meeting that the tissue
paper tickets, which have been dwelt upon
so much by the Republicans, were manufac-
tured by INSCRIPTIONS Republicans in the
South, who want to make out q case of fraud
where none exists.
Gen. M. Q. Butler said that in his own dis.
trlct, where there are two negro supervisors
of election, not a case of intimidation ex-
listed anywhere, and that he was willing thai
these two men should be examined, and be
would abide by their testimony entirely.
The upshot of the entire conference was tc
agree upon resolution, which is to be pre-.
sented by Randall Gibson at the earliest Cd
portunity in the House. This resolution haf
been SO skillfully drawn that there can be ne
possible objection to it upon the Republican
side. 1t recltes as preamble that portion
OF the Presidents message relating to the
South, and then saying that, whereas grave
charges have been made against the conduct
of elections in South Carolina and Louisiana
the President be respectfully called upon
to furnish the sources of his infor:
nation and its full extent, upon which
he has seen fit to base such grave
charges in such an important place
as State paper. The Southern men at this
conference claim that the President will not
be able to substantiate his charges by any
evidence that they will not be able to readily
lmpeach. They also go further in their com
blnation plan to upset the outrage literature
Of the past few days. It will be remembered
that Judge Swails, of South Carolina, com.
plains that he has made charges of fraud
and intimidation before Judge Bond, and
that no notice has been taken of his alleoa.
tons. The Southern Democrats will there
fore move before the House judiciary com
mit.ee that Bond be impeached, alleging
Swaips charges as the sole reason. It was
further outlined in this evenings conference
that the Southern men intend to vote for the
Edmunds resolutions if they are confined te
asserting the validity of the constitutions
amendments. This resolution of Randall
Gibson will doubtless give the Republicans
the opportunity for which they are at pres
ent longing.