The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-03-11
C0L0RED FOLKS.
Their Rights and Wrongs Considered

1
CONFERENCE OF MEN REPRESENTING TIL
CoLORED PEOPLE OF THIS CONGRESS
sIONAL DISTRICT AT ODD HALL
| RDAY-CATHOLlCIsM AGAINST
| PEOTESTANTIsM TALKED ABOUT
STATE CONVENTION OF CoLoRED MEN
TALKED ABOUT.
About seventy-fve colored men OF thi:
congressional district met in conference nj
the Odd-Fellows' Hall, Franklin street, yes.
terday at II O'Clock, and were called TO order
by eX-Justice Cornelius Harris. The cal
was read. 1t set forth that whereas awe
perceive OF n wish OF those in power to de.
prive us Of certain rights before the law"
&C.; that we "meet TO consider our civil,
political, and material status as color ed men,
and to take necessary steps to improve and
elevate our condition, and TO transact such
other business as may be presented"
| CORNELlUs's CATHOLIC SPEECH.
Dir. Harris read 4 speech protesting
against the capitation tax, and saying that
| it was not equally enforced as between the
two colors, and claiming that negroes are
deprived OF many OF their rights. He fur.
| thcr said: Much to my regret, and 10 the
detriment OF us as colored people, many of
our pulpits in the hands OF the clergy OF
our own color are being used by some OF
the whites who mean antipathy to the lib
eral and acceptable teachings Of the Catho-
lie Church, who does not dare attack
them themselves, but such who are 50 stu.
pid as to do 50 are the instrument in their
hands-a position they does not dare as
sumo. We should spurn such an illibcral
position, and ought not TO take a stand
shorter than that OF men. There is one
place in the State l know Of where men get
their rights, and that is the Catholic
Church"
COMMITTEE OF FIFTEEN.
A committee Of fifteen was authorized to
be appointed on temporary organization.
The acting chairman stated that "the COM
mittec have to be shortened by reason OF
four counties that don't appear"
However, after some little delay, the COM
mittcc WAS constituted as follows: Rich
mond city-Madson Ward, w. J. S. Bowe !;
Clay, l.. Lindsey; Marshall, James john
son :; Jefferson, J. Carter; Jackson, S. d.
Jones. Manchester-FirstW Ward, l.. Clarke !;
Second, J. J. Norman; Third. J. B. john
son; Fourth, r. Woodbridge. Henrico,
Rev. Gerdine. Chesterfield, John Cox.
MR.. WOLFF.
Mr.. Lewis Lindsey, obse. wing that Mr..
John W. WoltZ ASSOCIATED Press Agent at
fredericksburg was in the hall, moved that
he be invited TO the stage to take synopsis
Of the meeting.
The Chairman stated that other reprcscn-
tativeS Of the press had been Invited to be
present. and he hoped Mr.. Volt would
come forward and take part with them. Mr.
thnrnI1nnn tI,o
TEMPORARY OFFICERS.
The Committee on Permanent OrganiZa-
tion having retired, the chairman stated that
bodies that had formerly met in this hall
had passed very bad reflections upoa Them
selves, not only as regards their deIibera-
tionS, but as regards the jantor. The
chairman, however, had assured that otli-
cial these were men OF the highest integrity
and would demcan themselves properly,
and in conclusion he recommended that IS
be raised to pay for the use Of the hall.
REV. w. B. DERRICK.
Rev. Mr. Derrick being in the hall, it was
suggested that he be invited to address the
meeting; whereupon the chairman asked
Mr.. Derrick to come forward and give them
"some Of the fire OF Patrick Henry" [Ap-
plause.1
Mr.. Derrick made quite sensible speech.
He spoke very well Of white folks, ana
said "the negroes have had too much OF
politics." [Applause.] He thought that cdu-
cation was TO be the salvation of the race,
and that parents should remember that
every man cannot be lawyer or doctor; that
Shoemakers. and farmers, and mechanics
were needed. He wanted negroes TO acquire
land and to make themselves homes. They
would, in large degree. be respected Tor
what they are worth. When they are tax
payers the community Will not be disposed
to overlook them. The day would come
when the mans skin would not be looked
at, but moral and financial position would
be the basis OF estimate OF worth. He. as "a
negro minister" had much OF kindness to
say OF the white ministry, and, in reply to
Mr.. Harris, something in defence OF the
negro ministry. He declared that the ne
grocs arc 200 years behind the whites. and
that they must elevate themselves by edu-
cation, good demcanor, and acquiring pro-
| pertY.
OFFICERS.
| The Committee on Temporary Organiza-
| ton reported the following names for Off
GERS: President, w. G. Roane, Richmond
Secretary, NJ. \. Woodbridge, Manchcs-
ter; Tellers, John Wallace and John Cox.
| Adopted.
TIE PRESIDENT.
Mr. Roane, who is young lawyer OF this
CITY, was escorted to the stage, and made q
brief speech. He touched upon the pro-
posed amendments to the Constitution, and
indicated that the colored people would moi
| be at all satisfied with the maglSteral cotln
ty court system, especially as that court zap
Dointed by the Governor) would have The
bower OF appointing constables, thus doing
great Injustice to the 100000 colored people
OF Virginia.
DISAGREEMENT.
A committee of seven on credentials wa:
appointed, and retired.
4 motion was then made and adopted by
4s to 7 that Mr.. Wollz be invited to address
the meeting. w. }. :. Bowc, however
fought the proposition, chiefly on the grount
that they had met there "as colored men,
At a later stage he would lie glad to hea
Mr. WoltZ.
The motion was reconsidered and laid OF
the table.
The collection to pay for the ball was thel
taken I'D, each delegate being requested tt
come f. tue stage and hand in fifteen cent
when his name was called. Some OF then
had to confess that they had no money.
After awhile the Committee on Credentials
reported.
PERMANENT ORGANIZATION.
A committee OF fifteen was next appoint
ed on permanent organization.
On motion, Rev. j. Anderson Taylor wa
invited TO address the meeting. He stoot
! mir ntulfr in