Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1879-05-20
negro Convention in Richmond.

m9nd yesterday far the purpose OF considering
matters concerning the welfare, rights,
and Improvement of the colored race. -
The c,lI wa7 general tjr delegates from
all paris # The State, but when the
names tf those 10 attendaLcs wtro enrolled, it
was ftuud lbut GU! OF tho fifty nine persons
prc.eu:, fifty were residents Of Richmond aud
o:h:r ptriots Gf The third Congressional dis
| ;rics.
Peudog molten for the appointment Ola
Committee 90 Permanent Organization.
". &. s. Bawe rose solennly to urge
upon he convention the necessity Of proceeding
with business 10 order, when Q delegate rose
aud said. "Mr. Chairman, rise to plot, aud
ny pint is Thu: don't lhtk Mr.. Bowo hes
got au5 right to apclog;z, fer h5selt. | move
to reconsider tho vote appointing the Commit
tee on Permanent Ofganz,ilon.'
You hear dc moIioD, gentleneo, said tie
eharmat; 'nro you ready"
mo! ready" said dozen at otce, Using to
their !eOt.
". G. Roa1c. colored lawyer, 1880 and
urged the body 10 prccard to tho election ct
another Committee % Permanent O:ganz,
ton.
a delegate: Mr.. Charnso, who do you re-
coguze?
sil; to pint
| Garoeus Harris: Mr.. Chairman, let u5 have
harmony; | am far harmony an Tor peace
God o mighty knows liz. Let this colored
convention proceed to do what i. IL seat here
10 do.
\ delegate: Mr. Chairman, to plat.
w. G.. s. Bowt: MIR, Chairman, | have the
H)or Who you racaroisc?
Cornelius uarli: Mr.. Chairman. 10 pint.
Tine Charmat: State your pint.
Mr. Harris (turbiog bis eyes Ssgey side1ays)
MY pint is this: IF you throw brick at dog,
an' you see 20 dog, an you bit dog, what
harm is it cf tina; deg heller? Laughter AID
applause.
Lswis Linds;y sat q,iet during these FRO
ceediugs.
While awaiting tho report Of tho committee
on permanent organization, tZ'Cong1cs;ma az
Caio, OF South Carolina, addressed the mse'iog
; urging the cooperation of oil cOlored people IN
tho movement which had for its OF ieot the amo'
lioraliDn f their conditior. He could not sec
why there should be enc law Tor tho white man
and another for the negro. lie favored tho
eu grafton of colore1 people 10 the West, which
he pictured az land flowing with mix ard
honty. True, the colorel emigtants had sui.
fcrcu 10 Kansas but not more 90 than they did
10 tho South
W. G. Roaue coIorcd lawyer CT Richmond,
Was chosen permanent president. with cum
Der Of vico presidents and other officers
The preside IT, upon taking tho chair. made
O speech, il which no alluded to the uoiuS:ness
, of keeping negroes from The jury box aud de-
Died that negroes Tero upon 90 equal iootlng
with whites, citing the recent case Of the negro
a.. all n a
been sent TO tho pcnilentary for going to the
Distrc Of Columbia and getIlcg married lie
said it vas useless to look to the President and
Congress for relief from their grievances. They
must hep themselves and maintain their rights
by appealing TO the courts for redress. They
had been deprived of their right to sit on urlss
f because they bad not protested against such
q deprivation. lie wanted negroes to have
, full and FREQ rights Of suffrage. lie
would never consent TO remain 10 the
South unless they could cas-; the ballot IS
8 freq and equal men. He was in favor OF West.
ern emigration, but was willing to stay here al u
e maintsin the rights to which they acre entitled.
The opposition 10 the co!ored race did not arise
because hay were colored, but because they had
TO material interest in the community. IheJ
must do sll they can 10 secure such interest.
] a committee Of 1fteen was appointed TO pre-
] ra,a plan of organization throughout the State.
r Tho following preamble and resolution were
, introduced:
Whereas we SEQ that Wo canno. get our tights
here in The midst of uncompromising oppressofs
of our rsce, and since. by tho decision of Judge
*. w. Hughes, of tho United States court OF
] this district (kinney.H Hall intermarrisgo csse)
, the State can Cypress and sbrdee our privileges
as citizens Of the State and that there is no Law
CT tho United States TO protect us from ssld
nbrdgment and oppression; therefore,
Resolved, That we recommend to our race
throughout the Stale TO organize themselves in
to migration societies, for tho purpose of icav-
ing The State, provided our condition ia not let
, tered by the authorities of tho State.
? lengthy debate ensued, during which The
question Of emigration (ss one OF tho speakers
expressed it) from tho fair South of Virginia
to lsrd Astounding in graEshoppers" was dis
cussed pro and con.
Al,